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UN Nation And Highly Dignitaries Honoured Primate Ayodele at 60th Birthday Thanksgiving
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On 14th February 2020, Was another day of glory and honour for servant of God and founder and spiritual head of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Lagos, Primate Elijah Babatunde Ayodele.
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It was time for his 60th birthday thanksgiving and hosting of the United Nations 75th anniversary flag off ceremony. It was, indeed, a day of double celebration given series of honours bestowed on the popular cleric on the occasion.
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For his humanitarian exploits, hospitality, generosity and, most particularly, his immense contribution to world peace, the United Nations honoured Primate Ayodele with the ‘Eminent Ambassador of Peace’ award presented to him amidst ovation by a top UN representative, Ambassador Chinedu Anthony, who presented a similar award to T. D. Jakes in Nairobi, Kenya earlier this year.
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The celebration that kicked off as early as 8 o’clock in the morning of February 14, 2020, did not come to a close until 7 o’clock in the evening after the last church member had left the church premises, venue of the event.
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The stage was set with the INRI church’s musical band led by Dotun Future, a fast-rising Juju music crooner. The regular INRI choristers provided soft music while the programme anchored by seasoned event compere, Soji Omotayo, progressed in earnest.
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At 10.30 in the morning, the space provided to accommodate guests for the event was already filled to capacity and had extended to also fill the one-storey church building and the adjoining spaces in the area.
However, there was a sudden, rowdy movement of crowd at 11.56 in the morning. The crowd streaming toward the stage had first created panic with some thinking that probably there was a disagreement. Not until the movement halted by the VIP tent that it became clear the crowd had attended the arrival of Fuji music icon and the newly-installed Maiyegun of Yorubaland, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall a.k.a. K1 de Ultimate.
K1, with the help of his armed police guards, was ushered to the high table by Primate Ayodele’s personal security detail when the crowd hailing him was becoming uncontrollable. The Fuji music king was the prized guest of the day.
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Representatives of the Lagos State governor, Mr. Anofiu Elegushi who is the commissioner for home affairs; the United Nations World Peace team led by their president, Ambassador Per Stafsen; representatives of other important personalities some Southwest governors’, were already seated before K1’s arrival, while the representatives of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi and Sultan of Sokoto joined the table few minutes later. Hon. Samsideen Abiodun Olaleye, the executive chairman of Isolo LCDA, was represented by the executive secretary of the Council.
Ayodele, who has always described himself as ‘friend of the press’, got two surprise paybacks on the occasion for being truthful to his words. Two professional groups from the fourth estate of the realm honoured him in a most surprising way.
The Lagos State Online Media Publishers (LASOMP) headed by Mr. sola Animashaun who is the publisher of City News magazine, published a special edition in honour of the man of God’s birthday with each member dedicating an eulogy to his honour.
In similar fashion, the Celebrity Journalists Publishers Association of Nigeria (CJAN), led by Mr. Joshua Uloko who is the publisher of City Pride magazine, honoured Primate Ayodele with a certificate as the association’s Patron.
Expressing positive feelings at the honours, the renowned prophet commended the media, particularly the groups that found him worthy of being awarded, appreciating them for regularly promoting the ingenuity in him and his ministry, while he promised to continue in the course of charity and promoting peace in Nigeria and beyond.
The 2020 Thanksgiving event was rounded up on Saturday, February 16, with the presentation of the UN special number plate to Primate Ayodele by Amb. Per Stafsen at a brief ceremony in Lagos.
Aside being known for releasing prophetic messages on a regular basis most of which are fulfilled, Primate Ayodele has also been focusing his energy on providing help to the poor with his charity arm, INRI Widows Foundation, as well as supporting the spiritual and pastoral work of even fellow pastors and churches outside his ministry.
Remarkably, Ayodele’s birthday falls on Valentine ’s Day known as ‘day of love’. So, amidst other programmes of the day, the prophet extended humanitarian gestures to many, including members of his ministry, police, musicians, actors, running into N20 million while he promised to earmark a special day to empower journalists before the end of 2020.
Maiyegun Wasiu Ayinde was later invited to the stage where he acknowledged his friendship with Primate Ayodele who he said had provided spiritual assistance to his career for 35 years.
”I have known Primate Ayodele for 35 years. That was when we were both very young. He would render spiritual assistance to me and would not show IP or contact me until about the next three months when he had other spiritual messages to deliver. He never asked for anything in return from me and so I developed special interest. That was how we became close friends but a lot of people didn’t know I even knew him,” K1 narrated to the amazement of the audience and thereafter donated the sum of N4m in support of the ministry’s humanitarian efforts.
He, thereafter, honoured Ayodele with beautiful tunes from the repertoire of his old and new songs with which he urged the man of God to keep on doing his best to serve mankind.
Other side attractions at the event was performance by Fuji music star, Muri Alabi Thunder and cultural performance by the ‘INRI wives of Jesus’.
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Update : 2027 Race: APC Pegs Presidential Form at ₦100m, Unveils Primaries Date
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The All Progressives Congress has released its timetable for the 2027 general elections, fixing its presidential primary for May 15 to 16, 2026.
According to the schedule signed by the APC National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Argungu, on Monday, the party will begin the sale of nomination and expression of interest forms at its National Secretariat from April 25 to May 2, 2026, while submission of completed forms will close on May 4.
The APC pegged its presidential form at ₦100m, comprising ₦30m for expression of interest and ₦70m for nomination.
Governorship aspirants are to pay ₦50m, while Senate, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly forms cost ₦20m, ₦10m and ₦6m respectively.
The timetable indicates that screening of aspirants will hold between May 6 and May 8, while screening results will be released on May 11, followed by appeals from May 12 to May 13.
Photo: X/@OfficialAPCNg
Presidential primaries are scheduled for May 15 and 16, while those for the House of Representatives, Senate, State House of Assembly and governorship will hold on May 18, May 20, May 21 and May 23, respectively.
The party also fixed May 25 for the conclusion of election appeals across all categories.
The schedule shows that all primary elections will be conducted within eight days.
The party, however, granted concessions to female aspirants, youths and persons living with disabilities, who are to pay for only the expression of interest forms and 50 per cent of the nomination fees.
The timetable stated that the schedule was in line with the Constitution, the Electoral Act and the Independent National Electoral Commission guidelines
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Breaking : Tinubu Endorses ₦68.32 Trillion 2026 Budget, Prolongs 2025 Spending Timeline
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President Bola Tinubu has signed the 2026 Appropriation Bill into law, authorising an aggregate expenditure of ₦68.32 trillion for the current fiscal year.
He also signed a separate bill extending the implementation period of the 2025 budget from March 31 to June 30, 2026.
The budget allocates ₦4.799 trillion for statutory transfers and ₦15.8 trillion for debt service.
It further sets aside ₦15.4 trillion for recurrent expenditure and ₦32.2 trillion for capital expenditure through the Development Fund.
The presidency made the disclosure in a statement signed by Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga on Friday.
The statement read, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has assented to the 2026 Appropriation Bill, which provides for an aggregate expenditure of ₦68.32 trillion. He has also signed the bill extending the implementation period for the 2025 budget from March 31, 2026, to June 30, 2026.
“The N68.32 trillion budget for this year earmarks N4.799 trillion for statutory transfers and N15.8 trillion for debt service. It allocates N15.4 trillion to recurrent expenditure and N32.2 trillion to the Development Fund for Capital Expenditure.
“With capital expenditure accounting for about 50 per cent, the 2026 budget underscores the administration’s continued commitment to economic stability, national security, infrastructure development, and inclusive growth.
“The allocations reflect a strategic balance between statutory obligations, debt servicing, recurrent expenditure, and capital investments critical to driving productivity and improving the quality of life for Nigerians,” it added.
The 2026 Appropriation Act took effect on April 1, with the Federal Government commencing full implementation in line with what the presidency describes as the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Tinubu also assented to the Appropriation (Repeal and Enactment) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which extends the capital component of the 2025 Appropriation Act by three months to June 30.
The presidency said the extension would ensure the full utilisation of appropriated funds, particularly for critical infrastructure projects at advanced stages of implementation.
“The extension will ensure the full and effective utilisation of appropriated funds, particularly for critical infrastructure and development projects that are at advanced stages of implementation across the country.
“It will enable Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to consolidate ongoing works, enhance project completion rates, and maximise value for public expenditure,” the statement read.
Tinubu directed MDAs to ensure disciplined, transparent, and efficient utilisation of allocated resources, with strong emphasis on value for money and timely project delivery.
He commended the leadership and members of the National Assembly for what the presidency described as their “diligence, cooperation, and patriotism in expeditiously considering and passing the budget.”
“The President reaffirmed the importance of sustained collaboration between the Executive and Legislative arms of government in advancing national development objectives,” the statement noted.
Tinubu also assured Nigerians of his administration’s resolve to deepen fiscal reforms and boost revenue generation.
“He further assured Nigerians of his administration’s resolve to deepen fiscal reforms, enhance revenue generation, and prioritise investments that will stimulate economic growth, create jobs, and strengthen social protection mechanisms,” the statement read.
The budget, titled “The Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity,” was originally presented to a joint session of the National Assembly on December 19, 2025, at a proposed sum of ₦58.47 trillion.
It passed second reading in the House of Representatives on January 29, 2026, before going through further legislative scrutiny and emerging at ₦68.32 trillion at the point of assent.
During the second reading debate in January, House Leader Julius Ihonvbere had urged lawmakers to support the proposal, pointing to a projected 3.98 per cent economic growth rate for 2026, a projected drop in inflation to 14.45 per cent, improved revenues, and foreign direct investment growth.
He also cited a stabilisation of the naira at around ₦1,400 to the dollar and a rise in Nigeria’s external reserves to a seven-year high of approximately $47 billion.
When Tinubu presented the bill to lawmakers in December, he described it as a defining moment in Nigeria’s reform journey, acknowledging the pressures the process had placed on households and businesses while insisting the sacrifices were necessary.
“The path of reform is seldom smooth, but it is the surest route to lasting stability and shared prosperity,” he told the joint session.
He vowed that 2026 would mark a decisive shift to stronger budget execution discipline, announcing an end to the long-standing practice of running overlapping budgets and perpetual rollovers.
The budget’s four stated objectives are consolidating macroeconomic stability, improving the business and investment environment, promoting job-rich growth, and strengthening human capital development while protecting the vulnerable.
Key sectoral allocations include ₦5.41 trillion for defence and security, ₦3.56 trillion for infrastructure, ₦3.52 trillion for education, and ₦2.48 trillion for health.
Minister of Information Mohammed Idris, writing in a January op-ed, described the budget as a commitment to consolidate what was working in the administration’s reform programme and ensure that shared prosperity became “a lived reality for more Nigerians, faster.”
He pointed to expanding business activity, improving investor confidence, easing inflation, and stronger external reserves as early indicators of progress, and highlighted ongoing infrastructure projects including the Coastal Highway, Sokoto–Badagry Expressway, and Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano Gas Pipeline as evidence of the administration’s delivery record.
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Northern Muslim and Christian Youths Warn U.S. Lawmaker Against Fueling Division in Nigeria
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The Coalition of Northern Muslims and Christians Youth For Religious Tolerance in Nigeria has called for the Florida State representative and Chairwoman of the UN-WCD, Kimberly Daniels to not pretend under Christianity faith to create division between Christians and Muslims in Northern region of Nigeria for her Call on the Nigeria authority to redeploy the Honourable Minister of State for Defence Dr.Bello Mohammed Matawalle.
During the Coalition joint emergency press conference which was held in Kaduna Northwest Nigeria, the Coalition Statement which was jointly signed by Secretary General Mr. Bitrus Bahago along with his counterpart the Public relation officer Ustaz Abdullahi Abubakar,
Read: “The statements credited to Florida State representative Kimberly Daniels calling for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to redeploy the Honourable Minister of State for Defence Bello Mohammed Matawalle is not necessary and terrible motive aimed at targeting Norther Muslim public office holder”
“Mrs Kimberly Daniels Should note that Nigeria is not owned by only one faith, therefore we are collectively demanding her unreserved apology for her bigotry which could affect the peaceful Coexistence and religious tolerance between Christians and Muslims in Nigeria”
The Coalition Statement further remind Mrs. Kimberly Daniels that, “even though Matawalle is only overseeing the Nigeria Navy enjoyed a Cordial working relationship with his friend a devoted Northern Christian leader General Christopher Gwabin Musa who in charge of Nigeria army and Nigeria Air force combined.
The Coalition concludes by advising Mrs. Kimberly Daniels to desist from making unnecessary bigotry demand targeting or pointing finger at a particular faith.
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