Reality TV star and Big Brother Naija winner Phyna has voiced her concerns over the growing hunger crisis in Nigeria, calling for urgent action and unity among Nigerians.

In an emotional video posted to her Instagram on March 20, 2025, the actress lamented the worsening state of food insecurity, emphasising that the current hunger is not just about the absence of food but also the erosion of hope for many Nigerians.

The issue of hardship and hunger in our nation strikes the heart of all, young and old, rich and poor. The hunger we experience now is not just the absence of food on our plate, it is the absence of hope on our heart. There are so many children who should be at school that are instead searching for food and parents who would go to bed on an empty stomach not knowing where their next meal is coming from.

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She also criticised the lack of collective action, questioning why Nigerians have not united to demand change from their leaders.

Yet despite the growing crises, what do we say? Where is the collective voice? Where is the unity that should bind us together as one nation? We are unable to find together for the greater good.

The truth is that hunger is not a distant problem, it’s in every home and community. We need to come together as one nation, put our difference and focus on our wellbeing. We must demand accountability from our leaders in words and actions.

We need assurance that every Nigerian in the rural and urban areas have access to food security and a dignified life. It is time to ask why we are allowing hunger to persist in our country that has so many resources

Renowned Hollywood director Carl Erik Rinsch, best known for the 2013 action-fantasy film 47 Ronin, has been arrested on charges of fraud and money laundering after allegedly misusing $11 million from Netflix. 

According to BBC News, the funds, intended for the development of a sci-fi series titled White Horse, were reportedly diverted toward luxury cars, cryptocurrency investments, and extravagant personal purchases.

Between 2018 and 2019, Netflix provided Rinsch with an initial budget of $44 million to produce White Horse, a futuristic series exploring artificial human clones. However, despite the significant investment, not a single episode was ever completed.

In March 2020, Rinsch persuaded the streaming giant to send an additional $11 million, claiming the original budget was inadequate. 

Instead of funnelling the money into production, he allegedly transferred it to personal accounts, where he embarked on a reckless spending spree, according to prosecutors.

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Court documents reveal that within just two months of receiving the extra funding, nearly half of the $11 million had already been spent. Despite haemorrhaging funds, Rinsch allegedly continued assuring Netflix that the project was underway.

According to the U.S. Justice Department, the director splurged on a fleet of Rolls-Royces and a Ferrari, $1.8 million in credit card payments, $3.7 million on high-end furniture and antiques and $933,000 on luxury mattresses and bedding

In addition, prosecutors allege that he funnelled $1 million into legal battles, including a lawsuit against Netflix in hopes of securing even more funding and a divorce settlement. 

He also attempted to multiply his wealth by investing a significant portion in cryptocurrency, which resulted in major financial losses, BBC reports.

Erratic behaviour and the downfall

Rinsch’s downward spiral had reportedly been a topic of concern among his associates. A New York Times investigation in 2023 detailed how those close to him observed increasingly bizarre behaviour following his deal with Netflix. 

He allegedly claimed to possess the ability to predict lightning strikes, foresee volcanic eruptions, and uncover a hidden “transmission mechanism” for COVID-19.

When brought before a Los Angeles court this week, Rinsch declined to enter a plea. When asked if he had reviewed the 12-page indictment, he reportedly responded, “Not cover to cover.”

The director was released on a $100,000 bail and is expected to stand trial in New York at a later date. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison.

Netflix has declined to comment on the matter.

While the disparity between the poor and rich is at an all time high in Nigeria, things weren’t too different in the past as a plethora of Nigerian music proves.

One of the famous songs that called for socioeconomic justice in Nigeria is African China’s ‘Mr. President’.

On this week’s Afrobeats Throwback, we take a look at the classic record and the attempt by another artist to deliver a rebuttal.

Through Galala music which is itself a fusion of elements from Hip Hop, Reggae, Highlife, and Gyration birthed from the Ajegunle axis of Lagos, African China made a bold call on the Nigerian leaders to tow the path of justice.

With its colourful use of pidgin English, vivid description of the economic reality, and groovy Galala production that called listeners to crouch mid-way and shuffle their legs, ‘Mr. President’ became an instant hit.

The lines “Rich man wey steal money dem no go show him face for crime fighters. But poor man wey steal maggi dem go show him face for crime fighter,” is one that connected strongly with a large population whose reality it documented.

Indeed, the bulk of Nigeria’s corrupt political elite were having a field day looting the country dry, and the few who were apprehended were let off with barely a slap on the wrist.

On the other hand, a poor man who steals something small and insignificant like a seasoning cube (Maggi) would have his face slapped on the then-popular TV show Crime Fighters.

‘Mr President’ became a call for change in a generation where artists show an admirable level of sociopolitical consciousness by highlighting the hunger and injustice in the land.

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However, not everyone agreed with African China and his social justice crusade.

Lilly & Pincher: No Look Him Face

While Nigerians from different creeds sang along to African China’s ‘Mr President,’ singing duo Lilly & Pincher didn’t appear to share similar sentiments.

Such was the strong difference they felt that they were motivated to record a rebuttal they called ‘No Look Him Face’.

The young men who also went by Soldiers For Christ were a product of the Ajegunle music hub that produced Daddy Showkey and Danfo Drivers.

They referred to African China who is also a product of the city as an alarmist attempting to blow up dust over non-existent economic issues.

Lilly & Pincher retaining the original sonic structure of ‘Mr President’ argued that African China’s claim of hunger were false.

They even went as far as abandoning the subject matter by focusing on African China’s looks before asking the president to pay him no attention.

The song appeared like an attempt by Lilly & Pincher to get commercial success and mass attention by dissing African China who had become a national sensation.

Pitching their tent with the government was a small price to pay for the potential career turning point that the moment could become.

The Aftermath

The plan worked as predicted for Lilly & Pincher whose rebuttal also became popular albeit for negative reasons.

Whatever impact that singing had on their career was also shortlived as the record coupled with ‘Paddy’ are the most memorable of their career.

Posterity has also sided with African China’s ‘Mr President’ which is now a classic song whose message continues to echo the call for socioeconomic justice in Nigeria.