The Deputy National Youth Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Timothy Osadolor, has expressed optimism that the party is coming back to power in 2027.

The PDP chieftain submitted that the 2027 election would be bigger than a protest but assured the party won’t entertain violence.

According to him, the PDP would not only win the 2027 election convincingly, but would also send the All Progressives Congress (APC) into political oblivion.

Naija News reports Osdolor made the submission during an interview with Daily Independent, which was published on Monday.

Apart from pushing the APC out of power, Osadolor added that the PDP would do enough to ensure the party is unable to regroup or mount a comeback.

To be able to achieve this, he, however appealed to the PDP leadership and members to adopt collaborative efforts and present a credible candidate for the 2027 election.

“With the right networking, messaging and collaboration, with a credible candidate, PDP will win convincingly. 2027 election is going to be like a revolt. It’s going to be bigger than a protest, even better as it will not be violent, but everyone will be at the polling unit with their cards to send APC into political abyss. We will be gracious to send chillers and freezers along so they can freeze whatever plans they have to protest, regroup, or want to come back to the government in this country,” he said.

Popular Nigerian comedian and actor, Woli Arole is mourning the demise of his beloved father.

The comedian-turned-preacher shared a photo of himself and his late father, accompanied by a deeply emotional tribute.

With a mix of sadness and acceptance, Arole expressed his grief, stating that his father’s demise was a testament to God’s will.

He fondly remembered his last moments with his father, filled with joy, prayers, and fun, and took comfort in the legacy his father left behind – himself.

Woli Arole’s emotional tribute was a celebration of his father’s life, acknowledging the profound impact he had on his own life and career.

He wrote:

“It has pleased the LORD to receive my FATHER in GLORY.

It’s in total submission to the will of GoD to announce the demise of my Father, my HERO and my ROLE MODEL.

I am happy I spent your last moments with you in JOY, PRAYERS and FUN. Rest well Baba Jimmy.

Happy you left a LEGACY and that LEGACY is ME!!!!!!

I would miss you so MUCH!!!!!”

The chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, has dismissed claims that the panel did not consult with Nigerian governors.

The introduction of the bills by the Bola Tinubu-led government sparked widespread debates, especially in the north, with the Northern Governors Forum, the Northern Elders Forum, and others expressing strong opposition to the bill. 

The proposed legislation seeks to reform the country’s tax collection and administration systems, offering an opportunity to establish a more equitable and efficient taxation model. It includes the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, the Tax Administration Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill.

Earlier, elder statesman and northern politician Buba Galadima claimed that the tax committee failed to consult with governors, adding that the bills were only fair to Ogun and Lagos states, adding that the Oyedele-led group failed to meet with any governor except that of Lagos state.

Speaking during an appearance on Arise TV on Sunday, Oyedele faulted Galadima’s allegations, revealling that the heads of the state governments cancelled four scheduled meetings.

He said, “We have more than 20 government institutions represented. We have the private sector, whether it’s manufacturers, whether it’s women in business. We have 45 students from 22 universities across Nigeria.

“In addition to that, we had extensive engagement with the governors. I went to the governors’ forum. We wrote and wanted to meet with six governors, one from each of the six geopolitical zones. Up until this moment, it’s only the governor of Lagos state we were able to see.

“The other governor who was willing to welcome us was the governor of Kaduna state. And after all the logistics, we agreed on the date, on that day he wasn’t able to attend. It was the deputy governor that hosted us. I will not name the other governors, but I can actually if I need to. They didn’t have time for us.

“The governors’ forum themselves invited us four times and canceled four times. The fifth time, we were kept waiting until 1:30 a.m., in the middle of the night. By the time they had time for us, they said we had 15 minutes.

“And I said, Your Excellencies, we have a lot to talk about. They said, tell us how our revenues will go up. Even that, we couldn’t say in 15 minutes. We had a half-day engagement with the finance commissioners from across Nigeria. We’ve had more than four engagements with the heads of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from all over Nigeria. 

“We’ve had engagements with different groups, more than 40 sectors, from manufacturers to SMEs to FinTech. And these things were published.”

To address issues of misinformation, Oyedele revealed the committee met with over 120 northern clerics and regularly engages with northern groups like the League of Northern Democrats.

His words: “I’ll tell you that we had an interesting meeting with the Ulamas. They are the clerics, mostly from the north. There were over 120. We had to explain everything to them. And many of them, when we were done, were praying for the work we had done because there was a lot of misinformation previously. 

“We had meetings also with some sections of the north. I was with the League of Northern Democrats. So if they call me today, most times I get less than a 24-hour notice. I have to fly around to go to different places. So we are happy to discuss. We are willing to discuss.”

[Vanguard]

There was a gas explosion in the Orazi axis of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Over 20 persons, including a pregnant woman, four children, and a couple sustained varying injuries.

The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon, January 4, 2025, near a densely populated area in Orazi called ‘Big Tree’.

Many of the victims including residents and some passers-by suffered severe burns and were rushed to the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital in Port Harcourt. A graphic video posted by an eyewitness shows some of the victims with severe burns.

It was learnt that the explosion occurred in a gas refilling shop when a technician who runs the place was said to be fixing a faulty cylinder.

Immediately, the cylinder exploded, and it affected other cylinders inside the shop, triggering multiple explosions, even as the welder was the first victim.

It was further gathered that the resulting fire affected some surrounding buildings as most of the occupants fled for their lives, even as firefighters who later arrived had a hectic time before putting out the inferno.

Speaking to newsmen, a relative of one of the victims who did not want his name in print said the owner of the shop has been selling gas for years now.

He said his in-law and her husband, who were affected in the explosion, were rushed to the hospital for treatment, lamenting that they have spent over N500,000 already.

“I was just called in the evening about the incident because my sister-in-law and the husband are involved. When my wife picked up the call her countenance changed immediately,” he narrated.

“So I asked what happened. She said it was a gas explosion and that her sister was at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital. I lost my appetite and immediately drove to the hospital. I know how Orazi is. there are many shops scattered all over just for people to survive.”

While hinting on the cause of the incident, the relative said, “But there is somebody who also refills their cylinders. He has been there for some time now and he is also doing welding work.

"Sometimes you will see him welding perforated cylinders without following the normal procedure. Maybe he feels that because the cylinder is empty you can carry out any work but it is not done that way.
 
"So as a result of that the gas exploded and affected the cylinders inside. The other families affected were my brother-in-law, the wife, their two children and himself. They just came back from evangelism.

"They just branched to say hi and that was how they joined. One of my uncles was just passing by and stopped to greet his two grandchildren with him. He too was affected. That was how it happened.

"They are all at the intensive unit taking treatment. So far about N500, 000 has gone for drugs and other treatment. We are not talking about the children. We are running my uncle’s expenses while some other person is running that of the children. It is quite unfortunate what we are seeing this January.”

Another source who called a Radio Station on Sunday evening to report the incident said a pregnant woman was affected in the explosion.

"About 20 people were burnt, but no death. Let the government come to their aid because this is the beginning of the year,” he pleaded.

Spokesperson of the state police command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko confirmed the incident, saying 18 injured persons are receiving treatment in the hospital.

“Yes I can confirm the incident. It was a technician repairing a Fridge carrying a gas cylinder to weld the fridge when it exploded. 18 persons were injured but no life was lost. The man himself was injured. They are all in the hospital receiving treatment. We (the police) have commenced an investigation to find out more,” she added.