The protesters stormed the Abuja House in Kensington London, where the President is staying, blaming him for the nation’s ills.
In a swift reaction, the Presidency said looters were behind the protest.
The protesters said they would take their action to the venue of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) next week, which the President will attend.
The protesters were said to have accused the President of not addressing the herdsmen-farmers attack, and not doing anything about the citizens’ welfare.
The President’s Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said his boss won’t be distracted from his mission in London.
A presidential source, who does not want his name in print, insisted that the protest was corruption fighting back.
He said: “Barely 24 hours after President Muhammadu Buhari declared his intention to contest for another term in office, the camps of alleged looters and corrupt elements within and outside the country have been jolted, forcing them to push panic buttons including renting a motley crowd of professional demonstrators to protest against the President on his arrival in the United Kingdom”.
The source claimed that extremely corrupt Nigerians who are custodians of slush funds stolen from Nigeria, and hiding in UK or are resident cronies of such elements, have colluded to form a league of protesters with a singular aim of distracting and disorganising the scheduled state visit of the President to England, for bilateral talks with Prime Minister Theresa May and other dignitaries.
He said: “Esteemed Nigerians home and abroad, friends and business investors in Nigeria, should please see through the veil of the motive behind the Abuja House, Kensington London demonstration.
“It was an orchestrated act of desperation and a ploy to blackmail and hoodwink the President from concentrating on his anti-corruption campaign, which is fast gaining grounds locally and internationally.
“This unpatriotic act is not unconnected to the Federal government policies to name and shame corrupt citizens and looters; to collate a database of Nigerians with homes in the UK who are not paying the right taxes, and the hot drive to prosecute all financial defaulters through bilateral and multilateral means.”
Another source said: “The protest was benchmarked on an assemblage of local grievances and national challenges which the government is already tackling head-on.
“Such as the herdsmen versus agrarian farmers clashes, fuel scarcity which no longer exists and trumped-up charge of hunger in the land at a time when prices of food items are beginning to drop and inflation on the decrease,” he said
Another presidency source said: “It is obvious that this is a clear-cut incident of corruption fighting back. Many of the beneficiaries of corruption and slush funds cannot withstand another devastating blow of Buhari’s anti-corruption sledgehammer.
The 2024 AFRIFF celebrated exceptional African cinema through a vibrant week-long showcase of talent, creativity, and storytelling excellence.
Filmmakers, actors, and cinema enthusiasts gathered from across the continent to participate in screenings, masterclasses, and engaging panel discussions at the 2024 AFRIFF.
This 13th edition of AFRIFF demonstrated unprecedented diversity in African storytelling, featuring compelling narratives that captivated audiences through multiple genres and languages.
In the 2024 AFRIFF, carefully curated selections sparked meaningful conversations about contemporary African experiences while highlighting the continent’s rich cultural heritage.
Also, at the 2024 AFRIFF Globe Awards ceremony, outstanding films earned recognition for their artistic merit, technical excellence, and powerful storytelling.
These winning productions represented various African perspectives, from intimate personal narratives to broader social commentaries.
Let’s explore the complete list of winners who made their mark at this prestigious celebration of African cinema.
Jury Awards
Jury Prize: Freedom Way | Directed by Afolabi Olalekan | Nigeria
Jury Special Mention: Memories of Love Returned | Directed by Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine | Uganda
Feature Prizes
Best Feature Film: Phoenix Fury | Directed by Ifeoma N. Chukwuogo | Ghana, Nigeria
Best International Film: Calladita (The Quiet Maid) | Directed by Miguel Faus | Spain
Best Director: Ifeoma N. Chukwuogo for Phoenix Fury
Special Mention: A Ghetto Love Story | Directed by Daniel Oriahi | Nigeria
Best Male Performance: Alexander Hakim in The Dog
Best Female Performance: Uzoamaka Onuoha in Agemo
Best Screenplay: Bode Asiyanbi for The Man Died
Documentary Prizes
Best Documentary: Mother City | Directed by Miki Redelinghuys | Brazil, South Africa
Best International Documentary: Memories of Love Returned | Directed by Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine
Special Mention: Dan Bature Kudawa | Directed by Charles Solomon | Nigeria
Best Documentary Short: From God to Man | Directed by Lansana Mansaray | Sierra Leone
Short Film Prizes
Best Animation: Hadu | Directed by Damilola Solesi | Nigeria
Special Mention: Leon and the Professor | Directed by Chekwube Okonkwo | Nigeria
Best Short: Adunni | Directed by Tola Falonipe | Nigeria
Best International Short: Cookie Box | Directed by Adam Żurawiecki | Ghana, Malta
Best Student Short: Last Minute | Directed by Nicole E. Emechebe | Nigeria
Special Mention: Flawed Cupid | Directed by Emerald Obahiagbon, Feyisayo Rotimi | Nigeria
First and foremost, Wumi Toriola’s film ‘Queen Lateefah‘ has achieved remarkable success, surpassing ₦300 million at the box office and securing its position among Nollywood’s top-performing films.
Subsequently, the film joins other blockbuster successes such as ‘Ajosepo’ (₦257.2 million) and ‘Ajakaju’ (₦252.8 million). Moreover, ‘Queen Lateefah’ now stands as the seventh highest-grossing Nollywood movie to date.
Additionally, it holds the distinction of achieving the highest earnings for a non-December release, a period typically known for peak box office performance.
Throughout its theatrical run, the film has consistently broken records. Initially, it garnered ₦57 million in its opening weekend.
Furthermore, within just three weeks of its premiere, the film exceeded the ₦200 million milestone. By mid-October, consequently, the box office receipts had accumulated to ₦216 million.
Under the distribution of Cinemax and the direction of Adeoluwa Owu, the film presents a compelling narrative. Specifically, it follows Lateefah Adeleke, a 30-year-old businesswoman who portrays herself as a world traveller with high social status.
However, her encounter with Jide Rhodes, a 35-year-old businessman, eventually exposes her carefully constructed facade.
In contrast to her claims, Lateefah emerges from a background of extreme poverty as the only child of an illiterate mother.
Finally, the film features a stellar ensemble cast including Kunle Remi, Femi Adebayo, Nancy Isime, Bimbo Manuel, Elvina Ibru, Enioluwa, and Gbugbemi Ejeye.
As a result of these combined elements – compelling storyline, strong performances, and strategic release timing – ‘Queen Lateefah’ continues to demonstrate the growing commercial potential of Nollywood productions.
Bruno Mars now commands 130 million monthly Spotify listeners, shattering the platform’s previous record.
The Grammy winner achieved this milestone following the release of his recent collaborations: ‘Die With A Smile‘ featuring Lady Gaga and his appearance on Rose’s track ‘APT’.
These new singles mark Mars’ first musical releases since his collaboration with Anderson Paak on their Grammy Album of the Year-winning project ‘An Evening With The Silk Sonic’ in 2021.
The stellar performance of these tracks has propelled him past The Weeknd’s previous record of 120 million monthly listeners.
The Weeknd had previously made history as the first artist to attract 100 million monthly listeners on Spotify. The Canadian superstar then broke his own record by reaching an impressive 120 million listeners.
As of November 13, 2024, Bruno Mars leads the Top 20 highest Spotify monthly listeners, demonstrating his enduring appeal and growing global fanbase.
His achievement reflects both the success of his recent releases and his consistent ability to connect with audiences worldwide.
The record-breaking numbers showcase the expanding reach of streaming platforms and Mars’ commanding presence in the digital music landscape.
Top 20 highest Spotify monthly listeners as of November 13, 2024.
Bruno Mars – 130,612,563
The Weeknd – 120,522,043
Lady Gaga – 113,953,989
Billie Eilish – 107,253,116
Coldplay – 90,585,988
TaylorSwift – 91,295,938
Rihanna – 86,078,987
Ariana Grande – 83,774,575
Justin Bieber – 82,045,938
Eminem – 76,795,897
Sabrina Carpenter – 79,022,469
EdSheeran –77,551,483
DavidGuetta – 75,488,878
Drake – 75,105,070
Post Malone – 73,161,311
Travis Scott – 71,637,037
Kanye West – 66,703,503
Shakira – 65,974,570
SZA – 65,804,982
Dua Lipa – 64,136,480
Bruno Mars, a global pop icon, has achieved a remarkable feat, solidifying his position as one of the most influential artists of the 21st century.
His music has resonated with millions worldwide, leading to record-breaking sales figures that cement his status as a commercial powerhouse.
With over 36 billion streams on Spotify, Bruno Mars boasts an impressive 14 songs that have surpassed the one-billion-stream milestone.
This remarkable achievement places him in close proximity to the record held by Canadian superstar Drake, who has 16 songs with over a billion streams.
