Asianet Pakistan Private Limited

A teenager, Ikem Ebechi, has assured children and young people that no matter the challenges they may be facing, when a new season comes, God makes a way where there seems to be none.

The male teenager said while ministering to children during the third United Kingdom edition of the Children Praise and Pray (CPP) event held on August 15 in Oakwood Grove, Warwick, England, UK, with the theme ‘A new season’, derived from Isaiah 43:19.

The CPP is an annual international event held in Nigeria (its 10th edition held on August 1st) and in Canada (its maiden edition held on August 8th), organised by the non-governmental organisation (NGO), the Outpour of Fragrances Initiative (OFI).

Speaking extensively on the theme, Ikem said that life can present people, including children, with uncertainties or hardship, making them wonder if things will change, and also making them focus more on the past than on the present and the good things associated with it.

‘But God said we should trust in him because He has good plans for us. He said He will make a way for us where there seems to be no way,’ he said.

He assured that no matter the situation, when a new season comes, broken relationships are restored, peace is guaranteed, and there will be hope for the discouraged, adding, ‘And every day will be a chance to love, rejoice, be kind, and become more like Christ.’

Another teenager, Tami, and Aunty Ehehi anchored the Bible questions and answers (QandAs) task on ‘Would you rather or…’ In this session, questions like these were asked: Would you rather build the ark with Noah or walk around the Walls of Jericho with Joshua? Would you rather ride the largest chariot of fire or watch Jesus walk on water? Would you rather witness the parting of the Red Sea or the falling of the Walls of Jericho? Etc.

The Founder and President of the Outpour of Fragrances Initiative (OFI), Dr Lola Odeyale Ayo-Fashida, stated that, since they started the CPP event in 2017, God has been using the organisation to minister and empower children, spiritually and educationally.

Delivering her address earlier, Dr Ayo-Fashida appreciated Aunty Faith, Aunty Chudi, Aunty Joy, Aunty Blessing Ebehi, Alex, Brianna, Sophie, Oliseka, Atarah, Tami, other volunteers, and parents who made the UK event possible.

‘When I received the mandate to start this initiative in 2017, God told me to gather children and let them praise Him. Adults are not exempted too, because we are all children of God,’ she said.

She noted that the CPP event is not the only programme that her organisation runs. She said that they organise other programmes in Nigeria, and hope to expand to other African countries.

Ayo-Fashida spoke to the children about her new children’s book titled ‘Bisola and the Paper Clock’, which she said teaches time management and the power of writing things down.

She said that it is important for children to write down their ideas and dreams because even God wrote down His word in the Bible, adding that when things are written down, they happen because there is power in what is written down.

‘Writing things down helps you to think clearly and to stay focused. People who have achieved great things or have become great wrote it down and worked for it,’ she said.

At the event, the children and their parents prayed for their families, schools, country, and the church. The event also featured songs, quiz competitions, games, choreography and other presentations.

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has affirmed Honourable Nasiru Sule Garo as its senatorial candidate to contest against Deputy Senate President Senator Barau Jibrin for the Kano North Senatorial District seat in the 2027 general elections.

Barau currently represents the senatorial district in the Senate on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The affirmation followed the party’s decision to substitute Engineer Sunusi Danbatta with Garo as its substantive candidate for the senatorial election.

Speaking at the affirmation ceremony held at the party’s senatorial office in Bichi, the NDC Kano State Chairman, Honourable Usaini Isa Mai Riga, said the decision was reached after extensive consultations and consideration of Garo’s experience as a former member of the National Assembly.

Mai Riga, who was represented by the party’s Zonal Vice Chairman, Alhaji Bello Ado Yandadi, said the affirmation marked the conclusion of the party’s internal process for selecting its candidate ahead of the election.

Danbatta, who withdrew from the race, described his decision as voluntary and pledged his full support and cooperation to Garo and other NDC candidates in the 2027 elections.

Accepting the nomination, Garo pledged to carry all members of the party along and provide effective representation to the people of Kano North if elected.

He appealed to voters across the senatorial district to support his candidacy and the political agenda of the NDC.

Garo is a three-time member of the House of Representatives, where he represented Gwarzo/Kabo Federal Constituency.

The party’s State Organising Secretary, Alhaji Sunusi Surajo Kwankwaso, said Garo’s candidacy would strengthen the NDC’s preparations for the 2027 election in Kano North.

Surajo said the party’s campaign would focus on issues affecting constituents, including economic empowerment, agricultural development, education, healthcare, infrastructure and improved representation.

Party officials at the event urged members and supporters to remain united and work collectively towards securing victory for the NDC in the 2027 elections.

Garo has already commenced consultations with stakeholders, party members and residents across the 13 local government areas of Kano North Senatorial District as part of efforts to build support ahead of the election.

Upon resting the 2018 Osun governorship election in favour of Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, this writer packaged and submitted a memorandum titled: HUMBLE OBSERVATIONS, HELPFUL TIPS AS ASSUMPTION BECKONS. The memo was not a trifling note. It was a proposal on salutary performance strategies for the administration of the incoming governor, a manual for practical, people-centred governance, born out of loyalty to the governor and conviction that power, if not tempered by wisdom, becomes tyranny. I had been with the Osun people’s new choice before, during, and after the campaigns, and was a familiar face in the Ilerioluwa political circle.

Sensing that my welcome in that circle was already waning and might expire soon, I made bold to hand him the document, a strange but sincere offering, consequence of not just personal observations of developments, but also interactions with individuals spread through the settlements, especially during the campaigns and after the elections. Yet, like Cassandra of Troy, whose prophecies were true but ignored, my words were cast aside. Verba volant, scriptamanent – words fly away, writings remain. In this instance, however, the writing was abandoned alongside even the writer – baby, birth-water fed the sewers!

The memo urged Oyetola to establish a Monitor-the-Monitor Committee, an underhand body to ensure that executive directives and contracts were faithfully implemented, without sabotage or corruption. It was a call to vigilance, a recognition that betrayal often comes from within. It equally recommended a Directorate of Restitution and Family Affairs to reward forgotten/sidelined party loyalists, empower widows, and support struggling families. It was a humane proposal, a recognition that politics is not merely about power but about people. Oyetola directly inherited those horribly bruised by Rauf Aregbesola’s exclusionist governance style, and the memo recommended that they be accommodated and palliated. Same memo further proposed a Directorate of Social and Community Vigilance to sniff out real community needs and present them for government action. Some towns needed water, others needed roads – governance should be responsive to grassroots yearnings!

The submission commended town hall meetings to be emplaced in the three zones of the state; radio programmes for citizens to suggest solutions for general governance challenges, especially as inherited from erstwhile administrations; as well as compulsory financial donations by contractors to welfare of party people. It advised repairs of critical roads – Gbongan-Osogbo, Osogbo-Ikirun, Oja’ba-Ilesa, among others; rotation of Jumat attendance across mosques statewide; street walks to meet with and parley traders, artisans and drivers; establishment of food banks and kitchens to cushion effects of inflation; cassava and gari processing plants to support communities; and unscheduled visits to decrepit sections of State Secretariat at Abere. These were not frivolous musings; they were practical, politically astute measures meant to augment popularity and acceptance.

But Oyetola repugned them all. Ignorantia non excusat – ignorance is no excuse! But this time his was even not ignorance; it was hubris! From Ila, Ede, OdoOtin, Egbedore, to Iwo, Ikire, Ifelodun, Atakunmosa East, Obokun, Ipetumodu, Boripe, Ife and Modakeke were men and women who laboured, who sacrificed, and who remained steadfast to the cause of the All Progressives Congress (APC), but were abandoned, discredited, chased away and even later persecuted. Ingratus est qui beneficium accepit et non reddit – ungrateful is he who receives a benefit and does not repay. In the assessment of many a party people, Oyetola’s ingratitude was monumental.

The consequences of ignoring loyalists were dire and soon to be earned. Resentment festered, confidence eroded, and treachery became the feelings similarly nursed in the hearts of hitherto devoted party votaries. The grassroots, once the bedrock of APC’s strength, turned away in disgust. The artisans, farmers, market women and men, and youth groups who should have been courted through townhalls were ignored; journalists who should have been rallied were abandoned; roads that should have been repaired remained decrepit; mosques and churches that should have felt his presence became neglected; food banks that should have cushioned inflation were never established; cassava farms and gari plants that should have empowered communities were never built, and civil servants were similarly undeserving of whatever cushionary measures. Hybris was creed of Oyetola years, and nemesis deservedly cantered aloft.

Amicus certus in re incerta cernitur – a true friend is seen in uncertain times. Oyetola proved no friend to quite a number of those who had carried him to victory! He replaced genuine loyalists with opportunists who he granted unfettered access to himself. By the end of four years when it was time to be constitutionally invited to account at people’s voting parliament, he had proven to be governor of only a puny coterie of deceptive hangers-on! Across Osogbo, Gbongon, Ifon, Ilobu, Inisa, Ikirun among other places, are such stories as I tell here, those whose stories would make the most cold-hearted burst in loud wails and cause even the earth to tremble. And so, he lost his re-election bid to the ‘dancer-opponent,’ Senator Ademola Adeleke, who has since solidified his hold on Osun politics, having learned and mastered the language of grassroots governance.

The defeat could not have ended with Oyetola, as Bola Oyebamiji, his Finance Commissioner, merely waited to be reminded by the people what his former boss did to them. Perhaps, the case might have been different if Oyetola had operated as sponsor behind the curtains – he did not! It is wickedness for politically successful men and women to use their offices to favour certain associates and unfavour others, though all had similarly laboured for them in the trenches of struggle. Governance may not be a popularity contest within the larger populace, it is a contest of popularity, particularly among party people! Is the more not the merrier again? Fiat justitiaruatcaelum – let justice be served though the heavens fall. Oyetola, for abandoning the sincere memo and such other similarly useful memos as might have emanated from other quartres, abandoned the people. Oyebamiji and APC inherited the pains of that abandonment and paid the price.

The Osun electorate made no mistakes in preferring Adeleke. Accord is a relatively new party, having minimal structure, carrying much less familiar logo. Those who were shocked by APC’s loss have either not been following developments in Osun State or are simply unfaithful to unmistakable nudges of their own souls. I have repeatedly argued that people in the nooks don’t do party, especially on election days. Armed with the ballot, and as they approach the polling booths, they do persons and personalities.

The electorate knows the difference between leaders who genuinely love them and pretenders who wield authority only for self and cronies. They have lived through promises abandoned, memos ignored, and grassroots voices silenced. Aregbe brought ‘half-salary’ debacle, and Oyetola consolidated it. Adeleke implemented my memo without ever reading it: he turned Osun State into one massive construction site with roads, bridges and flyovers; he made grassroots empowerment a ceaseless, unending practice; paid workers whatever was being owed by past administrations and basically revolutionised their monthly package! To such wronged electorate now enjoying unprecedented lease, voter cards and ballot papers must come handy during election times as inescapable instruments of justice, either way. Voting centres must for them become points to send messages that governance must be genuine, that communities must be the very focus and essence of administration, and that they – the people who could not access executive chambers to force/enforce favourable decisions – as owners of election day, would pay back betrayal with the ballot. Vox populi…!

For residents of Abesan Estate in Ipaja, Saturday, July 11, began like any other weekend. After the mental and emotional toll of the working week in Lagos, residents had looked forward to a restful and peaceful Saturday.

But that particular morning turned out differently. Rather than provide the much-needed opportunity to unwind, it brought pain, anguish and uncertainty to occupants and property owners of Block 341.

It was a day that altered the fortunes of the owners of apartments in the building, who suddenly watched one of their most valuable possessions reduced to rubble in an estate built for low-income earners by the administration of the late Alhaji Lateef Jakande, then governor of Lagos State.

Very early that morning, some residents noticed a crack in the building and immediately drew the attention of other residents, including property owners and tenants.

Before they could decide what to do, the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) had been alerted.

‘We wouldn’t know who called them because it was not long after we discovered the crack that officials of the agency came,’ a resident who narrated the incident to Saturday Tribune said.

The officials were said to have ordered the occupants out of the building, sealed off the premises and barred the tenants, comprising about six families, from returning to retrieve their belongings.

One of the property owners, a retired civil servant said to be living in Ogun State, reportedly rushed back to Lagos after being informed of the development. By the time he arrived, however, what he regarded as one of his most prized assets had been reduced to rubble.

While residents did not consider LASBCA’s prompt response unusual, what they found disturbing was the alleged refusal to allow occupants to retrieve their belongings.

Saturday Tribune learnt that even the plea of one tenant who wanted to retrieve his international passport and other vital documents was allegedly turned down. The situation was said to have almost degenerated into a confrontation before officials sealed off the building and punched holes in parts of the structure to make it uninhabitable.

‘The place was immediately sealed that Saturday morning, and they punched some holes in the building to make it uninhabitable. They came back the following day, which was Sunday, to carry out the demolition, though not without some resistance from occupants who protested that they had not been allowed to move their belongings out,’ the resident said.

Suspicion over demolition

But what went wrong with Block 341?

Saturday Tribune’s investigation revealed that there had lately been apprehension among some residents of the estate amid claims that certain government officials and politically connected individuals were becoming increasingly interested in acquiring properties within the estate.

Some residents who spoke with Saturday Tribune said the speed of the government’s intervention and the alleged refusal to give the affected owners more time fuelled such suspicions. They expressed fears that even if the demolished block was eventually rebuilt, its original owners might not have the opportunity to reclaim their apartments.

‘It was like playing into their hands,’ one resident said.

An eyewitness acknowledged that there was a noticeable crack in the building but argued that the owners should have been given an opportunity to take remedial action if this could safely be done.

‘For instance, while the building was sealed off on Saturday, it was not demolished until Sunday morning. The people who witnessed the demolition can attest to the fact that it took some effort before the building came down.

‘It didn’t yield to the bulldozer the way you would expect an utterly distressed building to, thus supporting the insinuations in some quarters that there was more to the demolition than met the ordinary eye,’ he said.

The demolition of the residential block has, however, brought to the fore long-standing but often overlooked challenges confronting many of Lagos State’s public housing estates – ageing infrastructure, poor maintenance culture and inadequate structural supervision.

The exercise, which displaced six families, was seen by many residents as more than the demolition of a single building. To them, it was a sobering reminder that many structures in the over four-decade-old estate are approaching critical stages in their lifespan and require urgent professional attention.

Who should maintain the estate?

But who should bear responsibility for the poor maintenance of the buildings?

While accusing fingers are often pointed at residents, some experts believe the government should shoulder a significant part of the responsibility.

A civil engineer and estate management expert, Mr Taiwo Akinsefunmi, argued that the government should be at the forefront of maintenance activities in the estate.

‘It is the duty of the government to ensure that the buildings are maintained from time to time. The fact that maintenance fees are being charged lends credence to this.

‘Even if government is not carrying out the repairs, it should have ensured that property owners do so under its close supervision. If that had been done, this type of incident could have been prevented,’ he argued.

Speaking with Saturday Tribune, the President of the Abesan Housing Estate Residents’ Association, Mr Shina Dare, confirmed that the building had not shown visible signs of distress until cracks suddenly appeared that Saturday morning.

‘There were no signs of distress on the building. It all happened suddenly. A crack appeared and that prompted concerned residents to draw public attention to the development through social media. This attracted LASBCA officials, who carried out structural integrity tests and concluded that the building posed an imminent danger to lives and property,’ Dare explained.

Rather than treat the incident as an isolated occurrence, he said residents had responded by initiating estate-wide preventive measures.

According to him, an emergency meeting was held, leading to the establishment of a Building Compliance and Enforcement Committee comprising quantity surveyors, engineers and town planners. The committee is expected to inspect more than 1,000 buildings across the estate.

It has also directed property owners to undertake necessary structural repairs before October 2026, while encouraging the external rehabilitation and repainting of buildings to improve safety and aesthetics.

The initiative represents a shift from reactive to preventive management – an approach housing experts believe should become standard practice across Lagos’ ageing public housing estates.

Beyond the immediate structural concerns, residents said the incident had also exposed a deeper institutional challenge.

Dare urged the Lagos State Government to strengthen routine supervision of public housing estates, stressing that regular inspections could identify structural defects before they develop into emergencies.

He also appealed for temporary accommodation and compensation for families displaced by the demolition while they seek alternative housing.

‘I appeal to the Lagos State Government and the Lagos Building Investment Company (LBIC) to see the need to compensate the victims of the demolition and find temporary accommodation for the affected families,’ he said.

Dangers of alterations

The Chairman of the estate’s Building Compliance and Enforcement Committee, Mr Tunji Showole, traced some of the current challenges to the original design of the estate.

Built during the administration of the late Governor Lateef Jakande, Abesan was conceived as an affordable housing scheme aimed at expanding home ownership for low- and middle-income residents. To achieve affordability, the buildings employed construction methods requiring careful maintenance throughout their lifespan.

According to Showole, the structures rely heavily on load-bearing walls, making indiscriminate alterations particularly dangerous. Removing or weakening a structural wall, he explained, could compromise the stability of an entire building.

He observed that while every building naturally deteriorates with age, poor maintenance could accelerate structural defects.

The immediate trigger for the intervention at Block 341, he explained, was the discovery that residents could no longer open some apartment doors because of severe structural movement. Subsequent investigations revealed extensive cracking, prompting LASBCA’s intervention before the building could collapse.

Another concern identified by the committee is the location and construction of sewage chambers. Residents believe chambers located too close to building foundations could allow wastewater to seep into the soil whenever drainage channels become blocked, gradually weakening foundations.

Consequently, the committee has recommended relocating such chambers farther away from residential blocks as part of broader efforts to safeguard the structural integrity of the estate.

For the immediate past President of the Residents’ Association, Pa Aderemi Kehinde, the demolition reflects broader pressures facing Lagos’ housing sector.

He argued that the severe housing shortage had increased pressure on existing public estates, with a growing population placing additional demands on ageing infrastructure.

Kehinde also questioned what he described as the absence of continuous government supervision despite residents paying supervision fees when the estate was developed.

According to him, effective monitoring could have detected deteriorating underground infrastructure, including leaking sewage systems, before they threatened building foundations.

‘The housing challenge in Lagos is very acute and that is partly responsible for the challenges we are having in our estate. You’ll see people moving about during the day and hanging around at night.

‘When we were coming into the estate some years back, we were asked to pay a supervision fee, but that aspect of supervision is lacking. We want the government to implement this and ensure thorough supervision of estates across the state.

‘If there had been adequate supervision, they would have known that the building was distressed and taken steps to prevent the occurrence. The cost of preventive maintenance may be significant, but it is far less than the human and economic consequences of another avoidable building collapse,’ he said.

LASBCA defends action

An official of LASBCA, who spoke with Saturday Tribune on condition of anonymity, however, explained that the agency’s prompt response to the distress call was in the best interest of the community.

‘We don’t have to wait till disaster happens before taking action. If we had waited a little bit longer and the building collapsed on its own, it is these same people who would blame us for not being proactive. So, our action was meant to save lives and not to inflict pain on residents,’ he said.

The official also dismissed insinuations that powerful interests were behind the demolition.

According to him, it would be almost impossible to dislodge lawful occupants or take over any of the buildings from their original owners if the rules governing ownership and continued occupation of properties in the estate were strictly adhered to.

The Abesan experience presents important lessons for both government and homeowners. Building safety does not end with obtaining construction approval. It requires continuous maintenance, periodic structural assessment, responsible occupancy and strict enforcement of building regulations.

While LASBCA’s swift intervention may have prevented a possible loss of lives, residents insist that long-term safety must go beyond emergency responses.

Many have therefore welcomed the steps taken by the Residents’ Association, particularly the establishment of the Building Compliance and Enforcement Committee and the October deadline for property owners to carry out necessary repairs.

But the general view is that such measures should not be ad hoc. Residents want standing rules governing the ownership, alteration and maintenance of properties in the estate, with clearly defined responsibilities for homeowners, the residents’ association and relevant government agencies.

For property owners now embarking on repairs and structural assessments, the rubble of Block 341 has become a warning lying in plain sight: what happened to one block could happen elsewhere unless ageing buildings are inspected, maintained and repaired before cracks become emergencies.

Nollywood actor and filmmaker, Femi Adebayo, is set to take audiences back to 19th-century Lagos with King Kosoko: The Battle for Lagos, a Yoruba-language historical drama scheduled to hit cinemas nationwide on August 28, 2026.

Directed by Adebayo Tijani, the film tells the story of Oba Kosoko, the 12th Oba of Lagos, and the political rivalries, battles and struggles that shaped the kingdom during a turbulent period in its history.

Produced by Teqsus Studios and distributed by FilmOne Entertainment, the film will premiere on August 23 at IMAX Lekki, Lagos, ahead of its nationwide theatrical release.

Set between 1833 and 1852, the story explores the intense contest for the Lagos throne involving Kosoko, Oba Akintoye and other political forces, against the backdrop of growing British influence.

Femi Adebayo stars as Oba Kosoko, while Odunlade Adekola plays Oba Akintoye. Other cast members include Gabriel Afolayan, Femi Branch, Jide Kosoko, Faithia Balogun, Yinka Quadri, Taiwo Hassan, Tina Mba, Adeniyi Johnson, Kolawole Ajeyemi, Aliu Gafar and Yemi Elesho.

With more than 70 actors, the production brings together veterans and younger performers, giving the film a notable multigenerational cast.

At its core, King Kosoko examines leadership, loyalty, betrayal, political ambition and resistance to external influence, while portraying Lagos as a powerful kingdom before its transformation into the modern city.

The choice of Yoruba as the primary language, alongside English subtitles, also allows the filmmakers to preserve the cultural character of the story while reaching a wider audience.

As Nollywood continues to embrace historical and epic productions, King Kosoko: The Battle for Lagos offers audiences an opportunity to revisit a significant chapter in Lagos history through film.

With Femi Adebayo leading the cast and Adebayo Tijani directing, expectations are building ahead of the August 23 premiere and August 28 cinema release.

Grade A Customary Court, sitting in Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, has adjourned for judgment, a divorce suit brought before it by a man, Ige, against his wife, Shadia, whom he accused of being disobedient, raining curses on him and threatening his life.

Ige explained that Shadia was stubborn and always refused to take counsel from him.

He added that she had no respect for him as the head of the home.

According to the plaintiff, the defendant hurled insults on him on a regular basis, and was also in the habit of raining curses on him.

Ige said that Sadia did the worst when she threatened to pour acid on him.

According to him, he abandoned their home and ran for his dear life before his wife made real her threat.

Ige, therefore, prayed the court to end their marriage and grant him custody of their only child.

Sadia agreed that their union be dissolved.

The defendant accused the plaintiff of deceit.

He forced me to start covering myself from head to toe after he impregnated me.

Ige, in his testimony, said, ‘I paid my wife’s bride price, although we did not celebrate our marriage.

‘My wife is stubborn and has refused to give ears to my counsel.

‘She waved aside my words of wisdom and turned a deaf ear to my counsels.

‘Sadia treated me with scorn.

‘She hurled insults on me in the presence of our child and neighbours.

‘She was also fond of raining curses on me.

‘The more I corrected her, the worse she became.

‘I left home after she threatened to pour acid on me.

‘I feared she could make real her threat.

‘My lord, my wife is a difficult person to live with.

‘I am no longer interested in my union with her.

‘I earnestly beseech this honourable court to dissolve our marriage and grant me custody of our only child.

‘I am ready to provide him the necessary care that he needs.’

Shadia, in her testimony, said, ‘He is deceitful in nature.

‘He started ordering me about after he impregnated me and I moved in with him.

‘He forced me to cover myself from head to toe, be it inside the house or outside.

‘He also starves me and our only child.

‘He has not given us a dime for our upkeep since he abandoned us.

‘I plead that the court grants me custody of our child, but make my husband responsible for his upkeep, giving feeding, education and health care, a priority.’

The court president, Mrs S.M Akintayo, adjourned the case for judgment.

Oyo South Senatorial Candidate of the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM) and member representing Ibadan North-West/Ibadan South-West federal constituency of Oyo state in the House of Representatives, Hon. Adedeji Dhikrullahi Olajide, has called for stronger partnership between the church and the political class in addressing the developmental challenges confronting the people.

Olajide Odidiomo made the call while speaking as a guest at the 14th annual session of the Ibadan Baptist Conference Champions and Overcomers Association, held at the Hebron Baptist Centre, Lasokun, Idi-Ishin, Ibadan, where he also announced a 10 million naira donation to the Ibadan Baptist Conference in support of its activities and programmes.

The federal lawmaker, who described the gathering as a reflection of the power of faith, unity and service to humanity, commended the Baptist church for its longstanding contributions to education, moral formation, community development and the nurturing of responsible citizens, saying such contributions remained critical to the development of society.

He said the relationship between the church and the political class should go beyond occasional interactions, stressing that faith based institutions had important roles to play as partners with government and other stakeholders in addressing social challenges and improving the lives of citizens.

According to him, the connection between Oyo South Senatorial District and the Ibadan Baptist Conference goes beyond geography, with both having a strong presence across Ibadan and Ibarapa communities, where families and institutions share common aspirations and developmental challenges.

He said the relationship placed the Baptist Conference in an important position, as a partner in addressing issues affecting the people and advancing the development of Oyo south, urging political leaders to recognise the value of sustained engagement with religious and community institutions.

‘As we approach another season of political decisions, I believe that leadership must be about service, accountability, compassion and genuine concern for the people. Those of us in public life must see the church not merely as a religious institution, but as a partner in building a better society,’ Odidiomo said.

The lawmaker also solicited the prayers of the church for leaders at all levels, particularly those entrusted with public responsibilities, saying Nigeria needed leaders endowed with wisdom, integrity and the courage to make decisions in the interest of the people.

The 10 million naira donation, according to Odidiomo, was part of his support for the work of the Baptist Conference and its contribution to the spiritual and social development of communities within its sphere of influence. The donation, he said, was intended to support the Conference’s activities and strengthen its contribution to the spiritual, educational and social development of communities within its sphere of influence.

Nigerian music stars, Burna Boy and Tems, have secured three nominations between them at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), continuing Nigeria’s strong presence on the global music scene.

The nominations were announced on Tuesday ahead of the awards ceremony scheduled to hold on September 27 at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles.

Burna Boy, whose real name is Damini Ogulu, received two nominations for his collaboration with Colombian superstar Shakira on Dai Dai. The song earned nods in the Best Collaboration and Best Latin categories.

Tems, meanwhile, was nominated in the Best RandB category for Raindance, her collaboration with British rapper Dave.

The recognition adds to the growing international profile of both Nigerian artistes, who have continued to establish themselves beyond the Afrobeats scene through collaborations, global performances and major international award nominations.

Burna Boy’s Dai Dai nomination places him alongside some of the biggest names in international music in the Best Collaboration category. The Nigerian Grammy winner has previously enjoyed significant recognition at the VMAs and other major global awards.

Tems, the Best RandB nomination further demonstrates the expansion of her music beyond the Afrobeats genre. Her collaboration with Dave has earned her recognition in a category traditionally dominated by leading American RandB artistes.

The nominations, however, come in a significant year for African music at the VMAs, as the organisers have dropped the Best Afrobeats category from the 2026 edition after featuring it for three consecutive years.

The category was introduced in 2023 as Afrobeats continued its rapid growth internationally. Its removal means Burna Boy and Tems will instead compete in broader international categories, making their nominations particularly notable.

The 2026 nominations are led by American pop icon Madonna with 11 nods, while Taylor Swift follows with nine. Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter each received seven nominations.

With the ceremony still weeks away, attention will now turn to Burna Boy and Tems as they seek to convert their nominations into wins and further strengthen Nigeria’s growing reputation on the global music stage.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed concerns over his exclusion from the recently inaugurated All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign council, saying he values electoral delivery over political titles.

Wike spoke on Saturday after inspecting ongoing infrastructure projects in the FCT. He also reflected on his three years in office and his political strategy ahead of the 2027 general elections.

‘I am not a member of the APC,’ Wike said. ‘And I am not interested in becoming Director-General of the party’s presidential campaign council. Holding that position does not automatically translate into electoral success.’

The Minister argued that previous campaign DGs failed to deliver their own states despite their prominent roles.

He cited former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, former Senate President Bukola Saraki, former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, and former Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong.

‘In 2015, Amaechi was governor of Rivers State. He was DG of Muhammadu Buhari. Before you know it, I pulled the carpet off his feet. He lost. He didn’t get 25 percent,’ Wike said.

‘In 2019, he was Minister of Transport. He became the DG. He lost the state too.’

He added: ‘In 2023, Aminu Tambuwal became DG of Atiku. He lost his state. In the same 2023, Lalong was the DG of the President. He lost his state.’

Wike said his focus would remain on where he can make the most impact: Rivers State and the FCT.

‘I don’t want to lose my state. I will be in my state. I have two states: FCT and Rivers State. What’s important is, are you able to deliver those two states?’ he asked.

‘Every politics is local. If you cannot deliver the president in your state, how would you say you want election? If you lose your own state, even if you’re a DG, you should be ashamed.’

The Minister also defended his performance as FCT Minister, saying his three years in office had produced visible changes despite challenges.

‘I’m happy for these three years in office. Our team is committed to doing the job. Challenges have come. We’ve been able to surmount those challenges,’ he said.

Wike thanked President Bola Tinubu for the opportunity to serve, and said the FCT Administration would soon publish a scorecard of projects.

‘We’re going to publish the projects that we inherited from the government of Olusegun Obasanjo, from 1999 to 2007. We’re also going to publish the one of Yar’Adua and Jonathan, and we’re also going to publish the one of Muhammadu Buhari,’ he said.

‘Then when we publish those ones we inherited and completed, we’ll also publish projects awarded by this present administration. So Nigerians will see for themselves.’

Wike’s comments come as political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections intensify, with parties and political actors beginning to position themselves for the presidential contest.

For the FCT Minister, however, political influence will ultimately be measured by the ability to deliver electoral support at the grassroots, not by occupying prominent positions in campaign organisations.

Nigerian music stars Davido and Wande Coal have clashed publicly over their unreleased collaboration, Come My Way, with both artistes offering different accounts of why the highly anticipated song never saw the light of day.

The disagreement followed comments made by Davido during a recent interview, where he explained what happened after Wande Coal approached him to contribute to the song.

Davido said he recorded a verse for the track, describing his contribution as a strong one, but explained that the song was ultimately not released because the two artistes had different ideas about how the collaboration should be handled.

According to him, Wande Coal wanted to release his original version of Come My Way before putting out a version featuring Davido.

The explanation, however, did not sit well with Wande Coal, who subsequently responded to Davido’s comments.

Wande Coal argued that the song had already been doing well without Davido’s contribution, suggesting that there was no reason for the singer to present the unreleased version as though its absence had negatively affected the song.

The exchange quickly gained attention among fans, particularly because Come My Way had already generated considerable interest when snippets of the collaboration surfaced.

The situation has also revived conversations about how collaborations are handled within the Nigerian music industry, particularly when artistes disagree over release plans, credits, ownership and whether a song should be presented as a collaboration or a remix.

Both Davido and Wande Coal are established figures in Nigerian music. Wande Coal, one of the influential voices of the early Afrobeats era, has maintained a strong presence in the industry, while Davido has built a global career with several international collaborations and awards.

The public disagreement has left fans wondering whether the long-awaited version of Come My Way could eventually be released or whether the differences between the two artistes have permanently shelved the collaboration.`