A Chieftain of the main opposition People’s Democratic Party, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has canvassed against moves to turn the Nigerian nation into a one party state ahead of the 2027 general election.

Former presidential candidate, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has declared that he is not intimidated by either legal or political manoeuvres aimed at weakening the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), insisting that Nigeria’s multiparty democracy is too deeply rooted to be destroyed.

In a strongly worded statement issued in Abuja, Olawepo-Hashim said he was “not intimidated by the legal and political subterfuges sponsored by the ruling APC”, stressing that no individual or party can monopolise power in Nigeria.

According to him, Nigeria has historically embraced pluralism as a tool for managing its diversity, noting that the nation’s founding fathers deliberately chose a multiparty system at independence.

His words “Nigeria has always been committed to multiparty democracy, Even in the First Republic, political power was never concentrated in the hands of one man or one party.”

He recalled that despite the towering influence of Sir Ahmadu Bello as leader of the Northern People’s Congress, other political forces such as Aminu Kano’s NEPU, J.S. Tarka’s Middle Belt Congress, and Sir Kashim Ibrahim’s Borno People’s Union coexisted with significant influence and representation.

Olawepo-Hashim noted that similar political diversity thrived in the South West, where the Action Group competed with the NCNC, alongside regional parties such as the Ibadan People’s Party.

“Our democracy has never been a democracy of one star flying in its firmament,” he said. “In our sky are thousands of stars.”

Going down memory lane, the PDP presidential aspirant likened the current political climate to the failed self-succession agenda of late military ruler, General Sani Abacha, who attempted to impose himself as the sole presidential candidate of all five registered political parties at the time.

“We are living witnesses to the failure of that plot,” he said, warning that although today’s situation carries “a more sinister twist,” the outcome would be no different.

“While Abacha sought to make himself the sole candidate of all parties, the current agenda is to ensure that no major party is strong enough to field a credible candidate,” Olawepo-Hashim stated.

Expressing confidence that such efforts would collapse, he stressed that, “just as the Abacha plot ended unrealised, this infantile machination will end in disaster for its authors, by the grace of God.”

Olawepo-Hashim also recalled his personal involvement in the struggle against military rule, emphasising that the resistance was led from within Nigeria, not from exile.

“We fought the self-succession plot here at home, not as self-styled exiled democrats sipping cognac in foreign embassies,” he said.

He revealed that he was part of the internal resistance delegation present at Fort IBB on June 8, 1998, during a critical moment in Nigeria’s history, even as heavy military movements threatened the nation’s future.

Olawepo-Hashim expressed firm belief that history would repeat itself saying “the same God who granted us the grace to witness the collapse of the Abacha plot will also help us see the end of the APC-or-no-other-party agenda”.

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 YUSUPH OLANIYONU pays tribute to Bukola Saraki, former Senate President at 63

If you ask Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki for the birthday gift he desires today, he will probably request unity within his political party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as his best wish for the moment. The PDP is facing yet another crisis after losing power 10 years ago. And as his 63rd birthday approached, Saraki refused to endorse any form of celebration.

Rather, his pre-occupation for now is how to work with some party leaders, stakeholders, elders, and members to initiate discussions on how to unite the various feuding groups within the PDP. To many, this is a far-fetched option. It would have been easier to just move over with his supporters to the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) as it is the fad in the country’s political arena today.

However, the former Senate President has vowed not to be part of any agenda that will create a one-party state in Nigeria. He would not be part of a plan to foreclose options to the electorate as democracy itself is about free choices, made under a credible, peaceful, and competitive atmosphere.

There are also others who believe the much-talked-about coalition can do so much and so well with his strategic thinking and planning aptitude. He has also said he would not be part of an arrangement cobbled together out of anger and for personal designs.

He would also not consider moving into a small party just for the sake of contesting elections in 2027. To him, all such designs are short-term plans and only aimed at power or state capture. They do not represent a desire to create an enduring solution. They cannot produce a platform that can strengthen democracy or enrich the political process for the purpose of serving the country and its people.

To him, the PDP remains the best platform that can effectively challenge the ruling party and offer a credible option to the people. He believes the PDP has a rich history, pervasive reach, enduring structure, tested brand, and solid bases that if supported by committed people, determined leaders, and the right resources, can win elections, without much problem.

Saraki is a die-hard PDP man. He believes defecting to another hurriedly put-together party led by elements with disparate backgrounds will not solve the problem of Nigeria. Just like the APC after ten years in power is unable to do. PDP, he said, has all the potential and institutional processes for building an enduring platform that will provide good governance, strengthen democracy, and enrich the political process.

He is also determined to take the difficult route, strewn with thorns and hard rubbles. The easy way, he said, never leads to a lasting solution. The benefits are never enduring. They are never a good option for a country with an expected long lifespan.

It is not surprising that more and more leaders in the PDP are listening to him and working with him. It seems that one of the values and virtues that any Nigerian cannot take away from Saraki is his ability to reconcile feuding elements, unite a divided group, and stabilize a ship amidst a storm. Thrice, the PDP had turned to him to steady the ship when it hit the stormy water or when it was heading for the rock.

On each occasion, he was able to work with others in achieving stability and steadying the wobbling craft. You may wonder why the ship relapsed into difficult terrain after Saraki’s past efforts. This is because the storm in Nigerian politics when a party loses power in a dramatic way the PDP did is always ceaseless. After all, the scheme by the incumbent party and the inability of the former office holders to cope with the loss of power will forever ensure the former ruling party remains in disarray. That is the dynamic of politics in a third world.

Saraki by nature is a man built for difficult tasks. He never liked the easy way. Perhaps, that is why a medical doctor who is the son of another medical doctor and had a hospital he could just inherit and work to expand decided to pursue his interest in business. It is also the reason why as governor despite the assurances of the support of an enduring and strong political structure, he worked 25 hours a day to ensure the success of his administration.

He said he wanted to be a good model for other politicians with a privileged background that coming from a rich home does not make one a poor performer and that a poor background does not make one a good administrator. He wanted to reassure the people that even though he was never hungry out of want or lack of food, he perfectly understands the needs of the people and what role the government should play to improve their standard of living.

He also decided to seek the Senate Presidency because for four years as a Senator, he observed that the leadership of the institution needed to initiate deliberate actions and programmes that would correct the wrong perception that its members do nothing and are a burden on the cost of governance. Today, many still reminisce about how the Eighth Senate he led made so many positive differences. And that is in spite of deliberate efforts by the executive arm to frustrate the legislature and unsettle its steady progress.

Perhaps, his predilection for always working towards reconciliation and unity also emanated from his background. A man with a father from Kwara State in the North Central zone or an area originally known as the middle belt of Nigeria, his home state creates a buffer between the North and the South. His late mother was from the Southwestern Ondo State. His paternal grandmother was from the Southwestern Oyo State.

His father was a Muslim and his mother was a Christian. While he is a staunch Muslim, his wife is a devout Christian. Thus, he had the temperament to understand and deal calmly, fairly, and impartially with all the issues that constitute the fault lines in the country. He has also proved to be a man capable of dealing boldly and maturely with challenges and setbacks.

For him, six years out of power has only strengthened him intellectually and positioned him in a vantage position to view issues as an impartial observer. It has also made him appreciate why those who are blessed by God should spend more of their resources to help the less privileged and invest more in developing the communities. He spends more time now on his relationship with Almighty Allah (SWT), community development, family, and business.

At 63 today, the man reputed for always seeking to solve difficult problems as he did with the Offa – Erinle crisis, the Petroleum Industry Act, and many other issues while always leaving a place better than he met it, continues to retain his relevance, years after office. Happy birthday, sir.

Olaniyonu writes from Abuja

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Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja has sentenced a trader, Abdullahi Sale, to life for defiling and kidnapping his 13-year-old neighbour.

He was sentenced after after he was found guilty on two counts of defilement and abduction brought against him by the state government.

The judge held that the prosecution had proved the case against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt.

The prosecution had told the court that the offences were contrary to Sections 137 and 268 of the Lagos State Criminal Law, 2015.

The convict, who resided in a room apartment at Agunbiade Street, Kirikiri Town, Apapa, allegedly convinced the JSS1 student to enter his room, defiled and detained her in his apartment for 11 days

During trial, the prosecution called witnesses including the survivor’s mother, who testified that her daughter went missing after they returned from church and that during this time, Sale reportedly came to inquire about the girl multiple times, pretending to be concerned, while keeping her confined in his room within the same compound.

She told the court that a naval officer eventually found the girl sitting alone on the street, and took her to the police station, after which the girl led officers to Sale’s room, revealing that he had imprisoned her, fed her with instant noodles, supplied containers for urination and defecation.

The survivor testified in November 2022, that she had never entered Sale’s room before the incident. She described how she entered and then found herself locked inside a dark room for about a week.

A nurse and midwife, Oluchi Nwoke, who testified as the third prosecution witness, presented a medical report from the Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF) Centre in Yaba. The report showed significant vaginal discharge, bruising, healed lacerations and an intact hymen.

It concluded that these findings were consistent with forced vaginal penetration, noting that the girl had been sexually assaulted twice while confined in Sale’s room.

The convict denied the allegations, claiming that the girl approached him asking for N15,000 to obtain an abortion, initially saying it was for a friend, before allegedly admitting she was pregnant for a barber named Samuel.

Justice Oshodi, in his judgment, dismissed the convict’s testimony as “wholly incredible”, describing it as implausible, internally contradictory, and inconsistent with proven facts.

The judge found that the prosecution proved the girl was 13 at the time, making her a child under the Child Rights Law.

He further held that she was detained in the defendant’s room for 11 days, and that a child could not legally consent to such detention for sexual reasons.

Justice Oshodi described the crimes as “grievous”, emphasising that Sale had betrayed his neighbour’s trust and worsened the family’s distress by pretending to help search for the girl while holding her in his room and sexually abusing her.

He stated that Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State prescribes life imprisonment for child defilement, reflecting the legislature’s intent to treat such crimes with utmost severity.

“Abdullahi Sale, on Count one, the offence of defilement contrary to Section 137 of the Criminal Law, I sentence you to life imprisonment. On count two, the offence of abduction contrary to Section 268 of the same law, I sentence you to seven years’ imprisonment. The sentence on Count two shall run from the date of your remand in custody on September 17, 2021. Both sentences shall run concurrently, which means you shall serve life imprisonment.

“As the prosecution urged me during sentencing in accordance with Sections 33 and 38 of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency Law, 2021, I order that your name be entered into the Sex Offenders Register,” the judge added.

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Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde, widely known as K1 De Ultimate or KWAM1, has urged the Ogun State High Court in Ijebu-Ode, to halt the process of installing a new Awujale of Ijebuland.

In the suit dated 16 December, the artist, a claimant to the Awujale throne, wants the court to halt the process of selecting the next king of Ijebuland pending the hearing and determination of his substantive suit contesting his rejection by the Funsengbuwa Ruling House, widely regarded as the next in line to produce the next Awujale.

He named Governor Dapo Abiodun as the first respondent, alongside the chairman of Ijebu-Ode Local Government, the commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the Secretary of the Local Government, the chairman of the Awujale Interregnum Administrative Council, and the chairman of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, the Nigerian Tribune reported.

He asked the court to issue an interlocutory injunction restraining the respondents from taking any further steps in the Awujale selection and installation process pending the determination of the substantive suit.

His requests are contained in the ex parte motion he filed along with his substantive suit, arguing that an interim injunction is necessary to protect his interest and preserve the subject matter of the dispute from being altered or interfered with by the respondents.

As of the time of filing this report, the court had not fixed a date for the hearing of the application.

Awujale Stool

The succession tussle for the stool of the Awujale has generated intense interest across Ijebuland, with more than 60 princes reportedly expressing interest.

One of the most controversial figures in the unfolding contest is Mr Ayinde, who had expressed interest in the vacant Awujale stool, a claim he anchored on his alleged lineage to the Jadiara Royal House within the broader Fusengbuwa Ruling House.

However, the Fusengbuwa family rejected the claim, insisting that he has no ancestral link to the ruling house.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported the Ogun State Government’s decision to halt the ongoing nomination exercise and order a restart, citing procedural lapses that could trigger prolonged legal disputes.

The intervention came after the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, next in line under the rotational arrangement provided in the Awujale Chieftaincy Declaration and the Ogun State Obas and Chiefs Law, moved to convene a nomination meeting on 15 December. The exercise was aimed at selecting candidates to succeed Oba Sikiru Adetona, who died in July at the age of 91 after a 65-year reign.

In a letter dated 11 December, the ruling house had announced the planned meeting. However, it was later postponed, with the chairman of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House confirming that the decision followed an intervention by the state government.

READ ALSO: Finally, Gov Mutfwang dumps PDP, defects to APC

Government officials said the move was necessary to ensure strict compliance with the 2021 Obas and Chiefs Law and the 1957 Chieftaincy Declaration, warning that any deviation from the prescribed process could expose the succession exercise to litigation.

Authorities had identified procedural flaws in how the nomination process was initiated, prompting the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to convene a stakeholders’ meeting and direct that the exercise be cancelled and restarted in line with established legal and traditional requirements.

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A video making the rounds on social media has captured the moment a Nigerian lady shared her experience at her business place after being called by her neighbours.



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Charles Omole, lawyer and author of From Soldier to Statesman – The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari, says there are at least five groups of cabals within the Bola Tinubu administration.

Omole spoke on Thursday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

He said: “The president will always have people around him. But you need to put systems in place to avoid state capture or presidential capture because, for example, the current government has, from what I can see, at least five cabals within the presidency.

“And the interesting thing about one of the cabals actually is headed by the president himself, based on my own analysis.”

He said the first group revolves around Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff to the president.

His words: “So, in this current administration, at least there are five groups. There is the Chief of Staff group headed by Femi Gbajabiamila.

“And by that I mean not just him, but there are people in that circle like the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, and the national security adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.

“Secondly, you have the Seyi Tinubu’s group, consisting of those he helped get some government appointments and all that. And of course, you have the First Lady’s group, Remi Tinubu.”

The author spoke days after the unveiling of his book in Abuja, alleging that cabals influenced governance under Muhammadu Buhari, the former president.

Omole said Buhari enjoyed reading newspapers but claimed some cabals curated special versions of newspapers for him.

“While Buhari loved reading newspapers, there were reports that the cabal created a version of newspapers that planted stories they wanted him to read,” he said.

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The Hisbah board in Dandume local government area of Katsina state has arrested several men and women during a raid on a house allegedly used for immoral activities.

The raid was carried out on December 17, 2025, at about 9:30 pm.

Abdullahi Muntari, information officer of the Hisbah board, disclosed this in a statement.

The operation was led by Aliyu Ahmed, acting operations commander of the board, following reports of suspected immoral conduct at the premises.

“It is unfortunate that some people are comfortable letting their house become a den for foul activities. We arrested several young men and women and we will investigate the matter properly,” Ahmed said.

The hisbah board said it would continue to carry out similar operations to protect the moral values of the community.

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There are reports that about 20 million barrels of Nigerian crude oil for December and January loading has remained unsold by Thursday, according to two traders.

According to Reuters, Angola’s December to January programmes still had as many as five to six cargoes still available.

It stated that these West African crude oil sellers are struggling to find buyers for up to 26 December- and January-loading cargoes due to stiff competition from plentiful and cheaper alternative supplies, traders and analysts told Reuters.

The amount of unsold Nigerian and Angolan crude, analysts say, is a symptom of a wider oil market surplus. It drove selling on the international futures market that pushed Brent crude below $60 per barrel to the lowest since May this week.

Some analysts have suggested that this challenge is a symptom of a wider oil market surplus, which has seen the Brent crude sell below $60 per barrel, the lowest since May this week, the report noted.

Victoria Grabenwoger of analytics firm Kpler said, “The overhang of West African cargoes partly reflects the broader global crude supply surplus emerging in Q1.’’

These cargoes have slowed the start of the trading cycle for February cargoes even though Angola’s loading schedule and term nominations have already been released.

Unsold crude unusual

The report suggests that such large amount of unsold oil is unusual, especially for the current month, given the West African trade cycle is typically closer to two months ahead. Estimates for both countries’ overhang was as high as 40 million barrels earlier this week.

“Current market softness appears to be partly seasonal and partly due to shifting buying patterns in response to freight costs and alternative supply options,” said OilX analyst Francisco Gutierrez, adding that Angolan January trade is 20% behind its long-term average pace because the world’s biggest commodities buyer China has switched to cheaper, or nearer alternative grades.

Supplies from the Middle East are displacing medium and heavy West African grades in Asia as lowered official selling prices in January and shorter voyages give those grades a competitive edge, the analysts said.

India’s oil imports from Russia have remained resilient despite tightening Western sanctions, displacing medium-heavy density West African crudes, while light to medium-density West African grades is struggling to compete with supplies from Argentina and Brazil, two traders said.

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Afrobeats megastar, David ‘Davido’ Adeleke will be performing at the opening concert of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations 2025 in Rabat, Morocco, on Saturday.

Read Also: Carter Efe becomes Africa’s most-followed Twitch streamer after Davido appearance

The Confederation of African Football, CAF, announced this in a statement on Thursday.

Also performing are French Montana; Moroccan singer, Douaa Lahyaoui; French-Moroccan star, Lartiste, and Says’z.

Acording to CAF, “The Confederation of African Football has officially announced the artists set to headline the opening concert of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 in Rabat.

“Global hip-hop star French Montana and Nigerian Afrobeats icon Davido will lead an exciting international line-up, joined by Moroccan sensation Douaa Lahyaoui, French-Moroccan hitmaker Lartiste, and rising artist Says’z. The diverse selection reflects AFCON’s celebration of African culture, music, and global influence.

“The opening concert is scheduled for Saturday, just a day before the tournament kicks off, setting the tone for what is expected to be an unforgettable AFCON in Morocco.

“Fans in Rabat and across Africa are eagerly counting down to a night where football and music unite on a grand stage.”

Vanguard News

The post Davido to perform at AFCON 2025 opening concert appeared first on Vanguard News.

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Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Thursday commissioned the newly built Omololu Olunloyo Relaxation Park, a tourism and leisure facility named in honour of a former governor of the state, Dr Victor Omololu Olunloyo.

The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Barrister Abdulraheem Bayo Lawal, said the park, located along Airport Road, Alakia, Ibadan, would serve both recreational and cultural purposes while preserving the rich heritage of Oyo State.

Makinde noted that the facilities and artefacts displayed at the park would enable residents and visitors to better understand the history, culture and uniqueness of the various geopolitical zones of the state.

He explained that the project was conceived from an abandoned site and developed to immortalise Dr Olunloyo, whom he described as a brilliant and outstanding statesman who made immense contributions to Oyo State and Nigeria.

According to him, Dr Olunloyo distinguished himself early in life, becoming a commissioner in his twenties and excelling in all his endeavours.

He said the decision to immortalise the late elder statesman was taken while he was still alive, recalling the earlier commissioning of a dual carriageway named after Olunloyo, which connects the city to the airport.

Makinde added that the area where the park now stands was previously occupied by shanties, stressing that the state government decided to restore order, beautify the environment and honour a notable son of the state.

He described the park as unique, noting that it houses cultural artefacts representing different parts of Oyo State, including Ibarapa, Oke Ogun, Ogbomosho and Ibadan.

He urged users of the facility to maintain it properly and use it strictly for its intended purpose, noting its proximity to the international airport and the likelihood of frequent visits by investors and foreign tourists.

He said the park should project the serenity and beauty of the state to visitors.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Public Works, Infrastructure and Transport, Abulmojeed Mogbonjubola, described the park as another milestone in Governor Makinde’s efforts to redefine Ibadan’s skyline and enhance the aesthetics of the rapidly developing metropolis.

He said the project was designed as a centre for leisure, history and culture, and reflects the administration’s commitment to urban renewal and physical development.

The commissioning ceremony was attended by the Deputy Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Mohammed Fadeyi; the Head of Service, Mrs Olubunmi Oni, mni; members of the State Executive Council; the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade; co-chairman of the Oyo State Elders’ Council, Chief Wole Oyelese; and former President-General of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, Chief Bayo Oyero.

Other dignitaries present included Oloye Lekan Alabi; President-General of CCII, Barrister Ajeniyi Ajewole; Chairman of Local Government Chairmen in Oyo State, Sikiru Sanda; service commanders, traditional rulers and religious leaders.

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