Toyin Abraham's Bold Decision: Staying Away from Politics

Nollywood star Toyin Abraham has publicly refuted claims that she is affiliated with the All Progressives Congress (APC) Lagos State Campaign Council in preparation for the 2027 elections. The actress issued a statement via Instagram Story on Thursday, September 17, urging the public to dismiss reports that included her name among members of the council's Entertainment and Creative Economy Directorate. The campaign council was officially presented on Thursday by the Kadri Obafemi Hamzat Media Centre, with its official launch ceremony planned for Friday, September 18, at the APC Secretariat located on ACME Road, Ikeja. Toke Benson-Awoyinka was appointed as Director of the Entertainment and Creative Economy Directorate, with Kosoko serving as Co-Director and Badmus as Deputy Director. Additional entertainers featured on the council roster include Adebayo Salami, Saheed Balogun, Bukky Wright, Fathia Balogun, Yinka Quadri, Tayo Sobola and Small Doctor. "I am not involved with any campaign council. I have made this clear previously. I am maintaining my distance from political matters. Kindly disregard any reports suggesting my participation in any campaign committee," she stated. Her name was listed alongside other entertainment figures, including actors Jide Kosoko, Eniola Badmus and Bimbo Akintola, as well as Fuji music artists Pasuma, Obesere and Adewale Ayuba.

Dangote's wealth reaches $51 billion following Refinery IPO, raising N1.5 trillion on the NGX.

Aliko Dangote, the visionary leader behind Dangote Group, is celebrating a remarkable rise in his net worth, which has now soared to an impressive $51 billion. This financial success comes in the wake of the eagerly anticipated Initial Public Offering (IPO) for the Dangote Refinery on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX). Forbes has taken note of this development, now ranking him as the 36th wealthiest individual in the world, a figure to his business acumen and strategic ventures across Africa. In a recent investor report and the refinery's promising future, the public offer managed to secure a staggering N1.5 trillion within just six hours of its debut on the NGX. This is only a part of the company's larger ambition to gather N2.15 trillion, funds earmarked for further expansion and innovation. The offer features 4.1 billion ordinary shares, designed to attract 10 million investors across Nigeria. Each share, accessible at a nominal value of $0.000013, is being offered at a competitive price of A525, making it an enticing prospect for both budding and seasoned investors alike.

Germany’s Small Hospitals Are Disappearing

The current hospital reform and the ongoing financial strain are threatening the survival of regional hospitals in Germany, necessitating a change in approach. Nearly every month, a small hospital in Germany shuts its doors. Politicians argue that there are too many hospitals and that the healthcare system cannot afford to keep them all operating. Critics, however, warn that such closures might endanger patient safety. Lisa Baumberg, is passionately advocating for the preservation of the hospital in her small hometown of Frankenthal in western Germany. Despite sweltering heat, she takes to the streets to protest against the planned closure of the town's only hospital, the Frankenthal City Clinic. Under the banner "No Hospital, No Town," residents have called for a peaceful protest march to the town hall at 2 PM today. Many hospitals in Germany are on the brink of closure. Due to the hospital remuneration law, revenues can hardly be increased and are no longer sufficient to cover rising costs, which exceed inflation rates. The financial situation is particularly alarming for non-profit hospitals. They face similar economic challenges as municipal hospitals but lack equivalent political support. Nevertheless, reliable and sustainable healthcare is inconceivable without nonprofit hospitals in many communities. In Stuttgart, for instance, three major nonprofit organizations provide 40 percent of available hospital beds: Robert Bosch Hospital, Marienhospital, and Diakonie Hospital, accounting for 2,254 beds and approximately 6,900 employees. In a recently published appeal, these three significant non-profit hospitals urge that all hospitals be equipped with public tax funds to fulfill their service commitments. This call is also reflected in a recent legal study commissioned by associations of non-profit hospitals in Germany. The previous system of case-based payments is set to be replaced by what are termed as "provision fees." Hospitals will receive funding for offering certain services rather than for services rendered. Former Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach hoped this change would ensure high-quality care while reducing the economic pressure on hospitals. However, as part of the reform, the number of hospitals in Germany was expected to be significantly reduced. The new Federal Minister of Health, Dr. Carsten Linnemann (CDU), intends to revisit and implement this idea. The new classification of hospitals into so-called performance groups will focus on high-performance centers of excellence.

Peter Obi's 2027 Campaign: Debunking the 'No Shishi' Myth

Lere Olayinka, the media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has challenged the common belief that Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), is a politician who refrains from spending money in pursuit of elective office. Olayinka accused the former governor of Anambra State of providing financial incentives to delegates while vying for the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the lead-up to the 2023 election. He made these remarks during his appearance on AIT’s Democracy Today program on Friday, September 4, when asked if Wike views politics as a business. According to Olayinka, it is time for politicians to stop pretending that money does not influence Nigerian politics, asserting that candidates frequently invest money during consultations, party primaries, and election campaigns. "One of the issues with most of us Nigerians is that we like to pretend; politics is business. Let’s not kid ourselves. It’s a service, but you can only serve when you attain power," he stated. Olayinka mentioned that he ran for a House of Representatives seat in 2023, emphasizing that financial expenditure is also a crucial aspect of the primary election process. "Why do politicians spend money? Can anyone explain why politicians in this country, and even abroad, like in the US, do not spend money on campaigns? They do spend money to seek election," he questioned. Addressing the narrative surrounding Obi, he refuted the claim that the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate refrains from giving money during political activities. "For example, we have heard that the NDC candidate, Peter Obi, does not spend a dime. That’s false," Olayinka asserted. He claimed to have personally observed Obi distributing funds to delegates during his candidacy under the PDP. "I was a delegate in Ekiti when he was with the PDP before transitioning to the Labour Party. He came to Ekiti. He contributed funds for delegates. From the amount he contributed, I received my share in 2022,” he stated. Olayinka, however, recognized that Obi’s expenditures might have been less than those of some other presidential candidates. “The amount may be smaller than what others provided, but he did contribute,” he remarked. Obi ran for the presidency in 2023 under the Labour Party after departing from the PDP, where he initially pursued the party’s presidential nomination. As the 2027 election approaches, he has transitioned to the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC).

Deputy spokesman for House of Reps warns opposition against image-damaging campaign as they press for US law enforcement records on President Tinubu

Philip Agbese, Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, has called on US President Donald Trump and his administration to dismiss politically motivated lobbying efforts concerning historical US law enforcement records related to President Bola Tinubu. Agbese cautioned opposition politicians against actions that might harm Nigeria’s international reputation as they pursue political leverage leading up to the 2027 general elections. Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Thursday, September 3, Agbese addressed recent lobbying in Washington, which seeks to engage the Trump administration and US Congress in allegations against Tinubu. He emphasized that political conflicts should not tarnish Nigeria’s reputation or adversely impact Nigerians living, working, studying, and conducting business abroad. According to Agbese, when politicians project Nigeria as a nation with criminal leadership, it affects all Nigerians globally, not just Tinubu. He urged the US administration to carefully assess the motivations and credibility of those advocating on Nigeria's behalf before responding to information resulting from political lobbying. According to Agbese, when politicians project Nigeria as a nation with criminal leadership, it affects all Nigerians globally, not just Tinubu. He urged the US administration to carefully assess the motivations and credibility of those advocating on Nigeria's behalf before responding to information resulting from political lobbying. He stressed that the relationship between America and Nigeria is greater than any politically driven motives and should focus on mutual interests like security, trade, and investment. While acknowledging the right of opposition politicians to critique and challenge Tinubu's policies, Agbese argued against involving foreign entities in domestic political matters. He advised the Federal Government to remain focused and not be sidetracked by what he termed as efforts to incite international controversy around the President as the elections approach. Agbese remarked that political rivalry is natural but emphasized the need for restraint in portraying one's country negatively merely for political gain. He highlighted the broader impact such campaigns could have on Nigerian students, entrepreneurs, professionals, and citizens whose identity is intertwined with Nigeria's global image. He raised concerns about using decades-old documents from civil forfeiture proceedings to judge Nigeria's present leadership, especially with the approaching elections. Agbese urged Nigerians to recognize the potential broader consequences of depicting the country unfavorably to foreign governments and international bodies, stressing that Nigeria's collective future transcends individual election outcomes.

Court Delays Decision on Atiku vs. Tinubu: What’s Next?

The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled further proceedings for September 28 on a lawsuit filed by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. The suit seeks to disqualify President Bola Tinubu from the 2027 presidential election, alleging certificate forgery. The case, identified as FHC/ABJ/CS/1888/2026, was filed with Atiku's political party, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), as a co-plaintiff. Listed as defendants are President Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The plaintiffs claim in a 25-paragraph affidavit that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate Tinubu submitted to INEC contains discrepancies. Specifically, the certificate lists the name "Tinubu Bola Adekunle," which they argue amounts to providing false information under electoral laws. They are requesting a judicial ruling that this submission violates Section 137(1) (i) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), along with an order to bar President Tinubu and the APC from participating in the 2027 election.

Introducing Hadi’s Catering and Cooking Show

Introducing Hadi’s Catering Recently, Queenscourt paid a surprise visit to Hadi, the founder of Hadi’s Cakes and Catering, at her beautiful home in Germany. The house features a swimming area, sauna, sports zone, kitchen with mini-bars, and Hadi’s office. Hadi, whose full name is Hadijat Momoh, is originally from Nigeria but now resides in Germany. Her passion for cooking began in Nigeria, where she honed her skills alongside her mother. Hadi shared with Queenscourt the story of her humble beginnings in Nigeria. Her mother was a well-known food vendor in Apapa, Lagos. Since the 1990s, her family has been exporting Nigerian food to London. Now, Hadi brings the flavors of Nigeria to her local community in Germany. She has participated in various food and street food festivals across the country, earning acclaim from the German community in every city she visits. Hadi's next event is scheduled to take place from July 24-26, 2026, at the Chocolate Museum in Cologne, Germany. If you're yearning for authentic Nigerian cuisine or want to try something unique, visit Hadi's spot at the Chocolate Museum or order home service through her website.