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Inside the ‘risky’ life of Bobrisky
Bobrisky’s story is not easy to tell. The first problem is deciding what pronoun to use. By the circumstances of his birth, ‘he’ is the right pronoun, but by what Bobrisky has chosen, ‘she’ is correct.
“Tani bro e? (Who is your bro?). I’m a fine babe,” Bobrisky once replied a commentator who referred to him as a man.
There is also no agreement on whether or not he is a transvestite or just a crossdresser.
Who is Bobrisky?
A primary school mate said he had always behaved like a woman trapped in a man’s body.
In a video, which was uploaded on YouTube on January 19, 2018, a dark man sporting a white bathrobe on a white t-shirt, is sitting on a brown sofa.
There is a gold chain around his neck and in his right hand is a wad of N1,000 notes and a glass of wine.
He pulls out note after note with his left hand and places it on the waist of a light-skinned dancer in a black tight-fitting trouser and crop top, shaking a slim bottom in his face.
The man kisses the tips of his left palm and touches the dancer’s waist excitedly before the video stops playing.
The video is titled ‘Bobrisky twerking for her sugar daddy’.
The dancer in the 11-second video is popular transvestite, Idris Olanrewaju Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, his name on social media platform, Snap Chat.
Idris, from Ijebu Igbo in Ogun State, was born male on August 31, 1992 at Ebute Meta, Lagos Mainland.
He attended secondary school at the prestigious King’s College, Lagos, before bagging a BSc from the University of Lagos (UNILAG).
He was a very good dancer, choreographer and make-up artist at the university. In May 2019, Bobrisky stated on his instagram profile that his pronouns are “she” and “her”.
Going viral
It is not clear when Idris became the cross-dressing Bobrisky, but he went viral in October 2016, when President Muhammadu Buhari’s social media aide, Bashir Ahmad, pulled out of appearing with him on a social media panel in Abuja.
“The organisers invited me to speak on the fact that people are talking about Bobrisky,” the then 25-year-old told AFP.
He added: “Withdrawing wasn’t nice. In Nigeria, the majority of people here judge you so fast.”
According to AFP, he often recounted online how his lifestyle was funded by a rich, mystery man he referred to only as “bae.
A few years earlier, a video surfaced of Bobrisky being stripped by the police of the female clothing he was wearing. Two sachets of water – pseudo breasts – were pulled out of the low neck gown.
Controversies
Bobrisky, who turned 28 on Saturday, fled his Lekki, Lagos neighbourhood to evade arrest following the deployment of policemen to scuttle his planned birthday celebrations.
He had planned a birthday bash at the Pearls Gardens in Lekki Phase 1 on Saturday and another at the Paradise Boat Club, Victoria Island on Sunday.
But Police Commissioner Zubairu Muazu ordered the deployment of water-tight security to ensure the party did not hold and also arrest Bobrisky and other crossdressers or homosexuals who planned to attend.
The Nation gathered that five suspected members of Bobrisky’s club were arrested for breach of the public peace and indecency.
According to the police, the government would not allow continuous breach of existing laws, noting that allowing the public display of actions that could corrupt young people was inimical to national consciousness.
Earlier in the week, the Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, threatened to go after Bobrisky and others like him, describing the cross-dresser as “a disgrace to the nation.” Bobrisky replied by saying Runsewe was a small fry.
The police had earlier in the year warned all homosexuals to flee the country or be dealt with in accordance with the Anti-Same Sex Marriage Law which prescribes a 14-year jail term for all persons involved in a homosexual relationship.
Former Public Relations Officer of the Zone 2 Police Command, Mrs Dolapo Badmos, had said: “If you are homosexually inclined, Nigeria is not a place for you. There is a law here that criminalises homosexual clubs, associations, and organisations with penalties of up to 14 years in jail.
“So, if you are a homosexual in nature, leave the country or face prosecution. But before you say, ‘does this matter?’ Kindly note that anything against the law of the land is criminal and all crimes will be punished accordingly no matter how small you think it is.”
What the law says
The law Badmos is referring to is the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act of 2013. It says a person who registers, operates or participates in gay clubs, societies or organisations, directly or indirectly makes a public show of same-sex amorous relationship in Nigeria commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of 10 years. Anyone convicted of entering into a same-sex marriage contract or civil union faces up to 14 years imprisonment.
Pronouns controversy
Following the police’s raid, Nigerians on social media were divided over the use of the pronoun he to refer to Bobrisky.
Bisi Alimi, a gay man and advocate for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights cautioned that the right pronoun for Bobrisky is ‘she’ and ‘her’.
“Dear #Nigeria allies, the correct pronoun for #Bobrisky is “She/Her”. Using this will help reduce stigma and show that you really care. You can’t use a wrong pronoun and say you are an ally,” he tweeted.
“Just In: Bobrisky on the run as Police Storms. Shutdown venue if his 27th birthday celebration in Lekki, chase away everyone,” Iselaiye tweeted to which Ogunmuyiwa replied, “HER!!! Her pronouns are she/her!!! And this us transmisogynistic violence.”
Another user, @whoislateef, mockingly asked, “So which cell will they put Bobrisky Female cell: Naaaah Male cell: Honeymoon.”
What does the future hold for the like of Bobrisky?
A 2017 survey by NOI Polls compared attitudes towards LGBT people in Nigeria against a 2015 poll.
It found a seven per cent increase in acceptance of LGBT people, and a nine per cent rise to 39 per cent of those surveyed who think that LGBT people should be allowed equal access to public services, such as healthcare, education and housing.
However, the poll showed a four per cent increase to 90 per cent of Nigerians who support the criminalisation of same-sex relationships, and no change in the proportion of Nigerians who believe that the country would be a better place with no LGBT people, also 90 per cent.
Will Nigerian society ever accept cross-dressing and other LGBT lifestyles, such as Bobrisky’s? Only time will tell.
Results from the 30 local government areas in the 2026 Osun State governorship election show that Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party (AP) recorded victories in 19 councils, ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO), who won 11 local government areas.
The local government results indicate that Adeleke polled a cumulative 511,067 votes, while Oyebamiji secured 444,815 votes across the state.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Najeem Salaam, garnered 17,180 votes from the 30 local government areas.
Adeleke won Boluwaduro, Ede South, Ife North, Ilesa West, Ifedayo, Ife Central, Orolu, Osogbo, Oriade, Odo-Otin, Ife East, Ifelodun, Iwo, Ede North, Ila, Aiyedire, Egbedore, Aiyedaade and Ejigbo local government areas.
Oyebamiji emerged victorious in Ilesa East, Boripe, Irepodun, Obokun, Atakunmosa West, Irewole, Atakunmosa East, Isokan, Ola Oluwa, Ife South and Olorunda local government areas.
Based on the collated local government results, Adeleke leads with victories in 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas, while the APC candidate secured 11 councils.
Accord won 19 out of the 30 LGAs: (Boluwaduro, Ede South, Ife North, Ilesa West, Ifedayo, Ife Central, Orolu, Osogbo, Oriade,
Odo-Otin, Ife East, Ifelodun, Iwo, Ede North, Ila, Aiyedire, Egbedore, Aiyedaade, Ejigbo)
APC won the remaining 11 LGAs (Ilesa East, Boripe, Irepodun, Obokun, Atakunmosa West, Irewole, Atakunmosa East, Isokan, Ola Oluwa, Ife South, Olorunda).
Here are the Osun 2026 Governorship Election Results of the 30 LGAs: GeographicReference
Boluwaduro LG
Accord: 7,118 votes
APC: 7,050 votes
ADC: 179 votes
Ede South LG
Accord: 26,188 votes
APC: 6,219 votes
ADC: 390 votes
Ife North LG
Accord: 13,879 votes
APC: 9,613 votes
ADC: 333 votes
Ilesa West LG
Accord: 16,196 votes
APC: 12,756 votes
ADC: 673 votes
Ifedayo LG
Accord: 7,427 votes
APC: 6,836 votes
ADC: 115 votes
Ilesa East LG
APC: 16,208 votes
Accord: 12,280 votes
ADC: 504 votes
Ife Central LG
Accord: 21,171 votes
APC: 15,913 votes
ADC: 747 votes
Boripe LG
APC: 19,963 votes
Accord: 12,448 votes
ADC: 379 votes
Irepodun LG
APC: 15,713 votes
Accord: 14,504 votes
ADC: 249 votes
Obokun LG
APC: 16,120 votes
Accord: 12,023 votes
ADC: 205 votes
Orolu LG
Accord: 12,352 votes
APC: 10,622 votes
ADC: 236 votes
Osogbo LG
Accord: 36,480 votes
APC: 30,474 votes
ADC: 1,503 votes
Oriade LG
Accord: 21,343 votes
APC: 14,863 votes
ADC: 423 votes
Odo-Otin LG
Accord: 18,003 votes
APC: 15,435 votes
ADC: 377 votes
Ife East LG
Accord: 27,201 votes
APC: 18,600 votes
ADC: 935 votes
Ifelodun LG
Accord: 21,107 votes
APC: 18,396 votes
ADC: 509 votes
Atakunmosa West LG
APC: 10,037 votes
Accord: 7,479 votes
ADC: 213 votes
Iwo LG
Accord: 27,085 votes
APC: 19,660 votes
ADC: 588 votes
Ede North LG
Accord: 35,427 votes
APC: 10,283 votes
ADC: 307 votes
Ila LG
Accord: 16,211 votes
APC: 12,934 votes
ADC: 259 votes
Irewole LG
APC: 29,972
Accord: 10,934 votes
ADC: 275 votes
Aiyedire LG
Accord: 11,073 votes
APC: 9,910 votes
ADC: 148 votes
Atakunmosa East LG
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APC: 9,936
Accord: 7,872 votes
ADC: 333 votes
Egbedore LG
Accord: 19,278 votes
APC: 11,194 votes
ADC: 363 votes
Aiyedaade LG
Accord: 16,681 votes
APC: 15,719 votes
ADC: 331 votes
Isokan LG
APC: 14,063 votes
Accord: 13,765 votes
ADC: 384 votes
Ola Oluwa LG
APC: 10,782 votes
Accord: 10,063 votes
ADC: 213 votes
Ife South
APC: 14,678 votes
Accord: 13,507 votes
ADC: 290 votes
Ejigbo LG
Accord: 18,458 votes
APC: 16,195 votes
ADC: 5,053 votes
Olorunda LG
APC: 24,671 votes
Accord: 23,514 votes
ADC: 666 votes.
President Bola Tinubu has approved a Federal Government delegation led by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, to represent Nigeria at the maiden Nigeria Diaspora Investment Economic Conference in Toronto, Canada.
The delegation includes Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang and Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal.
The conference, themed “Invest Nigeria, Thrive Abroad,” is scheduled to hold from August 12 to 15 in Toronto.
The development was announced in a statement issued by Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, on X on Friday.
According to the statement, members of the delegation also include the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole; and Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
Representatives of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Revenue Service, Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission, Nigeria Export Promotion Council and the National Information Technology Development Agency are also expected to participate.
The statement said Canadian officials expected at the conference include President of the Treasury Board of Canada, Shafqat Ali; Ontario Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism, Graham McGregor; Ontario lawmaker Deepak Anand; Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown; Councillor Rod Power; and Ontario Minister of Women and Economic Opportunities, Charmaine Williams.
How to become next Miss Nigeria
Quoting the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NiDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the statement said, “The calibre of officials attending the conference demonstrates President Tinubu’s commitment to strengthening economic cooperation between Nigeria and Canada through trade, investment and diaspora engagement.”
It further quoted Dabiri-Erewa as saying the event “is more than a conference” and is designed as “an outcome-driven investment platform” that will connect international investors with “investment-ready” opportunities across key sectors of Nigeria’s economy while strengthening bilateral economic relations between the two countries.
According to the statement, the conference is being organised by NiDCOM in collaboration with the Nigerian High Commission in Ottawa, the Canadian High Commission in Abuja and other stakeholders.
It said discussions will focus on agriculture, technology, manufacturing, infrastructure, energy, healthcare and the digital economy.
Newsthumb reports that the Nigeria Diaspora Investment Economic Conference is the first investment-focused forum organised by the Federal Government through NiDCOM to promote economic partnerships between Nigeria and its diaspora community.
According to the World Bank, Nigeria is one of Africa’s largest recipients of diaspora remittances, with annual inflows amounting to billions of dollars.
…says action could undermine public confidence in electoral process
…insists anti-graft agencies must remain independent but avoid actions suggesting political interference
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately take steps to vacate a court order freezing the bank accounts of the Osun State Government, saying the timing of the action, just days before the state’s governorship election, could create the impression of federal interference in the electoral process.
The President said although he respects the constitutional independence of the anti-graft agency and had no prior knowledge of its action, he was compelled to intervene in the overriding public interest to preserve public confidence in the credibility and fairness of Nigeria’s democratic process. NigerianBusiness Coverage
The EFCC had on Wednesday froze the accounts of the Osun State Government, placing a Post No Debit (PND), on its First Bank account, alleging fraudulent handling of N11 billion ecology funds, intervention funds and Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).
However, in a personally signed statement issued from the State House, Abuja, President Tinubu disclosed that the EFCC had obtained the court order on August 5, 2026, freezing the accounts of the Osun State Government.
He said he was “deeply embarrassed” by the timing of the development, explaining that actions taken by federal institutions are often attributed to the President, regardless of whether he authorised them.
“It has come to my notice that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) obtained a court order on August 5, 2026, freezing the accounts of the Osun State Government. I must state that I feel deeply embarrassed not by the EFCC’s exercise of its mandate backed by a court order, but by the timing of the agency’s action.
“This is so because every action taken by an institution of State, especially at the Federal level, is always credited to me, as the President, even when I may not have had any prior knowledge of the action”, the President said.
Tinubu reiterated his long-standing policy of allowing anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies to carry out their statutory responsibilities without political interference, stressing that he had deliberately refrained from directing the operational activities of the EFCC and other investigative bodies since assuming office.
He said, “since assuming office, I have consistently maintained that anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies must be allowed to discharge their statutory responsibilities independently, professionally, without fear or favour, or political interference.
“I have therefore deliberately refrained from directing or interfering in the operational activities of the EFCC or any other investigative or prosecutorial agency because I firmly believe that strong democratic institutions, operating within the confines of the law, are indispensable to democratic good governance and the rule of law”, he said.
The President maintained that institutions established by law should be allowed to exercise their powers independently and without requiring presidential approval for routine operational decisions.
However, he said the circumstances surrounding the EFCC’s action required presidential intervention because of the proximity of the Osun governorship election.
“As President, I am committed to allowing institutions of State to function and take any action they consider necessary in the interest of proper governance without the need for any prior approval. Indeed, that is why institutions are set up by law with clearly defined powers.
“While I am yet to be fully apprised of the facts which informed the action of EFCC in approaching the court to obtain the said order freezing the Osun State Government account, I am not in the slightest doubt that the timing of the action of EFCC is inauspicious, and therefore I feel compelled to intervene”, he said.
The President warned that no action by any federal agency should create the perception that the Federal Government was attempting to influence the outcome of the forthcoming governorship poll.
“Osun State is only a few days away from its gubernatorial election. Therefore, nothing ought to be done to give an impression that the EFCC or indeed any other agency of the federal government is being used to interfere with the election”, he stated.
Tinubu said preserving public confidence in the integrity of the electoral process was paramount, adding that he was duty-bound to act in the national interest.
“Based on the foregoing premise, I am duty-bound to issue a directive on this issue in consonance with the overriding public interest in preserving public confidence and the integrity, credibility, and fairness of our democratic process”, he said.
The President consequently directed the anti-graft agency to immediately reverse its legal action against the Osun State Government.
“Accordingly, I have directed the EFCC to immediately proceed to the court to vacate the order and discontinue whatever action it has instituted against the Osun State Government in this regard”, Tinubu declared.
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