Category: PM News

The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has issued a strong warning to Goodluck Jonathan regarding his political future, particularly over reports that the former president may join the 2027 presidential race.

In a statement signed by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, Primate Ayodele cautioned Jonathan to tread carefully if he intends to contest under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

According to the cleric, the PDP is under a spiritual curse, and any aspirant who chooses to run on its ticket will face significant obstacles that demand extraordinary effort and divine intervention.

He stressed that while Jonathan has the option of considering other political parties with stronger prospects than the PDP, running under the PDP would require him to embark on intense preparation, spiritual dedication, and serious work to overcome the challenges tied to the party.

‘If Jonathan wants to come out of PDP, he will do a lot of work because there is a curse on the party already. There are other parties he can contest from that will give him better chances than PDP,’ Primate Ayodele stated.

The cleric further warned that Jonathan’s biggest challenge might not just come from the political platform but from the people around him.

He predicted that the former president would be surrounded by individuals who would give him misleading advice, which could derail his ambitions.

‘Jonathan will be blindfolded; wrong advisers will destroy his dreams. If he contests and eventually loses, he will be embarrassed by his past and face public disrespect,’ Ayodele cautioned.

Primate Ayodele therefore urged Jonathan to be certain of his decision before making any political move, emphasizing that his choice of platform, advisers, and spiritual preparation will determine whether his ambition strengthens his legacy or damages his reputation.

Commuters and motorists have expressed hope of relief from traffic jams following the reopening of Ogudu-Ifako Bridge following the completion of repair works on 400 metres of its four expansion joints by Lagos government on Tuesday.

A commuter, Ms Adebisi Adesesan, expressed relief, noting that the reopening would ease traffic. ‘We suffered long hours during the closure, but this is worth it,’ she said.

A commercial driver, Mr Taofeek Shittu, said the reopening would reduce fuel costs and travel time. ‘Traffic was terrible. This reopening is a big relief for us,’ he noted.

A section of the bridge was closed to vehicular traffic on June 28 to enable construction.

The Ogudu/Ifako Bridge inbound Alapere was originally expected to be ready in 100 days, but the repair works were completed in just 73 days.

The first four phases of the project, covering the Ogudu/Ifako inbound Alapere stretch, were completed between June 28 and Aug. 16.

The fifth to eighth phases, which covered the Ogudu/Ifako inbound Oworoshoki axis, commenced in August and have also been successfully completed and reopened to traffic.

Special Adviser on Infrastructure, Mr Olufemi Daramola, and Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Seun Osiyemi, led a team to inspect the project and certify the works.

Daramola stated that the project, initially scheduled for 101 days, was finished in 78 days due to cooperation from stakeholders and commitment from the contractors.

He explained that defects on the expansion joints, if left unattended, could have compromised motorists’ safety and further weakened the busy bridge.

According to him, the early completion was possible through combined efforts of contractors, security agencies, and the patience of Lagos residents throughout the repair period.

‘We undertook this repair to guarantee safety. Thankfully, with the cooperation of the people, we have been able to deliver ahead of schedule,’ Daramola said.

He commended residents for their endurance during the partial closure, stressing that the bridge is now fully opened to vehicular movement without restrictions.

The special adviser revealed that the next point of attention for government engineers would be the Maza-Maza area, where similar maintenance works are planned.

Also speaking, Osiyemi expressed gratitude to Lagos residents for their understanding, promising that the state government would continue its infrastructure renewal drive.

‘This success belongs to everyone. Lagosians endured the inconveniences and supported the process. We sincerely appreciate your perseverance and patience,’ the commissioner said.

He urged the people to protect the facilities, stressing that they are funded with taxpayers’ money and designed to provide long-term benefits.

Osiyemi recalled that the administration had delivered similar repairs at Odo-Iyalaro and Apongbon bridges, with several other projects currently underway across the state.

‘Our focus remains the delivery of safe, durable and sustainable infrastructure for a greater Lagos. We will need the same cooperation in future projects,’ he added.

Music legend Lionel Richie has lifted the lid on one of Michael Jackson’s lesser-known quirks and it’s wild.

In his new memoir, Truly, Richie recalls that the King of Pop, despite his global fame, often went days without changing clothes, earning him the teasing nickname ‘Smelly’ from producer Quincy Jones.

‘Michael would laugh, realizing he hadn’t changed or washed his clothes for a couple of days,’ Richie writes. ‘We all have our quirks.’

According to Richie, Jackson’s eccentric style of living was partly down to life on the road, performing in elaborate stage costumes or relaxing in loose pajamas and slippers at home.

But it didn’t stop there, the superstar reportedly wore his jeans and underwear until they were literally falling apart. Fans and staff often grabbed his outfits as souvenirs, leaving him with few options but to keep wearing them.

Richie recounts a hilarious moment when Jackson came to visit him looking particularly unkempt. The singer was handed clean jeans and underwear, encouraged to shower and left his old clothes behind.

‘There on the carpet were his old jeans and underwear, just lying there like roadkill,’ Richie writes. ‘What do I do but laugh? MJ was here.’

Even with his unusual hygiene habits, Richie reminds fans that Jackson was a musical genius, able to pick apart 15 different mixes of a single song. But off-stage, he was just like Richie says: ‘Winging it every minute.’