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Heavy snow across parts of England was on Sunday set to cause disruption for air travellers with runways closed at airports in Bristol and Liverpool.
The Met Office said Bingley in northern England had seen 12 centimetres (4.7 inches) of snow overnight.
An amber weather warning — the second most serious — for snow and freezing rain was in place for much of Wales, central England and parts of northwestern England.
Higher ground in Wales and northern England was forecast to see up to 30 cm of snow.
Some rural communities above 300 metres (1,000 feet) could be cut off with up to 40 cm of snow, the Met Office said.
Manchester and Liverpool John Lennon airports in northwest England closed their runways on Sunday.
Central Birmingham airport also suspended operations for several hours overnight for snow to be cleared from its runway but said it expected it would be “business as usual” on Sunday morning.
Bristol airport also reopened at around 11 pm (2300 GMT) on Saturday but warned of delays due to aircraft being out of position.
The National Grid said it was working to restore power after outages in central and southwest England and south Wales.
Special tribunal to try Ex-President Yahya Jammeh and cohorts for gross human rights abuse in The Gambia - Femi Falana, SAN
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At the 66th Session of the Authority of the Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS) Heads of State and Government which held recently in Abuja, Nigeria, the regional bloc approved he establishment of a Special Tribunal for The Gambia to prosecute perpetrators of gross human rights violations. Specifically, the Tribunal is empowered to ensure justice and accountability for gross atrocities and human rights abuse committed between July 1994 and January 2017 under the repressive regime of Ex-President Yahya Jammeh
Among the major crimes allegedly committed by Jammeh’s special killer squad ‘The Jungulars’ are extrajudicial killings, torture and sexual violence, enforced disappearances, fake HIV and Aids treatment causing deaths, and the 2005 massacre of over 50 West African migrants, including 9 Nigerian citizens.
Upon the restoration of democracy in The Gambia, the Truth Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) was set up by the Adama Barrow administration to investigate all human rights abuses perpetrated against Gambians and other citizens between July 1994 and January 2017.
After two-and-a-half years of public hearings and iinvestigations, the Commission confirmed that not less than 240 persons were found to have been murdered by state agents under his rule. The Government issued a White Paper on the report of the Commission.
This is the first time the ECOWAS has partnered with a member country to establish an international tribunal to prosecute such crimes. The decision of the Ecowas to ratify the Tribunal is a serious warning to other military and civilian dictators that they may be brought to justice for gross human rights abuse. With the establishment of the Tribunal, the demand for the arrest and trial of Mr. Yahya Jammeh by the International Criminal Court will cease.
Since his fall in December 2016, Ex-President Yahya Jammeh has been in exile in Equatorial Guinea, a central African country. He is expected to be brought to The Gambia to face trial for multiple charges of murder, kidnapping, torture, rape and other sexual offences.
On May 15, 2024, the Federal Criminal Court in Switzerland onvicted a former government minister, Ousman Sonko, of crimes against humanity under ex-dictator Yahya Jammeh and jailed him for 20 years, in a historic verdict under universal jurisdiction in Europe. The Court found the former minister guilty on several counts of intentional homicide, torture and false imprisonment.
The Gambian Bar Association under the leadership of Mr. Salieu Taal deserves commendation for collaborating with the Government to institute and operationalize the court. This is a unique example of a Bar Association proactively leading efforts to ensure justice and accountability for victims of gross human rights abuse.
Tax reform: Your govt has displayed troubling disregard for patriotic voices – Northern elders tell Tinubu
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The Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF) has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration of displaying a troubling disregard for patriotic voices against the tax reforms agenda of the administration.
The NEF urged the government to halt the proposed Tax Reform Bills before the National Assembly, citing concerns of unfairness and potential economic impact.
A statement issued by the forum’s chairman, A.M. Al-Amin Daggash, recommended that the federal government should suspend the implementation of the reforms to allow for broader consultations with stakeholders. It emphasized the need for a careful and inclusive approach to address concerns and redesign the implementation strategy.
“The rush to implement these tax reforms is unnecessary. Dialogue, quality contributions, and critical inputs from Nigerians should be prioritized before any decisions are made,” Daggash said.
The forum expressed opposition to the proposed increase in Value Added Tax (VAT), warning that it could erode purchasing power, fuel inflation, and increase interest rates.
Daggash noted that such measures should be postponed until the government demonstrates tangible economic recovery.
He also criticized the proposed VAT revenue-sharing formula, describing it as unjust to states where VAT is generated. According to him, VAT should be allocated based on consumption, ensuring fairness to contributing states.
Daggash further accused the Tinubu administration of disregarding dissenting opinions and using coercive tactics to push its policies. “The government has displayed a troubling disregard for patriotic voices and an inclination to suppress opposition,” he said.
While supporting reforms that align with global best practices, the NEF stated that the Tax Reform Bills fail to meet the standard of transparency and inclusivity required for effective policy-making.
The forum called on the federal government to revisit the reforms, ensuring that they reflect the interests and contributions of all Nigerians.
The Lagos State Police Command has clarified that Ayomide Adeleye, who confessed to killing Christianah Idowu, his friend and neighbour, has been charged with murder and remains in custody for the offence.
This clarification was issued by the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, in response to reports suggesting that Adeleye was not being held in any Lagos correctional facility.
In his statement, Hundeyin said, “We can confirm that Ayomide Adeleye was charged with murder and was remanded for the same offence.
“It is also a fact that another person bearing the same name was remanded for a different offence and released in April 2024, long before the Ayomide we are talking about committed his offence.
“An outfit that prides itself on investigation should live up to its name. Relying on ‘sources’ rather than the spokesperson of the Correctional Service would land you in this kind of misinformation.”
Adeleye, a 200-level Philosophy student at Olabisi Onabanjo University confessed in September to killing Idowu, a 300-level student at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
On November 5, Adeleye appeared before Magistrate Seyi Omodara at the Ogba Magistrate Court.
The magistrate issued a remand warrant, allowing the police to detain him at the Ikoyi Correctional Center pending advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.
[Punch]
As Nigerians join the rest of the world to usher in a New Year, political pundits predict an upward swing in the tempo of political activities ahead of the 2027 general election.
Judging from the outcome of the 2023 presidential election which Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) won, the performance of the three main opposition parties and their candidates stood out.
They are Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Peter Obi (Labour Party) and Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso (New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
Perhaps having learnt lessons from their collective defeat, opposition leaders are said to have began consultations in a bid to upstage Tinubu in 2027.
This was confirmed by a former National Vice Chairman (North-West) of the APC, Salihu Lukman, an ally of former Kaduna State Governor, Ahmed El-Rufa’i.
Lukman spoke on the subject on New Year’s Day.
He said: “While acknowledging that opposition political leaders, including alienated APC leaders, have commenced negotiations towards producing alternative political platform, it must be also recognised that most Nigerian politicians are not disposed to competitive political culture.
“Largely because most politicians are driven by personal ambitions to contest elections, the default mindset is about imposition and manipulating processes to achieve personal ambitions. This must stop.
“We must remind all our political leaders that if they want to prove their altruistic value and demonstrate strong disposition towards rescuing Nigeria, therefore beyond the pretentious claims of subordinating personal ambitions towards the emergence of the new platform, opposition political leaders should commit themselves to allowing political competition as basis for the emergence of political leaders at all levels”.
The question begging for answers remains, Can any of the leading opposition parties go it alone?
PDP and the trouble within
The chances of the PDP in the 2027 presidential election are uncertain, but its past performance and current challenges are worth considering.
Historically, the PDP has been a dominant political force in Nigeria.
It won every presidential election between 1999 and 2011 until it lost power to the APC in 2015 and have since struggled to bounce back.
Its presidential candidate in the 2023 poll, Atiku, lost to APC’s Bola Tinubu, receiving 29.1 percent of the vote compared to Tinubu’s 36.61 percent.
This, according to some analysts, suggests that the PDP still commands a significant following, but faces strong competition from the APC.
The party is currently struggling with internal conflict which, if left unresolved in 2025, two years ahead of the 2027 polls, could undermine its ability to present a united front at the elections.
Challenger
Atiku’s desire to be President hasn’t changed. He is expected to fight for the party ticket with Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, a potential challenger from the South.
The party also has to contend with the challenge posed by the larger than life influence of Chief Nyesom Wike.
Wike is one PDP leader who not only serves as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), under an APC administration, but has vowed to work for Tinubu’s re-election.
A former National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Kola Ologbondiyan, is optimistic about the party’s chances.
Ologbondiyan said, “Let’s consider facts. Which other party can genuinely boast of our kind of a well-established structure? Which other party enjoys our kind of grassroots organic support?
“It is only in the PDP that you can find a pool of experienced politicians, including former presidents and governors, who have the capacity to provide guidance and support. We have challenges no doubt, but we will overcome them.”
Overall, while the PDP has a chance of winning the 2027 presidential election, it will require careful planning, strategic campaigning, and a bit of luck.
Labour Party’s war of attrition
Although the Julius Abure-led National Working Committee of the party enjoys the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s recognition, critical stakeholders like: the NLC, Peter Obi and the party’s only elected Governor, Alex Otti, reject his leadership.
There is even talk of Obi and co-seeking alternative platforms.
But the National Publicity Secretary of the LP, Obiora Ifoh, said, “Despite the temporary setbacks, our party has suffered with the defection of some of our lawmakers, we have started the rebuilding process.
“Our party will not only recover, we will grow and surpass our 2023 achievements at the polls.”
Romance with APC
Kwankwaso, who is the party’s national leader of the NNPP, is facing an uphill task keeping the party together.
The party boasts of one governor, some senators and members of the Kano State Assembly and members of the House of Representatives, but there is no guarantee that Kwankwaso can prevent the looming defections from the party into the ruling APC.
Whereas the 2027 presidential election in Nigeria is more than two years away, pundits agree that it’s safe to speculate about the chances of Kwankwaso and Peter Obi.
Amid the talks about a potential alliance between the two ahead of 2027, Kwankwaso expressed his willingness recently to serve as Peter Obi’s running mate under certain conditions.
This development is significant, considering their previous discussions about a merger ahead of the 2023 general election which did not materialize.
In the 2023 election, Peter Obi emerged third, securing approximately 6,101,533 votes, while Kwankwaso garnered 1,496,687 votes to emerge fourth.
While these numbers don’t necessarily predict the outcome of the 2027 election, they do indicate that both candidates have a significant following.
Dynamics
A Jos, Plateau State-based political scientist, Dr. Joseph Anuga, said, “If Kwankwaso and Peter Obi were to form an alliance, it could potentially boost their chances. We must note that the dynamics of 2023 may not be the same in 2027.”
Anuga stressed that it was essential to note that Nigerian politics can be unpredictable as various factors, including party dynamics, regional considerations, and voter sentiment ultimately influences the outcome.
Reluctance
Obi, on his part, is trying hard not to be drawn into the 2027 debate and the possibility of a merger or the formation of a mega party.
Commenting on the subject at a media event in Abuja, he said, “On the issue of merger, everybody who means well should come together to get the country to work.
“Let’s build this country. None of us is going to be here forever. For me, what is important today is Nigeria. We are so occupied about election, just as we are so occupied with power capture.”
Kwankwaso also denied the speculation that he and his two fellow opposition leaders had agreed on a formula to defeat Tinubu and share power.
He said, “I heard from a source that PDP brought in scholars – about 45 of them – and claimed that there was a consensus that Atiku will rule for four years and Peter Obi will rule for eight years. This is a complete lie and has no basis in reality”.
Master of the game
With his mastery of the political game, Tinubu and the APC know how to cultivate loyalists.
Apart from the power of incumbency, the President has ensured that those who worked for his victory in 2023 were not only rewarded but kept close.
His loyalists currently control both chambers of the National Assembly as well as all levers of state institutions and instruments of coercion. Former Governors David Umahi (Ebonyi), Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Bello Mattawalle (Zamfara), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi) and Mohammed Badaru (Jigawa) have all been rewarded with ministerial posts and are expected to repay this gesture with a repeat performance in 2027.
The President and his party have also been fingered as having more than a passing interest in the crisis in the three major opposition parties.
At this point, it’s difficult to accurately assess their chances, but the potential alliance between Kwankwaso and Peter Obi is certainly an interesting development to watch.
[Vanguard]
Segun Olowookere, the popular death-for-fowl convict recently pardoned by Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, speaks with ISMAEEL UTHMAN about his travail
How old were you when they arrested you and your date of birth?
I was 17 years old. I was born on January 28, 1993.
What were you convicted of aside from stealing of fowl?
They said stealing, conspiracy and armed robbery.
How did you feel on the day you were sentenced to death?
I was heartbroken; no one will hear his/her death’s day and be happy. However, I had hope that I would not be killed.
What was the reaction of the people in the courtroom?
They felt so bad because of our age and the nature of the crime we were convicted of. They thought the judge should have pardoned us because we were minors. They even wondered why we were sentenced to death because of fowls and eggs. So, many people, including my prosecutor, felt so bad and sympathised with us. The prosecutor, who was from the Ministry of Justice, said she would not be responsible for my death if I was killed.
Which correctional centre were you taken to after the judgment?
We were taken to Ilesa Correctional Centre, Osun State, but we moved to Ibara Prison, Abeokuta, on the second day. I was remanded at Ilesa throughout the trial of the case. I was in Ilesa prison from 2010 to 2014 after I was condemned. I taught some primary school pupils at the Princess Hope Foundation School inside the prison.
How did the warders receive you?
The prison authority felt bad when we got to Ilesa after the judgment. The warders said we were small boys and that we should have been taken to a juvenile home. But it was written on our papers that we were 18 years old. So, we could serve the sentence in prison. When I got to Ibara Prison, the warders wondered why we were sentenced to death. They expressed their dismay that the judgment was so harsh. The case caused a lot of stir then. Many people, including other inmates and warders, were coming to see me because they were surprised about our case.
I continued my education in the prison. I joined Yewa College of Education where I studied Business Administration. I spent almost two years at Ibara Prison before I was moved to Kirikiri Maximum Prison in Lagos.
How was life inside the correctional centre?
I ensured that I didn’t lose hope or become depressed. Aside from education, I always played football to make myself happy. When I got to the Ibara prison, a football competition was going on and it was two weeks to the final. I participated and even lifted the trophy for the team I represented.
I was moved to Kirikiri in 2016. I opted for Kirikiri after I learnt that there was the National Open University of Nigeria there. I thought it was an opportunity to enrol at the university to continue my education. But when I got there, I had some little challenges that did not allow me to enrol, but some prison staff members encouraged me, and attached me to the medical facility where all comprehensive health services, including surgical operations, were being done. They asked me to learn under the doctors, pharmacists, and nurses there.
I achieved many things working at the medical facility before Governor Ademola Adeleke pardoned me. I was always on my own, I never fought any inmate. They never locked me up or punished me. I did not commit any infraction. When I woke up, I went to the clinic to attend to patients and do other assignments. I returned to my cell once we closed, read my books and slept.
How many of you were on death row at Kirikiri Maximum Prison?
I don’t know the total number, but I know we were many, more than 400.
How many inmates were in a cell?
It depends on the size of the cell. In my cell, we were four, and all of us were on death row.
What lessons did you learn in your 14 years on death row?
The first lesson is that someone should not join a bad gang or mingle with people who will not better your life. I am the only one who knows how much I learnt. I am now a good person to myself. I will never make a single mistake or do anything that will take me back to the prison. I did not know anything about the case that took me to prison, but God used it to teach me a lot of lessons. I have a lot of experience, even as an inmate executive.
How did you become an executive?
If I have the opportunity to become the president of Nigeria, I will increase the salary and welfare packages of the prison officers/warders, because of the serious and impactful work they do. Those officers are competent enough to transform the lives of hardened criminals.
A prison officer can manage more than 100 inmates without any challenge, due to training, experience, and competence. To make their work easier, the warders usually choose responsible inmates and make them executives. The inmate executives will address issues whenever warders are not available. I believed I was chosen because of my humble character.
What will you miss after leaving the prison?
I will miss most of the people we used to relate to there. Many of them are also innocent like me. One of the innocent souls inside the prison is Seun, a young boy like me from Ekiti. He said he went to join his bricklayer brothers on site after school so they would all return home together on the day he was arrested by the police, who claimed that they were responsible for a robbery case in the area.
He was 15 years old when he was arrested. They kept him in a juvenile home till he clocked 18 before he was tried and sentenced to death by hanging. There is another case of someone who was convicted of receiving a stolen generator; he has been in custody since 1999 till now. Many things are happening inside the prison. I see the place as a school. Everything in the prison – food, water, movement, and all is rationed. That’s how life in the prison is.
How would you describe your 14 years in prison?
I do not consider it a waste because I had the opportunity to learn a lot which I might not have learnt if I was a free person. Somebody who framed me and got me to be on death row could have killed me if I was not in prison custody. I can recall 126 inmates who have died within 14 years. I know some people who were able-bodied when I got there but have lost one or two parts of their body before I left.
I do not see the period as a waste. I went to school, I worked as a medical ad hoc staff and I was also able to acquire some skills, which if I am able to gather resources, will earn me a solid means of livelihood. We have a pure water factory, bakery, carpentry workshop, and other skill acquisition centres within the facility for inmates to undertake skill acquisition.
We have primary and secondary schools, colleges of education, and universities. Any inmate who didn’t acquire a skill is the one who wasted his years. I remember the case of one Elijah Ambassador who produced a musical album inside the prison and sold copies outside the facility. Promoters came from Abuja to the prison to launch the album.
How many condemned convicts were executed while you were there?
No condemned inmate was executed. But I know of someone who was on the same compound with us at Kirikiri but was moved to Edo, and three days later, we learnt he was part of the three inmates executed in Edo.
How did you feel when you left the prison?
If I had the opportunity to change my date of birth, I would have gladly changed it to the date I was released from prison. The day that warders did not chastise me, or anyone attempted to shout at me, the day women embraced me for the first time in 14 years. I was extremely happy. The day my family members embraced me, and everyone welcomed me like a king. I had believed I would come out alive from the prison, but I did not know my freedom would be celebrated loudly. It is a day I will never forget. My heart, my family members, and the entire people of Oyan are more than grateful to Governor Adeleke.
When I got to Oyan, the policeman who arrested me in 2010 was telling people that I was not involved in the stealing of fowl and eggs. He told them I never visited his house or poultry to steal from him. The policeman said he was directed to arrest me because the children arrested for stealing mentioned my name. He did testify in court in my favour during the trial. The people were happy because I was freed after years of punishment for an offence I didn’t commit. It is an open secret in the town I know nothing about the case.
What is your focus now that you regained freedom?
I only have God and people around me. I believe God will direct my steps. I will not misuse any opportunity I get from people. With what I have learnt in prison, I should be able to do something tangible if I have the means.
Your co-pardoned convict, Sunday Morakinyo, is with you in Oyan, and he is said to be battling with a mental disorder. How do you feel seeing him in such a condition?
I am not happy; I cried uncontrollably when we visited him three days ago. I cried because he had no mental challenge before he was arrested. The mental issue started when he was tortured at the police station. Blood was coming out of every part of his body. I had to clean the blood coming out of his body for 23 days. We spent 23 days at the police station before being taken to court.
It was when we got to prison that Sunday that he was attended to medically. The medical officers at the prison told us that blood had stained his brain, making him mentally deranged. Throughout the years he was in jail, he was in the cell of inmates who needed medical attention.
Do you want the government to revisit your case?
No. I do not want the government to do anything to those who implicated me. I have accepted my fate. I have learnt that whatever will come to pass will surely come to pass. I cannot blame anyone for my travail. If I have the opportunity to meet the judge who sentenced me to death, I will prostrate and thank him.
If he had discharged and acquitted me then, God knows what the person who planned what happened to me would have done to me. He might have found a way to kill me. I might have died. The judge who sentenced me did well; he added a chance for the governor to pardon me after 10 years. I don’t harbour any ill feeling towards the judge or anybody.
But I will advise the police to be responsible and civil in discharging their duties. Not everyone will have the grace of coming out for people with a good heart and improved character. The police should try as much as possible to investigate thoroughly and weigh the level of offence before rushing to try suspects in court.
Police should also prioritise reforming suspects with minor offences instead of sending them to prison to meet hardened criminals who will make their lives complicated. I have seen a lot of instances where those who went to jail on trumped-up charges and minor crimes became hardened criminals after they left prison.
Some of these hardened criminals and convicts who have spent close to 25 to 30 years in jail would prey on these innocent minors and even sodomise them because they know they do not have anyone to run to. These older inmates manipulated younger ones who freshly joined them; they lured the minors with tea, garri and little things to force them to commit sodomy.
The minors sometimes fall for the tricks because they are usually hungry and don’t have anyone to help them. But anytime these inmates are caught, they are always beaten and dealt with. Police and courts should consider the implications of throwing minors and small offenders into prison.
How will you describe the prison facilities?
The major challenge was congestion. There were too many people inside a limited space. Because of the population, 50 inmates would occupy a room that should naturally contain a maximum of 10 people. We sleep like fishes packed in a carton because everywhere is measured for us.
As an inmate, a space is measured for you to sleep because of congestion. Unfortunately, many innocent people are languishing in prisons. I pray God makes me a voice to speak up for their liberation. Some people have spent over 30 years and are due for freedom, but no one comes to their aid.
Respected Nigerian pastor and gospel minister, Nathaniel Bassey, has been invited to minister at the Presidential Inaugural Prayer Breakfast of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on January 20, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
Punch Metro reports that the event, a non-governmental and non-political gathering, will be hosted by Reverend Merrie Turner, ahead of the swearing-in ceremony of President-elect Donald J. Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance.
Pastor Nathaniel Bassey, affectionately known as “Pastor Nath,” will join an esteemed lineup of speakers and ministers, including Dr. Alveda King, Pastor Mario Bramnick, Revivalist Rebecca Macchi, and Dr. Dominiquae Bierman. The prayer breakfast will take place at the prestigious Waldorf Astoria Presidential Ballroom in Washington, D.C.
On his Instagram, Nathaniel Bassey confirmed his participation, saying, “Let’s raise a sound in America. And let the King of Glory come in. See you. 20th January, 2025.”
In the post, he shared further details about the event, explaining, “The Presidential Prayer Breakfast is a non-official and non-governmental event. It is a faith-based platform where intercessory prayers and worship are offered to God on behalf of the office of the president and the government of the nation. This event is held once every four years, preceding the inauguration ceremony, as a breakfast prayer meeting ahead of every new administration.”
The renowned gospel artist from Akwa Ibom is no stranger to the United States. Punch Metro recalls that in 2024, the Mayor of Albany, New York, declared October 6 as “Pastor Nathaniel Bassey Day” in the city.
In reaction to the honour, Pastor Nath expressed deep gratitude on social media: “Who am I, and what is my Father’s House that the God of all the earth would place such honour on my life? That you would take this small boy from Akwa Ibom state to the ends of the earth. I give Him all the glory. May that day be a Jesus day—a day when men and women come to the knowledge of the glorious gospel of Christ.”
He continued, “My sincere and heartfelt gratitude to the Mayor, Cathy M. Sheehan, and the dear people of Albany, House of Favour Albany, as well as the entire body of Christ in Albany, New York, for this great honour. May Albany shine and stand out as a great city in New York, in Jesus’ name. And to you saints, in this season of divine rewards, may God bestow His honour on you in Jesus’ name.”
Nathaniel Bassey is widely known for his powerful voice and iconic trumpet playing. He recently released an 18-track album titled The River on December 12, 2024. His music ministry began with his debut album Elohim in 2008, and he has since released other beloved works, including Names of God, This God Is Too Good, and Hallelujah Live. His popular songs include Jesus Iye, Yahweh Sabaoth, Book of Life, and Baba We Thank You. He is also the convener of the Hallelujah Challenge, an online, non-denominational praise and worship program that has impacted thousands globally.
As Nigerians join the rest of the world to usher in a New Year, political pundits predict an upward swing in the tempo of political activities ahead of the 2027 general election.
Judging from the outcome of the 2023 presidential election which Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) won, the performance of the three main opposition parties and their candidates stood out.
They are Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Peter Obi (Labour Party) and Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso (New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
Perhaps having learnt lessons from their collective defeat, opposition leaders are said to have began consultations in a bid to upstage Tinubu in 2027.
This was confirmed by a former National Vice Chairman (North-West) of the APC, Salihu Lukman, an ally of former Kaduna State Governor, Ahmed El-Rufa’i.
Lukman spoke on the subject on New Year’s Day.
He said: “While acknowledging that opposition political leaders, including alienated APC leaders, have commenced negotiations towards producing alternative political platform, it must be also recognised that most Nigerian politicians are not disposed to competitive political culture.
“Largely because most politicians are driven by personal ambitions to contest elections, the default mindset is about imposition and manipulating processes to achieve personal ambitions. This must stop.
“We must remind all our political leaders that if they want to prove their altruistic value and demonstrate strong disposition towards rescuing Nigeria, therefore beyond the pretentious claims of subordinating personal ambitions towards the emergence of the new platform, opposition political leaders should commit themselves to allowing political competition as basis for the emergence of political leaders at all levels”.
The question begging for answers remains, Can any of the leading opposition parties go it alone?
PDP and the trouble within
The chances of the PDP in the 2027 presidential election are uncertain, but its past performance and current challenges are worth considering.
Historically, the PDP has been a dominant political force in Nigeria.
It won every presidential election between 1999 and 2011 until it lost power to the APC in 2015 and have since struggled to bounce back.
Its presidential candidate in the 2023 poll, Atiku, lost to APC’s Bola Tinubu, receiving 29.1 percent of the vote compared to Tinubu’s 36.61 percent.
This, according to some analysts, suggests that the PDP still commands a significant following, but faces strong competition from the APC.
The party is currently struggling with internal conflict which, if left unresolved in 2025, two years ahead of the 2027 polls, could undermine its ability to present a united front at the elections.
Challenger
Atiku’s desire to be President hasn’t changed. He is expected to fight for the party ticket with Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, a potential challenger from the South.
The party also has to contend with the challenge posed by the larger than life influence of Chief Nyesom Wike.
Wike is one PDP leader who not only serves as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), under an APC administration, but has vowed to work for Tinubu’s re-election.
A former National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Kola Ologbondiyan, is optimistic about the party’s chances.
Ologbondiyan said, “Let’s consider facts. Which other party can genuinely boast of our kind of a well-established structure? Which other party enjoys our kind of grassroots organic support?
“It is only in the PDP that you can find a pool of experienced politicians, including former presidents and governors, who have the capacity to provide guidance and support. We have challenges no doubt, but we will overcome them.”
Overall, while the PDP has a chance of winning the 2027 presidential election, it will require careful planning, strategic campaigning, and a bit of luck.
Labour Party’s war of attrition
Just like the PDP, the LP is struggling to recover from leadership crisis.
Although the Julius Abure-led National Working Committee of the party enjoys the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s recognition, critical stakeholders like: the NLC, Peter Obi and the party’s only elected Governor, Alex Otti, reject his leadership.
There is even talk of Obi and co-seeking alternative platforms.
But the National Publicity Secretary of the LP, Obiora Ifoh, said, “Despite the temporary setbacks, our party has suffered with the defection of some of our lawmakers, we have started the rebuilding process.
“Our party will not only recover, we will grow and surpass our 2023 achievements at the polls.”
Romance with APC
Kwankwaso, who is the party’s national leader of the NNPP, is facing an uphill task keeping the party together.
The party boasts of one governor, some senators and members of the Kano State Assembly and members of the House of Representatives, but there is no guarantee that Kwankwaso can prevent the looming defections from the party into the ruling APC.
Whereas the 2027 presidential election in Nigeria is more than two years away, pundits agree that it’s safe to speculate about the chances of Kwankwaso and Peter Obi.
Amid the talks about a potential alliance between the two ahead of 2027, Kwankwaso expressed his willingness recently to serve as Peter Obi’s running mate under certain conditions.
This development is significant, considering their previous discussions about a merger ahead of the 2023 general election which did not materialize.
In the 2023 election, Peter Obi emerged third, securing approximately 6,101,533 votes, while Kwankwaso garnered 1,496,687 votes to emerge fourth.
While these numbers don’t necessarily predict the outcome of the 2027 election, they do indicate that both candidates have a significant following.
Dynamics
A Jos, Plateau State-based political scientist, Dr. Joseph Anuga, said, “If Kwankwaso and Peter Obi were to form an alliance, it could potentially boost their chances. We must note that the dynamics of 2023 may not be the same in 2027.”
Anuga stressed that it was essential to note that Nigerian politics can be unpredictable as various factors, including party dynamics, regional considerations, and voter sentiment ultimately influences the outcome.
Reluctance
Obi, on his part, is trying hard not to be drawn into the 2027 debate and the possibility of a merger or the formation of a mega party.
Commenting on the subject at a media event in Abuja, he said, “On the issue of merger, everybody who means well should come together to get the country to work.
“Let’s build this country. None of us is going to be here forever. For me, what is important today is Nigeria. We are so occupied about election, just as we are so occupied with power capture.”
Kwankwaso also denied the speculation that he and his two fellow opposition leaders had agreed on a formula to defeat Tinubu and share power.
He said, “I heard from a source that PDP brought in scholars – about 45 of them – and claimed that there was a consensus that Atiku will rule for four years and Peter Obi will rule for eight years. This is a complete lie and has no basis in reality”.
Master of the game
With his mastery of the political game, Tinubu and the APC know how to cultivate loyalists.
Apart from the power of incumbency, the President has ensured that those who worked for his victory in 2023 were not only rewarded but kept close.
His loyalists currently control both chambers of the National Assembly as well as all levers of state institutions and instruments of coercion. Former Governors David Umahi (Ebonyi), Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Bello Mattawalle (Zamfara), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi) and Mohammed Badaru (Jigawa) have all been rewarded with ministerial posts and are expected to repay this gesture with a repeat performance in 2027.
The President and his party have also been fingered as having more than a passing interest in the crisis in the three major opposition parties.
At this point, it’s difficult to accurately assess their chances, but the potential alliance between Kwankwaso and Peter Obi is certainly an interesting development to watch.
Huge Unsold Stock: ‘Poultry farmers in massive lost as people shunned chicken during Christmas, New Year’
AFOLABI
The Director General, DG, Poultry Association of Nigeria, PAN, Dr Onallo Akpa, narrates the losses incurred by poultry farmers during Christmas and New Year celebrations as many Nigerians snubbed chicken purchases for other commodities based on their purchasing power: Excerpts:
The preparations of poultry farmers for the Christmas and New Year festivities were highly expectant as, traditionally, there was the belief that Christmas and New Year seasons are periods that every family no matter how poor will be able to afford chicken for the festivals.
Hence, there were heavy investments in broiler production, especially the backyard small-scale poultry producers across the country.
Despite the high cost of Day Old Chicks, DOCs, orchestrated by demands for production for Christmas and the abnormally high cost of poultry feeds, poultry farmers stocked while expecting to sell at Christmas and New Year. There was virtually no family involved in poultry production that never stocked broilers for Christmas – with the expectations that whatever might be the reasons, there will be sales.
Sales and patronage at Christmas and New Year..in contrast to the expectations of most poultry farmers, all they produced could not be sold. Surprisingly, over 50 per cent of broilers produced for sale at Christmas could not be sold because of the low purchasing power of the people.
Families are striving to see how they can get any kind of food for their families, and therefore, the luxury of poultry meat as protein was not a consideration during Christmas and New Year. Poultry farmers who thought of making little profit at Christmas and New Year, are, at the moment, lamenting the losses they incurred.
A random survey of our communities at the moment reveals the presence of unsold broilers.The problems of poultry farmers are compounded as they cannot continue to feed the birds as that will amount to additional cost of production in the absence of patronage.
The resultant effect of the development is that the livelihoods of the family who have had their sustenance on small family poultry production is being eroded while farmers are losing confidence in the business, leading to the closure of poultry farms all over the country. The challenge at the moment is that of the extremely high cost of production and induced purchasing power of the people.
Mr Arube Otor, the Delta State musician who recently went viral over his plan to marry three women on the same day, to make his wives four, does not plan on stopping anytime soon.
The Isoko musician who said he was motivated by his father who equally had three wives when he was alive said he hopes to add two more to his entourage.
Asked why he chose to marry three women on the same day, he said, “What inspired me to decide to marry three women on the same day is rooted in my father’s example. When my father was alive, he married three women, and the remarkable thing was that when these women had children, you couldn’t tell which woman gave birth to which child. We lived together, ate together, and played together. This experience, growing up in such a unified family, greatly influenced my decision to marry three additional women.
“The reason I decided to marry them on the same day is because of the deep love the three women share for one another. They genuinely care for each other, and I could see the unity among them. This made it easier for me to decide that I would marry them on the same day, as they support one another in every way. I still have two pending. I plan to marry two more wives to make it a total of six.”
He said his first wife has no issue with him marrying more wives, and she, alongside his grown-up children, are all looking forward to the ceremony billed for January 19.
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Fuel Subsidy: I Know People Will Abuse Me, But I Know What It Takes To Build A Nation – Tinubu
AFOLABI
President Bola Tinubu has again justified the removal of fuel subsidy by his administration and labelled it a “necessary” move to secure the country’s future.
Speaking during a visit to Enugu State on Saturday, Tinubu insisted that the removal of the fuel subsidy is needed to build a better Nigeria.
The President stated that he was aware that people would insult him for his decision but added that he has confidence in himself and would stay the course.
He said, “You are all a member of one big, huge family called Nigeria but living in different rooms in the same house. This house, we must build it. Build it to satisfy our immediate need which is not going to be enough yet but for tomorrow too.
“That is why the removal of the first subsidy was necessary.
“You cannot spend the future of generations yet unborn in advance. Don’t bankrupt the nation before they are born. I know people will fight, grumble, abuse me, and everything but I asked for the job. I know what it takes. I believe in myself and I believe I can gather a very good team and build a nation.”
He subsequently urged Nigerians to show love for the country and shun negative comments about it.
“It is our country. We have to work really hard for it; to build a nation that we can be proud of. Change the narrative; negative comment about Nigeria? I’m not taking that! I’m very proud of Nigeria. You all should be proud of Nigeria,” he told the gathering which included Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, government functionaries, and other dignitaries present at the event.
Some of the projects the president commissioned during the visit to the Coal State are the multi-auditorium and multi-functional Enugu International Conference Centre; state-of-the-art command and control Centre/150 patrol vehicles fitted with AI-embedded surveillance cameras at the Government House
Industry experts on Saturday, predicted a significant reduction in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol, in 2025, with prices potentially dropping below ₦500 per litre.
The current price of petrol ranges between ₦900 and ₦950 per litre across various fuel stations.
The anticipated price drop is attributed to a robust downstream sector driven by the Federal Government’s deregulation policy, stable foreign exchange rates, and increased domestic refining capacity.
Key Factors Driving Price Reduction
Increased Local Refining Capacity: The commencement of operations at the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries, alongside the Dangote Refinery, is expected to boost local production and reduce dependence on imports.
The Dangote Refinery currently injects seven million litres of petrol daily into the domestic market.
The Port Harcourt Refinery, which began operations over a month ago, produces 1.4 million litres of petrol daily.
The Warri Refinery, operating at 60% capacity, focuses on producing kerosene, diesel, and naphtha.
Deregulation of the Downstream Sector: The deregulation policy has introduced competition among producers, driving prices lower.
Industry experts, who spoke to Saturday Sun, noted that petrol, which currently sells for between ₦900 and ₦950 in many fuel stations, may have its price further crashing to as low as ₦500 a litre in the course of the year.
The National Publicity Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Ukadike Chinedu, in an interview with Saturday Sun, said the entry of multiple players is already fostering healthy price competition.
He noted that the Federal Government’s policy of selling crude oil to refineries in exchange for payment in naira is expected to reduce inflation and ease foreign exchange pressures.
Chinedu highlighted the reduction in fuel prices by major players, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and Dangote Refinery, as evidence of the benefits of multiple production sources.
With improved market conditions, modular refineries, which currently produce only diesel, are planning to add petrol refining to their operations. There are 25 licensed modular refineries in Nigeria, five of which are currently in operation.
He said, “As you can see, NNPC has reduced its ex- depot price from ₦1, 045 per litre to ₦899 per litre for marketers, translating to ₦925 per litre at the pumps for the end users. This, I must say, is very commendable. These are not small drops, but massive drops from ₦1, 045 to ₦899 ex- depot is a lot of drop.”
On the other hand, he said the Dangote refinery equally implemented a similar ex-depot price slash from ₦970 to ₦899.50 per litre.
He pointed out that with the consistent availability of petroleum products, competition will set in and prices of petroleum products will drop further in the New Year.
The Publicity Secretary of Crude Oil Refiners Association of Nigeria (CORAN), Iche Idoko, while giving his take, said Nigerians would gradually begin to witness the gains, which is typical of a deregulated market.
He said, “Price drop is one of the characteristics of deregulation we had highlighted. As the industry settles in to the regime of full deregulation, we are bound to see competitions amongst players, which ultimately will benefit the consumers.”
According to him, these competitions will be around prices, product quality, and credit lines available to bulk buyers.
Frank Edoho says he was almost removed as the host of the game show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire (WWTBAM) due to allegations of domestic violence.
Edoho was previously married to Katherine Obiang for seven years. They have three children together.
The TV host recounted his relationship with his ex-wife in an interview on WithChude podcast on Saturday.
He described his marriage to Katherine as a “mismatch”, adding that they are both to blame for the relationship’s challenges.
Edoho said rumours of domestic violence began to circulate after their separation, which jeopardised his career as the host of the show.
“My ex-wife was my friend and there were children involved. I think ours was a mismatch, I was young. When she got pregnant I had cold feet but I still got married. It lasted seven years and in 2010, I left. Three years after I remarried,” he said.
“Being friends with the opposite sex doesn’t mean you should get married because that’s a different ball game. In hindsight, maybe I should have thought about it a bit more.
“She was my good friend but I think it was love too. I also think we didn’t look at each other very well before we delved into it. I’m not going to say it was only her fault, it was my fault too but not in the way people were depicting it.
“That was one of the times I was very depressed but I couldn’t say anything. The first crisis happened in 2007 but I still stayed on for three years, then it got to a head in 2010 and I left.
“When I left I was still doing Who Wants to be a Millionaire, then all of a sudden I was in the UK and my boss called me and told me to come back to Lagos because the sponsors are hearing things about me.
“They said I’m not going to present this show anymore because of those rumours. I got on a flight the following morning to attend a meeting with them.
“Luckily, my boss knew everything because I’d been telling him about the altercations between us. I was also thinking about my children. They said I committed domestic violence and I’m a wife-beater.
“After listening to them, I told them I’ll tell them everything starting from when I was dating. By the time I reached marriage and the birth of my son and first daughter, two of the ladies were crying.
“I was giving accounts of everything that happened and I told them that I have receipts. I said nobody divorced me, I took my suitcase and left the marriage.”
Frank Edoho tied the knot with his second wife Sandra Onyenuchenuya on April 2, 2014.
They have two children together.
Media
Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has announced a petrol subsidy program targeted at farmers in communities severely affected by Boko Haram insurgency.
The initiative aims to alleviate economic hardships and boost agricultural productivity.
Zulum made the announcement on Friday evening in Bama town during the distribution of farm inputs to over 5,000 farmers previously displaced by insurgents.
The governor revealed that petrol, which sells for between ₦1,000 and ₦1,200 per litre in Maiduguri, will be sold to farmers at a subsidised rate of ₦600 per litre.
Zulum said, “One of the major challenges facing the farming communities here as regards irrigation farming is the increasing cost of fuel.
“Henceforth, for irrigation farmers this season, a litre of petrol will be sold at the rate of ₦600.”
Zulum directed the Commissioner for Agriculture to collaborate with the Brigade Commander to ensure the prompt delivery of the subsidised petrol to farmers in Bama town.
Farm Inputs Distribution
In addition to the fuel subsidy, Zulum distributed critical farm inputs, including:
– 2,000 bags of blended NPK fertiliser;
– 1,000 water pumps;
– 620 gasoline pumps;
– 380 solar water pumps;
– 1,000 sprayers;
– 800 rolls of 2-inch flexible hose;
– 1,000 litres of pesticides;
– Seeds for various crops.
The governor highlighted that over 100 tube wells have already been constructed for irrigation farmers, with plans underway to build 250 more.
Resettlement Efforts And Reconstruction
Zulum also visited Darajama and Goniri villages in Bama Local Government Area to inspect ongoing reconstruction efforts.
Expressing satisfaction with the quality of work, he reiterated his administration’s commitment to resettling displaced communities and warned against any attempts to sabotage the initiative.
The governor extended gratitude to the federal government for its support in facilitating the resettlement and reconstruction of insurgency-affected communities.