NRTC WEEKLY: Top 5 trending stories across the country this week

It’s another edition of NRTC WEEKLY Roundup — in this week’s edition, we are focusing on five trending stories across the country.

As usual, the stories will cut across the top five beats in our media organization, NRTC [your one-stop hub for rich and reliable content covering entertainment, sports, politics, business, and more].

As we all know, a day can’t pass without trending stories and we have tracked many of them for you this week. Why not scroll down and treat yourself? 

ALSO READ: NRTC WEEKLY: Top 5 trending stories across the country this week 

Entertainment: Portable and new teeth ‘that want to kill him’; politics: President Muhammadu Buhari eager to leave office; metro: Former Imo Gov. Emeka Ihedioha loses mother, business: Twitter blue ticks varnishing; sport: Arsenal and their dream of winning EPL are the stories NRTC WEEKLY will be discussing. 

Business: Twitter blue ticks varnishing

Elon Musk, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the microblogging site Twitter has commenced the removal of legacy blue checks as the deadline for the free Blue badge elapsed.

Elon Musk has removed more than thousands of verification check marks due to unpaid $8 monthly blue tick verification. 

This was as a result of non-payment of their verification subscription fee announced by Twitter CEO, who set April 20, 2023, as the deadline. NRTC WEEKLY gathered that the removal of blue ticks is still ongoing.

ALSO READ: NRTC WEEKLY: Top 5 trending stories across the country this week 

NRTC WEEKLY checks some important person accounts and finds out their badges were missing as he(Musk) didn’t spare anybody both in the music industry, political space, business, sport, and others in his cleansing decision.

In Nigeria’s political space, the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, People Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate of the just concluded February 25th election, Atiku Abubakar, and Labour Party (LP)Peter Obi verification badges were removed on Twitter, NRTC WEEKLY confirmed.

Also, in the music industry were: Davido, Wizkid, Tiwa Savage, Burna Boy, and other singers while in business, Nigerian economist, and Chairman Heirs Holdings, Transcorp, Anthony Onyemaechi Elumelu and Femi Otedola, a Nigerian businessman and former chairman of Forte Oil PLC, who is currently executive chairman of Geregu Power PLC were also on the list.

Former president of the United States Donald Trump and Al-Nassr striker, Cristiano Ronaldo also lost their blue verification tags.

Reacting to the badge loss, Nigerian political economist, Kingsley Chiedu Moghalu insisted that he would not pay the sum of $8 [3,684.24] monthly blue tick of Twitter.

The former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria via his Twitter handle said life goes on and paying $8 was not the same thing as getting a blue tick as recognition. 

Some celebrities through their handles have called on Elon Musk to return their blue badge verification, NRTC WEEKLY gathered.

Reacting, netizens stated that removing badges will promote the impersonation of popular people on the platform. They added that online thieves are going to leverage that to dupe people of their money.

“Elon Musk should consider people that have names and have been doing something great on Twitter. Removing their blue verification tick will aid criminalities among others.

“$8 is too much, even if at all they’ll be paying, it should not be more than $4-$5 monthly.”

Politics: President Muhammadu Buhari eager to leave office

Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, has announced his readiness to leave office after ruling for an eight-year regime that began in 2015.

Buhari had on many occasions stated that he is ready to go back to his hometown in Daura, Katsina State even before the February 25 election that produced Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressive Congress (APC) as President-elect.

Buhari will hand over to Tinubu on June 12. In his message this week, Buhari appreciated Nigerians for tolerating him at the ninth and final Sallah homage held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The president who considers himself lucky used the opportunity to seek forgiveness from people he had hurt during his duties.

With only 38 days left in office, President Buhari administration had been marred with insecurity, no rule of law, kidnapping, farmers herders clashes among others. 

Taking to their social media handles, Nigerians said they couldn’t wait for him to leave. “He failed us, none of his promises were fulfilled, and hopes were dashed.

“We are counting on the incoming administration to do something better, but on the other hand, they’re birds of the same feathers.”

 Metro: Former Imo Gov. Emeka Ihedioha loses mother

It was a sad moment for the families of the former governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha as he lost his mother, Dame Dorothy Nsonma Ihedioha on Thursday. 

In a statement by the former governor, his mother died at 90 years old and was survived by children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

He said his late mother celebrated her 90th birthday on 28th August 2022, thanking friends and well-wishers who identified with them.

 According to him, the funeral arrangements will be announced in due course.

NRTC WEEKLY gathered that some Netizens wished the former governor mother and eternal glory. “Make her soul rest,” they wrote.

Portable and new teeth ‘that want to kill him’

The Internet went buzzing this week as Singer Portable Zazu caused a buzz with his newly acquired teeth grills, which sparked hilarious reactions from many of his fans and Netizens.

The controversial street pop artiste, Habeeb Okikiola showed up with the new set of teeth saying, Portable, “I bought my set of teeth Akoi 420. My teeth are paining me.

NRTC WEEKLY finds out that Portable in a video posted on his Instagram page cried out that the teeth want to kill him.

A close check on the video shows Portable trying to mimic Seyi Vibez who always says ‘Hishi Hish’ with the same teeth.

The singer said he could not place a picture of why anyone would buy and use it, as doing so is similar to using one’s hand to purchase death.

Reacting to the video that went viral, Netizens couldn’t hold their laughable comments as they stormed social media handles. Some praised the singer for saying the truth while some condemned it.

“See him now, he can’t even talk properly. Why on earth will someone use the money to buy what will not give him rest of mind? Thank you Portable for telling the truth because we always thought they were not painful.

“So, it’s packaging and deceit. Now we know and those planning to do the same and aren’t celebrities won’t.” Netizens stated.

Sport: Arsenal and their dream of winning EPL

From the beginning of this season, the Arsenal football club, known as Gunners started on a good mode by playing unbeaten games to retain number one on the table.

Arsenal players and coach won player and coach of the month consecutively. Their fans were so optimistic the League title is theirs, but unknowingly the title will be challenged by Manchester City.

Manchester City has remained EPL number one since the hiring of Pep Guardiola as their coach. Manchester City currently sits second on the table with 70 points and eight games to play before the season ends.

However, Arsenal has played thirty-two [32] games with 75 points. The remaining games for Arsenal are 6. Arsenal’s woes started at Anfield after playing out a draw with Liverpool football club. Since playing out of the draw, the club’s dream of winning the Premier League title seems unrealistic.

The club struggled to play a draw out with relegation team Southampton yesterday at Emirates. Their fans were disappointed after seeing the club’s performance yesterday.

NRTC WEEKLY gathered that some Netizens, especially fans of other clubs, took to their social media to mock the club.

“We told them they’ll leave number one but they didn’t believe it. Now Manchester City has two games in hand which are six points. If they win they’ll top the table with one point.

“We’re so sure Arsenal can’t win this title but can only fight for the Top four.” Netizens said.

Here, the cotton of this week’s episode of NRTC WEEKLY will drop. Join us for another edition next week as we take you around the trending lists in Nigeria.