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James Earl Jones, voice of Mufasa in ‘Lion King,’ dies at 93

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James Earl Jones, a versatile and award-winning American stage and screen actor who used his booming deep voice to bring the iconic “Star Wars” villain Darth Vader to life, has died, his representatives said Monday. He was 93 years old.

From the works of Shakespeare and August Wilson, to his indelible voiceovers in the blockbuster space saga and as Mufasa in the Disney classic “The Lion King,” Jones earned fans with his ability to play both the everyman and the other He won three Tony awards including a lifetime award, two Emmys and a Grammy, as well as an honorary Oscar, also for lifetime achievement.

In 1971, he became only the second Black man nominated for an Academy Award for best actor, after Sidney Poitier.
All of these accolades were hard-won, as Jones, who was born in segregated Mississippi on January 17, 1931, had to overcome a childhood stutter that often led him to barely speak at all.

“Stuttering is painful. In Sunday school, I’d try to read my lessons and the children behind me were falling on the floor with laughter,” Jones told the Daily Mail in 2010.

Reciting his own poetry, at the prodding of an English teacher, helped him to gain control of his voice, which would later be used to strike fear among millions in “Star Wars” as Darth Vader.

Jones did not physically portray the character — David Prowse wore Vader’s black cape and imposing face mask, while Jones offered the voice, oozing the evil power of the Dark Side.

“I am your father,” Vader tells Luke Skywalker, portrayed by Mark Hamill, in a pivotal fight scene in “The Empire Strikes Back” — a twist etched in cinema history.

“He created, with very little dialogue, one of the greatest villains that ever lived,” “Star Wars” creator George Lucas said in 2015 at a ceremony honoring Jones in New York.

▪︎AFP

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BREAKING: Portable Turns self in at Police SCID Yaba

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Controversial Nigerian Singer Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, has surrendered himself to the Lagos State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Yaba.

This follows an ongoing police investigation into allegations of violent conduct and assault on government officials in Ogun State.

The surrender was confirmed by Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer Benjamin Hundeyin on Wednesday.

“Portable just turned himself in at the SCID Yaba. We have contacted Ogun State Police Command to come pick him up,” Hundeyin stated.

Portable was recently declared wanted for allegedly leading a violent attack on government officials who were carrying out their lawful duties.

The incident involved three officials from the Ogun State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Ota Zonal Office—TPL Onabanjo Abidemi, TPL Raymond Lateef, and TPL Ridwan Oyero Akinlesi—who were on an enforcement mission at Oke-Osa, Tigbo Ilu Ota.

According to reports, the officials were in the area to enforce government regulations when they were confronted by Portable and his associates.

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Singer Portable takes to Instagram:  “I’m a mad man…”

The zazoo-zeh crooner was reportedly involved in a fight with three officials from the Ogun State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Ota Zonal Office

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Singer Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, has declared that he is a mad man who is undergoing treatment at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta.

Portable said this while appealing to Nigerians and the Ogun State Government on Tuesday after being declared wanted by the state police command.

The zazoo-zeh crooner was reportedly involved in a fight with three officials from the Ogun State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Ota Zonal Office: TPL Onabanjo Abidemi, TPL Raymond Lateef and TPL Ridwan Oyero Akinlesi.

They were conducting an enforcement exercise at Oke-Osa, Tigbo Ilu Ota, Ogun State.

The town planners claimed they encountered an elderly man, later identified as Portable’s father, at Odogwu Bar in the area.

Upon identifying themselves and requesting the approved building plan, the father informed them that his son was unavailable.

However, moments later, Portable, armed with a firearm and other weapons, led a gang of nine thugs in a violent attack on the unarmed officials.

The police claimed, “The enforcement officers sustained various bodily injuries but managed to escape and reported the incident to the Ota Area Command, which subsequently escalated the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further action. Nine accomplices were arrested, but Portable fled the scene and has since gone into hiding.”

However, reacting to the declaration, Portable in a multiple rants took to his Instagram on Tuesday appealing to Nigerians and the state governor, Dapo Abiodun alleging that he was set up because he was putting on a vest with the face of Senator Adeola Solomon popularly known as Yayi.

The singer also noted that he was a madman and has a card at Aro hospital where he usually takes his treatment.

He said, “I fear government. I am a federal government liability. Then I’m a madman; I have medications that I usually take. You can confirm from Aro Hospital. I have a card that certifies me as one of their patients.

“I am from Abeokuta and they are taking care of me there. I am not a thief, I help people around me without even looking at their background.”

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2Baba is Missing, Family Petitions DSS

Please Natasha, the beads you put on his hand and on his neck, remove them and free him.

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The family of 2Baba has petitioned Yusuf Magaji, the director-general of the Department of State Services (DSS), over his “sudden disappearance”.

In the petition, dated February 7, the Idibia family claimed 2Baba had been missing since February 10.

The letter said he had left his residence in his lounge wear — suggesting that he was going for habitual walk — but has not returned home since then.

The family said they find it “strange” because  2Baba usually goes out with bodyguards and protocol. According to the petition, several friends claimed that they had received messages from his social media accounts asking for financial assistance which was unlike him.

This, the family argued, has led them to suspect that he might have been abducted or his identity compromised.

The family also appealed to the DSS to take immediate action, expressing worries about the possibility of foul play and coercion.

The petition comes amid 2Baba’s recent announcement of his split from Annie Idibia and his new relationship with Edo state lawmaker Natasha Osawaru.

The singer proposed to Natasha in a viral video on Wednesday. He was captured presenting the lawmaker with a ring and sealing their love with a long, tender embrace.

But on Thursday, Rose Idibia, 2Baba’s mother, pleaded with Natasha to leave her son alone, citing concerns over his state of mind. “Good evening, Nigerians.

My name is Mrs Rose Idibia, the mother of 2face. This message is for Miss Natasha Osawaru of Edo State.

I’m calling on all mothers in Nigeria to help me beg her to free my son,” she said.

My son is going through a divorce process, and he is clearly not in his right senses now. I know my son well. That is not him.

“Please Natasha, the beads you put on his hand and on his neck, remove them and free him.” 

▪︎The Cable

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