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The 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has stated that there is currently no merger agreement between his party and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), or any other political party ahead of the 2027 general election.

Speaking during a press conference in Abuja on Thursday morning, the former governor of Anambra State dismissed reports of any alliance, emphasizing that no formal agreement has been reached with other political groups.

Obi, however, called on all well-meaning Nigerians in the political space to unite in 2027 to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which he accused of poor governance and resource mismanagement.

He expressed concerns over Nigeria’s deteriorating security situation, lamenting the continuous loss of lives to banditry, terrorism, and kidnapping-for-ransom.

“The security challenges in Nigeria remain unfortunate, with Nigerians dying needlessly,” Obi said.

He also criticized the high level of corruption and the rising cost of governance under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. According to him, the excessive foreign travels of government officials in 2024 worsened the mismanagement of public funds.

Reflecting on the 2023 presidential election, Obi noted that Tinubu secured victory by winning 12 of Nigeria’s 36 states and polling 8,794,726 votes. His closest rival, Atiku Abubakar of the PDP, garnered 6,984,520 votes, while Obi finished third with 6,101,533 votes, a significant achievement for a first-time presidential candidate.

Rabiu Kwankwaso of the NNPP, who placed fourth with 1,496,687 votes, claimed victory in his home state of Kano. Interestingly, both Obi and Kwankwaso were members of the PDP before leaving the party due to irreconcilable differences in the lead-up to the 2023 elections.

Obi’s remarks signal a strategic focus on building a broad coalition to challenge the APC in the next presidential election while highlighting pressing national issues that demand urgent attention.

The Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, on Thursday visited former Head of State General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (retired) at his residence in Minna, Niger State.

Obi described the visit as an opportunity to exchange ideas on national issues with the elder statesman, whom he referred to as a “father figure.”

“From Jigawa State, I travelled to Minna, Niger State, to pay a visit to a father figure, elder statesman, and leader, the former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, at his residence,” Obi wrote on his X (formerly Twitter) account, sharing photos from the meeting.

He added, “The visit was an opportunity to wish him a happy New Year and to exchange thoughts on national issues. General Babangida’s wisdom and perspectives remain very important, and I always deeply appreciate the chance to visit him and listen to his invaluable advice and words of wisdom.”

Nigerian applicants seeking visa to Thailand can now apply for e-visa online, the Royal Thailand Embassy, Abuja, has said.  

The embassy said it no longer accepts physical applications. 

Apart from Nigeria, the new policy also applies to other African countries such as Ghana. Cameron, Benin Republic, Congo, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Democratic Republic of Sao Tome, and Principe and Republic of Chad. 

In a statement, the embassy said applicants must be residing within the aforementioned countries when applying for the visa. 

It explained that it had the right to cancel the visa applications of any applicant should such fail to provide the evidence of their presence within the aforementioned countries while applying. 

“Travel booking confirmation must be provided upon submission of your visa application. This includes return flight details showing applicant’s name, departure and return date, all flights en route from the aforementioned countries to Thailand. Upon receiving your application, it takes within 5 working days to get your visa. The processing time can take longer in certain cases,” the embassy said in the statement. 

According to the embassy, applicants are expected to apply at least four to six weeks before their travel date but not more than three months before departure date.  

It further noted that the visa fee was non-refundable regardless of the outcome, noting that the processing fee was prone to change without prior notice 

The embassy added that it reserved the rights to request additional documents, interview in person in Abuja, and amend visa categories as deemed necessary as well as reject any without prejudice. 

The embassy, however, advised visa applicants to provide genuine documents and information, stressing that actions would be taken if applicants provided false or fake information.

A new generational cohort, Generation Beta, is set to officially begin in 2025, marking the end of Generation Alpha, according to a report by social researchers.

Generation Beta will include those born between 2025 and 2039, as detailed in a blog post by social researcher Mark McCrindle, who has been credited with defining the past two generational labels. Generation Alpha, which includes individuals born between 2010 and 2024, will phase out as the new generation makes its debut.

According to McCrindle, Generation Beta will comprise 16% of the global population by 2035, with many expected to live to see the 22nd century.

This emerging generation is anticipated to grow up in an era of unprecedented technological integration. McCrindle noted that Generation Beta is likely to be the first to experience advancements such as autonomous transportation, wearable health technologies, and immersive virtual environments as part of everyday life.

In addition to adapting to rapid technological progress, Generation Beta is expected to face significant global challenges, including climate change and shifting social norms.

The practice of naming generations gained prominence in the mid-20th century, starting with the “Baby Boomers” (born 1946–1964), a label inspired by the post-war population surge. The trend continued with researchers Neil Howe and William Strauss, who defined generational cohorts based on cultural and historical events.

Other generational labels include the Builders (1925–1945), Generation X (1965–1979), Millennials (1980–1994), and Generation Z (1995–2009). Generation Alpha (2010–2024) marked the first cohort born entirely in the 21st century.

McCrindle predicts that Generation Beta will inherit a world shaped by rapid advancements and evolving societal structures, ultimately carving out its own unique identity in history.

Pastor Abel Damina, founder of Abel Damina Ministries and Power City International, has stirred controversy with his statement that smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol are not sinful acts.

During his New Year’s Eve sermon on Tuesday, Pastor Damina argued that these behaviors are often misrepresented as sins, emphasizing that they are not inherently wrong.

“I’ve told you alcohol is not a sin. I’ve told you cigar is not a sin. If you like, put it on a newspaper headline, I said it,” he declared.

However, the pastor clarified that his position was not an endorsement of such behaviors. He advised his audience to exercise discretion and wisdom.

“Am I saying you should smoke? You should have sense from your father’s house to know that cigar will cut short your life. Am I saying you should drink alcohol? You should know that if you drink alcohol, you will lie down inside a gutter. Your shirt and trousers will disappear. You should have the sense to know that,” he said.

Pastor Damina also challenged conventional theological interpretations of sin, using the story of Adam and Eve as an example. He questioned the long-held belief that their sin was caused by eating the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden.

“Adam and Eve ate nothing,” he said. “Were you there? You were not there. So how do we know whether they ate something or not? Jesus was there. Was Jesus there in the Garden of Eden? Yes. Can Jesus explain to us what happened? Yes.”

Citing Mark 7:18-21, Pastor Damina argued that sin is not determined by what a person consumes but by the state of their heart. He stated, “If they (Adam and Eve) ate, it’ll go to their stomach. It’ll digest and go to the toilet. They’ll be free. There’s nothing a man eats that enters his heart. It’ll go to the digestive system, and it’ll go out somehow. It is what comes out of a man that defiles a man, not what goes in. What makes you a sinner is what you’re thinking, not what you’re eating.”

The sermon has sparked widespread debate among Christians and theologians, with many questioning traditional teachings on sin and morality.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) turned down a $750 million offer from billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote to manage the Port Harcourt and Kaduna refineries.

In an exclusive interview with Channels Television, Obasanjo disclosed that the offer was made in 2007 as part of a public-private partnership (PPP) initiative aimed at improving the efficiency of the refineries.

According to Obasanjo, Dangote and his team had already made the $750 million payment when the NNPC rejected the proposal, insisting that it could manage the refineries on its own.

He recounted, “Aliko got a team together and they paid $750m to take part in a PPP arrangement for running the refineries. My successor refunded their money, and I went to him to explain what had transpired. His response was that NNPC claimed they could run the refineries. I told him, ‘But you know they cannot run it.’”

Obasanjo further lamented the poor state of Nigeria’s refineries, noting that despite the rejection of Dangote’s offer, billions of dollars have been spent on the refineries without any significant improvement.

“I was told not too long ago that since that time, more than $2 billion has been squandered on the refineries, and they still will not work,” he added.

The Port Harcourt and Kaduna refineries, two of Nigeria’s key oil processing facilities, have long been plagued by inefficiencies and mismanagement, leaving the country heavily reliant on imported refined petroleum products.

Political economist and founder of the Centre for Values in Leadership, Prof. Pat Utomi, has criticized successive Nigerian governments for their treatment of young people, describing it as disrespectful and untrustworthy.

In an interview with Channels Television, Utomi stated, “Governments in Nigeria have not been trustworthy, let’s be very frank. They have treated young people like they are idiots repeatedly, and this is sad because most governments in Nigeria were first run by young people.”

Utomi highlighted that during the era of military rule, many leaders were in their 20s and 30s, yet a combination of military command structures and the influx of oil wealth led to the emergence of a rigid class system in the country.

Speaking about the proposed National Youth Conference planned by the administration of President Bola Tinubu for the first quarter of 2025, Utomi said for it to be effective, those in leadership must acknowledge the damage done to the youth over the years.

“For the youth conference to succeed, the government must first sincerely admit that it has brutalized young people, apologize to them, and make a commitment to rebuilding trust,” he said.

Utomi emphasized that building trust is critical for any government seeking to engage the youth meaningfully. He explained, “Any government that does not begin with recognizing that it is not trusted is wasting time. The first step is to start building trust through honest commitment.”

He further elaborated on the concept of an “emotional bank account,” where credibility is built by fulfilling promises. “Every time you say you are going to do something and you do it, you make a deposit in the emotional bank account. But each time you fail to deliver on your promises, you make a withdrawal,” Utomi said.

The economist concluded by urging the government to adopt proven models for trust-building and to prioritize integrity and accountability in its dealings with the youth.