Veteran actor Kola Olaiya has criticised fellow actor Pete Edochie over the ongoing debate about seniority in Nigeria’s acting industry, accusing him of being proud and failing to recognise the contributions of earlier theatre practitioners.

Olaiya made the remarks in a recent episode of Oyinmomo TV, uploaded on Friday, amid renewed debate following comments by Edochie and Yoruba theatre veteran Lere Paimo.

“Pete Edochie is a proud human being. I have known him for long. Pride is in his blood. That is why he cannot respect elders,” Olaiya said.

He argued that Nigerian acting history predates the emergence of actors who later became prominent in English-language films, citing theatre pioneer Hubert Ogunde, who began his theatrical career in 1944 after leaving the police.

“Before they gave birth to Pete Edochie, Ogunde had been acting. That is why he cannot admit that some people started before him. Ogunde started theatre in 1944, when he resigned as a police officer,” he said.

Olaiya also mentioned Oyin Adejobi, Duro Ladipo and Kola Ogunmola as earlier figures who contributed to Nigerian theatre.

“Ogunde produced a lot of movies and made records before Edochie was born. After that, people like our fathers, including Oyin Adejobi, Duro Ladipo and Kola Ogunmola, joined the industry. Where was Pete then?” he asked.

He added that Edochie being a senior actor in his region should not automatically make him the most senior in Nigeria.

“I do not know if he is the first in his region and has no superior; that is fine. But in the whole of Nigeria? No,” Olaiya said.

The debate intensified after Edochie said on Isbae U’s Curiosity Made Me Ask podcast that he began acting in 1962 at age 15, including a performance in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice.

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Prophet Settle has made disturbing allegations surrounding the death of gospel singer Toluwani Sings, claiming that spiritual practices involving microphones and rings may have been responsible for the singer’s death.

In a statement that has sparked concern, the cleric alleged that some gospel singers encounter spiritual attacks while ministering in church, particularly through the microphones they use to sing.

“If I’m lying, God should judge me,” he declared.

According to Prophet Settle, the altar, which is expected to be a place of worship and spiritual encounters, could also expose some singers to danger. He claimed that certain individuals allegedly use microphones during ministration to target gospel ministers.

He further alleged that he knew five gospel singers whom he believed God had saved from death while they were ministering. Reflecting on the deaths of some gospel artistes, he said he had cried over the incidents but insisted that crying alone would not solve the problem.

The prophet also mentioned the deaths of gospel singer Omije Oju and one of the Adegbodu twins, claiming that young gospel musicians were dying under suspicious circumstances while others remained silent.

“The microphone they give them to sing with is what they use to get them. Once they sing into it, they use the voice against them,” he alleged.

He also raised concerns about rings worn by some prophets, suggesting that they could be connected to the alleged spiritual practices.

Calling for action, Prophet Settle appealed to veteran gospel musicians, including Bola Are, Kunle Adelakun, Baba Ayewa, Timi Osikoya, Bisi Alawiye, Tope Alabi and Bukky Senwele, to come together for three days of intense prayers.

He expressed confidence that if the prayer gathering took place, God would expose those allegedly responsible within seven days.

The cleric also advised gospel singers to pray with ministers they trust before taking the stage or accepting microphones for ministrations, warning them to be spiritually cautious.

Addressing suggestions that he was using the singer’s death to gain attention, Settle insisted that his comments were not an attempt to trend online. He went as far as challenging anyone who doubted his claims to have him arrested, while urging those he accused of involvement in the alleged practices to repent and turn to Christ.

However, the allegations remain claims made by the prophet, and no evidence has been presented in the statement to establish that Toluwani Sings’ death was caused by the alleged spiritual practices.

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In some parts of the world, food delivery robots have already become a reality, using cameras, sensors and navigation technology to transport meals from restaurants to customers, potentially reducing delivery costs and easing the pressure on human couriers.

In Nigeria, however, the idea raises interesting questions. Could robots navigate busy Lagos roads, uneven pavements, heavy rain and the unpredictable traffic that often delays deliveries? Would customers trust a machine to handle their food safely?

Photo Credit: WGXA

Journalist Christie Doyin says she would welcome robotic food delivery because she feels safer trusting a machine than an unfamiliar person, except when it comes to her own children.

“I’ll feel more food secured than when an unknown human has to deliver it. I’ll prefer it if it’s any of my children since I feel safer with them,” she said.

However, not everyone is comfortable with the technology. Businessman Victor Kato questions whether these machines can be as reliable as humans. “I will not use the service of robot here in Nigeria because I don’t think robot will be as reliable as real humans,” he said.

And what would become of the thousands of dispatch riders who depend on delivery jobs for their livelihoods?

Some delivery riders in Nigeria have complained about poor road conditions and the risks they face when delivering to dangerous areas. In a first-person account published by TechCabal, Abuja-based delivery rider Christian Ogbu recounted how riders working for some delivery franchises could face penalties for refusing deliveries to unsafe locations. However, delivery companies also provide a means of livelihood for many riders, which the widespread adoption of robot delivery systems could threaten.

Meanwhile, a report published on TechRadar.com says Deliveroo’s plans to introduce robot deliveries in the United Kingdom have drawn criticism from the GMB trade union, which represents human couriers. The union described the trials as “disappointing” and criticised the company for failing to consult workers about the plans.

GMB organiser Claude Bahati said, “Innovation should not come at the expense of real people, and these developments must always be negotiated with workers.”

There is also the question of affordability. Restaurants would need to justify the cost of acquiring and maintaining the technology, while customers would expect faster service without paying significantly more.

Photo Credit: Prospera Robotics

CEO of Payfair Corporate Services Limited, Bob Ugochukwu Ani, who works in the food sector, says he would consider robotic delivery for his customers but would not invest in technology simply because it is innovative.

“In Nigeria, the investment must be justified by its ability to reduce delivery costs, improve customer experience, and generate sustainable returns,” he explained.

“I would start with a pilot in a controlled environment, measure the results, and scale up only when the numbers make commercial sense,” Ani remarked.

Still, robots could find a place in controlled environments such as shopping malls, hotels, university campuses and gated estates, where routes are easier to manage.

For now, Nigeria’s food delivery future may depend less on whether the technology exists and more on whether it can work reliably, affordably and safely in the country’s unique environment.

Would you collect your next meal from a robot?

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