The Federal lawmaker representing Gada/Goronyo, Bashir Gorau has empowered members of his constituency with motorcycles, tricycles, and refrigerators as part of efforts to tackle insecurity and improve livelihoods.
The initiative aims to reduce residents’ risk of criminal activity and illicit activity, especially among the young, by promoting economic opportunities for them.
The lawmaker through this initiative, hopes to boost local transportation and business activities, enabling beneficiaries to earn a stable income. Refrigerators were also provided to support small-scale entrepreneurs, especially those involved in food and beverage sales.
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The lawmaker emphasized that reducing insecurity can be achieved by addressing poverty and unemployment at the distribution event. He exhorted the recipients to make the most of the items and aid in community development.
The Vivienne’s memory was shared by their peers at the Metro Pride Awards, which was heartfelt.
Following their heartbreaking passing last month, The Vivienne, the cherished RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star, was presented with the Icon Award posthumously. The Vivienne, as we know it, was a true force of nature in the drag industry, breaking barriers and inspiring so many of us with their talent, wit, and heart, host Rylan Clark said while speaking on stage. They left a lasting legacy in everything they did, and they were a true example. Tonight, we are paying tribute to The Vivienne at the Metro Pride Awards, with the Metro Pride Awards Icon Award”.
After their sister and dad collected the trophy and delivered an emotional speech, Simon Jones, The Vivienne’s close friend, was introduced to the stage by Rylan and Simon Jones, the audience’s publicist. As he held back his tears, Simon said: “You’ll have to bare with me because it’s quite emotional for me to talk about Viv. I’m going to say a few words about Vivienne’s legacy. I had a very close relationship with Viv, who was also a client and who I deeply cared about. No one disputes that The Vivienne was the victorian of the UK drag scene.
Simon continued, adding that their legacy was reflected in the outpouring of love and grief following their passing. “To the UK DragRace Queens, in particular, Viv was a mentor and someone they could turn to for advice”, he said. Simon went on to say: “Theatre is where we saw their future. They would have eventually moved on to Broadway and become a major musical star.
” We must remember Viv as the warmhearted, positive and kind person that they were. One of the UK’s greatest drag stars and entertainers, Viv leaves a legacy. Her presence and legacy will be felt forever. “
At the Metro Pride Awards, The Vivienne received a medal.
The Vivienne’s close friend, Simon Jones, paid tribute to the late star.
Simon explained in a moving tribute in the event program that he was first contacted about managing Vivienne after they won the first Drag Race series. It was really important to me that I did something positive, uplifting and game-changing. Together with Viv we did just that, “he said.
I’ve never laughed as hard as I’ve watched them perform, Simon continued. Their quick wit, comic timing and genius snap backs were side-splitting, but it was always done with love and a huge wink. Viv was adored by audiences. They would laugh all night because they felt secure using their hands. Some of Viv’s Netflix content is among the funniest you will ever watch, which is why it keeps getting stale on TikTok.
“But the incredible private moments we shared where Viv would make me laugh uncontrollably will be what I will cherish the most.” Sometimes we would just go out for lunch or dinner to catch up on gossip. That was Viv’s magic. Everyone in the room would feel the presence of their presence as they entered the room. On top of that, they were warm, charming, polite and professional. Everyone was treated like a special and loved one, which is unusual. They were utterly star-struck and talented.
A standing ovation was given to The Vivienne.
The Vivienne is considered one of the most creative names in UK entertainment, according to Simon Jones.
No one in the community disagreed that Viv was the queen of UK drag, he added. It was amazing to witness the love and support she showed to all queens, whether or not they had been broadcast. Viv, who was first hired in Liverpool, never forgot where she came from and always wanted to give back to queens there. In fact, every time they toured, Viv gave a support slot to a local drag queen, often a friend of hers. Viv held a significant role in raising money for charity.
” They would often do gigs to raise funds for causes such as Sahir House, Liverpool’s LGBTQ+ HIV charity, or when they launched a clothing range in aid of Mermaids. They were always afraid to speak out on issues that needed to be in the spotlight, and the community was of utmost importance to them. Over the five years that I knew her, The Vivienne and I worked hard together post the Drag Race win, appearing on TV shows such as The Great British Sewing Bee, Celebrity Juice, Celebrity Hunted, Blankety Blank, The Chase, and The Weakest Link. or starring in Emmerdale and This Is Going To Hurt on the BBC. There was only one person to turn to when Ant andamp; Dec wanted to learn how to do drag for Saturday Night Takeaway, and that was The Vivienne.
The tribute, performed by the stars of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, was a touching moment as The Vivienne’s profound impact on the LGBTQ+ community was celebrated. Members of The Vivienne’s family accepted the award on their behalf, ensuring their legacy continues to inspire.
Simon Jones, a close friend and manager of The Vivienne, presented the star with a gift at the Metro Pride Awards (Getty Images).
The Drag Race icon passed away suddenly earlier this year (Getty Images).
Awards host, Rylan said of the evening’s awards:” We’ve celebrated the absolutely incredible achievements of the LGBTQ+ community. It’s been a year of highs and lows, glitter and grit, and honestly, it’s like we’re living in the middle of a Drag Race lip-sync battle. Some countries seem to be going forward, others well let’s just say they’re still stuck in the bottom two. But regardless, this was a wonderful event about celebrating what we’ve achieved. “
An inquest found that The Vivienne had passed away in their Cheshire home. The 32 year old performer, whose real name was James Lee Williams, was discovered at their residence in Chorlton-by-Backford, near Chester, on January 5.
At a recent hearing held on February 12th at the Cheshire Coroner’s Court in Warrington, it was revealed that police had rejected any possibility of the death’s origins. Coroner’s officer Amanda Edgar stated:” Post-mortem testing has been undertaken, identifying an unnatural cause of death. “
The inquest, which lasted just two minutes, heard that the late star was identified by their father, Lee Williams. Given the unnatural cause of death identified by post-mortem testing, it is appropriate for me to formally open the inquest into James Lee Williams’ death, according to area coroner Victoria Davies. She stated that a thorough inquest was necessary, and she decided to adjourn the case until June 30. Four members of the media showed up for the brief session.
The Vivienne, who hailed from Colwyn Bay, North Wales and later moved to Liverpool, clinched victory in the debut series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK and snagged third place in Dancing On Ice 2023. The Vivienne performed the role of the Wicked Witch of the West in the Gillian Lynne Theatre in London’s West End last year, first in a Wizard of Oz musical that played throughout the UK and Ireland.
In Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Tour this month, they were scheduled to re-create the role they first portrayed last year. Their farewell ceremony in Bodelwyddan, Denbighshire in North Wales was graced by RuPaul’s Drag Race UK pals Tia Kofi, Baga Chipz, and Cheryl, alongside Steps vocalist Ian” H “Watkins, television’s own Kim Woodburn, and Coronation Street’s Claire Sweeney.
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Owner and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has informed staff in a memo that David Shipley, editor of the Washington Post’s editorial page, is leaving the paper as its opinion section shifts its focus to supporting and defending the issues of personal liberties and free markets.
Bezos stated in the staff memo on Wednesday that the section will cover other subjects as well, but it won’t publish viewpoints that would oppose those two pillars. Shipley declined Bezos ‘ offer to stay on, Bezos wrote.
The move – which reflects the Post’s narrowing of focus from a general-interest opinion section that reflected a wide swath of views – follows the paper’s decision in October to stop , its decades-long practice of endorsing , presidential candidates.
Bezos stated in his memo to the staff on Wednesday that these viewpoints are underserved in the market and that both he and he framed the change in this context.
“I am of America and for America, and proud to be so”, Bezos wrote. “Our country did not arrive by being typical,” the statement read. And freedom everywhere has been a significant part of America’s success, both domestically and internationally.
The changes were defended by CEO and publisher William Lewis, who , joined , the newspaper in early 2024 after working for outlets controlled by Rupert Murdoch.
“This is not about supporting any political party,” he said. In a memo to staff that was seen by Reuters, Lewis wrote in a statement that was “absolutely clear about what we stand for as a newspaper.”
Bezos is one of the tech executives who has recently made phone calls to Donald Trump. He was prominently seated during Trump’s inauguration, underscoring his shifting ties with the president.
The growing closeness has, however, irked some Post subscribers.
The newspaper , lost , more than 200, 000 digital subscriptions after its move not to endorse a presidential candidate. According to a report in the newspaper, the editorial board of The Post also resigned in protest of that decision.
In a post on X, the paper’s White House economics reporter Jeff Stein wrote, “Massive encroachment by Jeff Bezos into The Washington Post’s opinion section today makes clear dissenting views will not be published or tolerated there.”
The Vivienne’s close friend and co-star Cheryl Hole has honoured the late star
Fans and well-known friends from around the world are grieving the passing of an icon, as the late Drag Race UK star sadly passed away at the beginning of this year. Ahead of the awards, their co-star, Cheryl Hole, who based their personality on Girls Aloud singer Cheryl Tweedy (then known as Cole) spoke of honouring The Vivienne.
Tonight, Cheryl will honour The Vivienne on stage in front of a star-studded audience including host Rylan Clark and singer-songwriter, Anastacia. Speaking to the Mirror, Cheryl said: “The biggest thing for me tonight is making sure we celebrate The Vivienne, her legacy, her drag and her spirit to the fullest, because she was the epitome of UK drag, the first UK winner. And we take it with great pride.
An inquest opening was conducted earlier this month and revealed that the Vivienne had been found dead in their home’s bathroom. The drag queen, James Lee Williams, was found dead at their Cheshire home on January 5th. An inquest into the 32-year-old’s death was opened and adjourned at Cheshire Coroner’s Court in Warrington on February 12th.
The Vivienne (PA) will be given a moving tribute by Cheryl Hole (PA).
The Vivienne tragically died earlier this year (WireImage)
Coroner’s officer Amanda Edgar said The Vivienne was found dead in the bathroom at their home address in Chorlton-by-Backford, near Chester. Police attended and confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances.
Ms Edgar said: “Post-mortem testing has been undertaken, identifying an unnatural cause of death”. The hearing, which lasted two minutes, was told the late star was identified by their father, Lee Williams.
According to area coroner Victoria Davies, it is appropriate for me to formally open the inquest into James Lee Williams’ death because the unnatural cause of death was determined by post-mortem testing. She added that more research is required. A full inquest was scheduled for June 30th, but the case was adjourned. Four members of the press showed up for the brief hearing.
The Vivienne, who grew up in Colwyn Bay, North Wales, before moving to Liverpool, won the first series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK and came third in the 2023 edition of Dancing On Ice. The actor reprised the role in the West End at the Gillian Lynne Theatre last year while touring The Wizard of Oz musical in the UK and Ireland.
They were scheduled to reprise their role as the Childcatcher in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’s tour this month. Their funeral, held in Bodelwyddan, Denbighshire, North Wales, last month, was attended by RuPaul’s Drag Race UK contestants Tia Kofi, Baga Chipz and Cheryl along with Steps singer Ian “H” Watkins, TV personality Kim Woodburn and Coronation Street actress Claire Sweeney.
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The Ogun State Government claims that tolling operations have already taken place on the 14. 7km Epe-Mojoda-Ijebu-Ode Expressway would commence on March 24.
The Director-General, Office of the Public-Private Partnerships, Hon. Dapo Oduwole, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.
According to the statement, the purpose of tolling is for sustainable road maintenance, efficient operations, as well as enhanced road safety.
According to him, the governor viewed Lagos-Ogun State as a key corridor for economic activity. hence, the urgency for its completion.
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Additionally, Duwole added that because the road was one of the best in the country, drivers could enjoy it without any form of difficulty.
“Prince Dapo Abiodun, upon assumption of office and in the course of designing an effective and efficient transport system that will boost the microeconomy of the state, discovered the economic importance of the Epe-Mojoda-Ijebu-Ode Expressway,” he stated.
In terms of managing the asset, including collecting tolls, the government had chosen to use a public-private partnership approach.
To relieve residents and other road users, the government has reportedly delayed the tolling operations on that road since 2021.
For us to strike a balance, we must also consider the economic interests of the investors, which is why we need to start tolling operations on the road after about four years of using it without charge.
“It is pertinent to note that some road users have been exempted from this tolling obligation, these include emergency response vehicles, such as ambulances, fire service, and patrol vehicles.
“Others are government-owned security vehicles, Ogun State Government official vehicles, and any others as determined by the Ogun State Government.
