Year 2016 has seen many things happened. As we bid the year goodbye and move on to 2017, look at some set of people who were in the news for one reason or the other.
The bread-seller-turned-model became instant media sensation in February this year after photobombing TY Bello’s shoot. The photographer was shooting Tinie Tempah on a street in Lagos and Olajumoke appeared in the background. TY Bello discovered she could be a model and posted on her instagram page for people to help her search for the bread seller. Days later, Olajumoke was found and her grass to grace journey began from there. Olajumoke’s story has been featured by notable international media such as CNN.
Toke Makinwa
Toke Makinwa has always been in the news, but this year, she shook the media sphere with the launching of her book, On Becoming. The memoir is about her much talked failed marriage with Maje Ayida who is a fitness coach. Toke narrates her own side of the story in the book, and the book has been receiving mixed reviews. Some critics accused her of commercializing her marriage failure by painting herself as the victim while others have praised her for coming our boldly to express herself.
Linda Ikeji
The celebrity blogger had the media buzzing around her this year majorly for opening her new office at Lekki in Lagos after operating for many years from the comfort of her home; and secondly for launching her own social media app, LIS. Already, the app has more than 50000 users and increasing by the day. Linda said her competitor is Facebook.
Wizkid
Wizkid is probably the most successful Nigerian artist this year, from winning MTV Awards, to Headies and being nominated for the Grammy. Wizkid collaborated with some notable international artistes such as Drake, Tinie Tempah and Chris Brown. His song, Ojuelegba became an international hit; all these attracted the buzz to him.
Bobrisky
Bobrisky is a revelation this year. He is a cross-dresser cum bleaching expert who sells bleaching cosmetics and he has used himself as a perfect example on how one can be transformed by those cosmetics. He also refers to himself as Africa’s male Barbie.
Bobrisky whose real name is Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju has been accused of being gay but he has denied this several times. He excused that his way of life is to market his product. He also claimed to have converted to Christianity from Islam because he felt the religion allows people to express themselves.
Gov Ayodele Fayose
Many times the Governor of Ekiti State, Governor Ayodele Fayose, has been in the news this year for the ridiculous and sublime reasons. He was in the news for taking the bold step of banning Fulani herdsmen from grazing to his state, and he was widely praised for this, judging by the mayhem that has been unleashed by some of these herdsmen on farmers at various places in the country.
Also, Fayose was in the news for wearing military camouflage to present his 2017 budget to the state’s national assembly.
Dino Melaye
The senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District, like before, was in the news this year for his fleet of luxurious cars – Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Axton Martin and every luxury sport car one can think of. But what actually attracted the buzz to him was the fact that the senator bought a toy car worth millions of Naira at a time many Nigerians were complaining of lack and the nation was gripped in the neck by recession. He was accused of being insensitive.
Solomon Dalung
The sport minister in his signature red beret may be the most irked personality in this current administration. He is always in the news, and for the wrong reasons. Oftentimes, the minister’s comments have always been used against him. Recently, while trying to defend his ministry after they have been accused of not paying the Super Falcons their bonuses, after conquering the continent by winning the AWCON, said the ministry never expected that Falcons would win the trophy. This didn’t go down well with many Nigerians and people are still expecting President Buhari to show him the exit door.
Kemi Olunloyo
Kemi Olunloyo is always making the news because she would always have something to say about every event. She is very critical and most times destructively so. Latest example is her accusation against veteran actor Jide Kosoko. Kemi accused Jide Kosoko of using his two late wives for money rituals. This degenerated to a family conflict that the father of Kemi, Pa Victor Omololu Olunloye who was the former Governor of Oyo state, had to intervene and made an open apology to Jide Kosoko.
Seun Egbegbe
The Yoruba film producer and actor will want to quickly forget his experience this year. He was accused of stealing 7 iPhones at the popular Lagos computer village. He was beaten and paraded like an armed robber. He would have been lynched safe for timely intervention of Nigerian Police.
Seun denied the allegation. He said he was going into his car to get the money, though the phones were still with him by this time. Already charged to court and plenary has been adjourned till January next year.
Who else do you think made the news this year?
