News
2027: Coalition’s bid to unseat Tinubu faces setback as PDP suffers mass exodus
With two years to the next presidential election, mixed reactions have trailed the gale of defections by high-profile politicians from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, into the All Progressives Congress, APC.
This comes as it was hinted that the coalition spearheaded by former PDP’s presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar may not succeed against the President Bola Tinubu-led APC due to moves by some Fulani interests to escalate the Fulani war that has birthed itself in Nigeria.
Recently, Atiku, his counterpart from the Labour Party Peter Obi, Babachir Lawal, former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, announced the formation of the coalition under the Social Democratic Party.
Since the announcement, no political bigwig has joined the party in their push to wrest power from Tinubu in 2027.
This is as the PDP and Atiku’s camp lost two major stakeholders from the South-South, Ifeanyi Okowa and Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State.
Okowa, who was Atiku’s presidential running mate in the 2023 election, had dumped the PDP for the APC alongside Oborevwori at a stakeholders’ meeting in Asaba, Delta State.
It was observed that Oborevwori’s defection now puts the APC in the lead in the Nigerian Delta region, Delta, Edo, and Cross River states are APC, while the governors of Akwa Ibom and Rivers states have backed President Tinubu, leaving only Bayelsa State with the PDP.
In the Southwest, the APC may likely retain votes from the region because Tinubu hails from the area.
For the North, there have been agitations over the region’s political leaning ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with former presidential aide Hakeem Baba-Ahmed saying the North will decide its political direction in the next six months because the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari made the region wiser.
Baba-Ahmed said, “In the next six months, the North will decide where it stands. If the rest of the country wants to join us, fine. If not, we will go our own way.”
While Baba-Ahmed, a former spokesman of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), El-Rufai has been trying to galvanize the North to tilt their votes towards the opposition coalition with his visit to the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi, and former presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Rabiu Kwankwaso amid talks with other prominent politicians from the rregion.
News
Governor Sanwo-Olu Approves Recruitments of Additional 150 Firefighters
Adeseye also informed that the newly recruited 150 firefighters, employed in November 2025, have since resumed intensive training at the upgraded Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service Fire Academy.
Photo: LSFRS Controller General, Margaret Adeseye, inspect the parade during the training
The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olushola Sanwo-Olu, has approved the recruitment of an additional 150 able-bodied men and women into the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service (LSFRS), as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen emergency response capacity and enhance public safety across the State.
This was disclosed by the Agency’s Controller General, Margaret Adeseye when she flagged off the LSFRS Squad 23 training exercise in Ikeja, Lagos.
This latest recruitment underscores the present administration’s sustained commitment to building a resilient, well-equipped, and professionally trained fire and rescue service.
It follows earlier landmark recruitments under the Sanwo-Olu-led government, including the engagement of 100 firefighters in 2020, on the eve of the COVID-19 pandemic, to bolster frontline emergency response.
In 2022, the administration recorded the single highest recruitment in the history of Fire Service with the enlistment of 435 firefighters.
Their Passing Out Parade formed part of the week-long Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Service in October 2022.
The milestone event also featured the commissioning of 62 fire apparatuses, the unveiling of new fire stations at Ajegunle, Ebute Elefun and Oba Oniru – Lekki, as well as the commissioning of a purpose-built ultra-modern Headquarters at Alausa, Ikeja.
Adeseye also informed that the newly recruited 150 firefighters, employed in November 2025, have since resumed intensive training at the upgraded Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service Fire Academy.
They are currently undergoing the Professional Basic Firefighting Competency and Short Service Course, designed to mould them into disciplined, highly skilled and operationally efficient emergency responders in line with global best practices.
She concluded that the Lagos State Government remains resolute in its determination to continually invest in human capacity development, modern infrastructure and operational equipment to ensure the safety of lives, property and environment across the State.
News
I’m Proudly Nigerian, says Fashola
Former Lagos State Governor and immediate past Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola, made the declaration on Tuesday in Abuja during his keynote address at the Nigeria Reputation Summit 2026, organised by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, where he spoke extensively on national identity, migration, patriotism and Nigeria’s global image.
” I remain firmly Nigerian by choice, conviction and identity.”
Former Lagos State Governor and immediate past Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola, made the declaration on Tuesday in Abuja during his keynote address at the Nigeria Reputation Summit 2026, organised by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, where he spoke extensively on national identity, migration, patriotism and Nigeria’s global image.
He stressed the need for Nigerians, at home and abroad, to take collective ownership of the country and its problems.
“I don’t think we own Nigeria enough. So, I heard some of our colleagues and our compatriots who, by virtue of the 1999 Constitution, have dual citizenships. But I have only one,” said Fashola.
“And when they talk to me, they say, your country. I say, stop. It’s our country. Your problem is our problem. There must be a common ownership on every platform. If we have common ownership, we will solve it. So, from my childhood experience, I tell people I’m not just a proud Nigerian, I’m an arrogant one. I’m arrogant about my country.“I tell people that I have not received one day’s education outside this country.
All my education was here. So, proudly made in Nigeria. Arrogantly, too. So everything, every inch that we think that we have lost, we can get back if we decide to,” he stated.
News
Opral Benson is alive, safe and not missing – AREF , Family
AREF confirms that Mrs. Benson is currently in Liberia, her presence there is voluntary and known.
The African Refugees Foundation (AREF) and family source said that its president, Opral Benson, popularly known as the Iya Oge of Lagos, is alive, safe and not missing.
Her family earlier said that the 90-year-old was last seen on January 13 and had not returned home since then.
However, a statement , titled, Dear Friends, RE: My Mum, signed by her daughter, Bimbo, confirmed that Benson was in Liberia.
Also, the chief executive officer of AREF, Olujimi Olusola III, Said that Benson is hale and hearty, and there is no cause for concern.“
AREF confirms that Mrs. Benson is currently in Liberia, her presence there is voluntary and known.
Governor Sanwo-Olu Approves Recruitments of Additional 150 Firefighters
Tinubu Urged To Emulate Atiku’s Political Tolerance
Is Wizkid Bigger Than Fela? What’s your take?
Tech Expert, Zuckerberg trains with UFC champions, Adesanya, Alexander
Organ Trafficking: Ekweremadu bags 10 years in UK prison
SAINT OBI: Between his marriage and his death
-
Entertainment3 days agoTragic Loss: Afrofuji Star Destiny Boy Passes Away at 22
-
Crime3 days agoNDLEA Arrests Notorious Drug Kingpin 12 Years After Alleged Murder of Three Officers
-
News3 days agoJUST IN: One Killed, Two Injured in Tragic Truck Collision on Jimgbe–Ajaokuta–Lokoja Road
-
News3 days agoDr. Pedro Obaseki to Sue Over Benin Abduction and Assault
-
Sports2 days agoMotsepe Speaks on CAF decisions for hosting AFCON every four years
-
Sports2 days agoAFCON 2025 Award Winners
-
News2 days agoLASEMA Averts Tanker Explosion in Lagos
-
News19 hours agoLagos urges residents to prepare for 64 days traffic from Lekki Phase 1–Ajah Bridge as reconstruction begins