Politics
ADP Candidate Gbadamosi Steals Show As Lagos Governorship Candidates Debate
The candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Babatunde Gbadamosi, was the dark horse that wowed members of the audience in Saturday’s Lagos gubernatorial election debate, as he spoke confidently of his plans if elected governor of the country’s commercial capital.
Mr Gbadamosi, who was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before defecting to the ADP, received rave reviews of his performance in the debate, which was organised by The Platform, a civic discussion initiative of the Covenant Christian Centre.
The interview which was moderated by British-Nigerian Christian broadcaster, Victor Oladokun, had in attendance alongside Mr Gbadamosi, the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the PDP candidate, Jimi Agbaje, and the candidate of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), Owolabi Salis.
Mr Gbadamosi started off on a somewhat shaky note when he was asked about what he would do in his first hundred days in office if elected. He explained that he would try increasing the salaries of civil servants in the state, but he did not explain how he would raise the additional fund needed to do this.
He, however, bounced back from the initial flutter, arguing that his priority will be to boost the infrastructural shortfall of the state by building rail lines to all the exit points of the state, opening up water transportation and the movement of container by barges instead of through the roads to cut the infamous Lagos traffic.
The ADP candidate, who berated the ruling party in the state for lack of prudence in running the state finances, said he would bring his experience from the private sector in handling the spending of state funds.
According to him, he would be able to do this because he “does not have a godfather”, which was a snide remark on the candidate of the ruling APC, Mr Sanwo-Olu, who enjoys the backing of a former governor of the state, Bola Tinubu, generally believed to be the de facto political leader of the state.
Mr Gbadamosi also correctly fact-checked the APC candidate after he falsely stated that the state government was transparent and publishes its budgets. Mr Gbadamosi pointed out that the state budget website no longer existed stating that the government is known for being opaque rather than open. He said if elected into office he would operate an open government.
He berated the current government for being unable to complete its light rail project in 10 years and wondered why the state was paying for it from its purse when it could have welcomed the private sector to finance the project. He also said at a cost of almost $1 billion, the light rail project was too expensive.
He said he would open up the state waterways and improve tourism as a means of growing the state tax revenue if elected into office.
In all, he was the most eloquent of the candidate on display. The figures and data he quoted were mostly correct. He also cited examples of what was being done in other places with similar demographics like Lagos such as Singapore and Ethiopia.
Score 8/10
Sanwo-Olu
Mr Sanwo-Olu, as the candidate of the ruling party, which has been in power for 20 years in the state, unsurprisingly was put on the defensive throughout the debate. But he did a fairly good job of shaking off the attacks from other candidates and in fact, on a couple of occasions, was on the offensive.
He spoke about his experience as a banker and public officer. He said he would bring the experience garnered from being a three-time commissioner in the state in running the state effectively.
He promised to tackle the traffic gridlock in the city and especially promised to solve the perennial gridlock in the Apapa area of the state.
The APC candidate said he would be a listening governor and regularly hold town hall meetings across the state to discuss some of the pressing problems of the state.
Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Photo Credit: Twitter handle)
He said the problems with funds in the state would be solved if more people pay taxes. According to him, out of the possible 16 million taxable people in the state, only 800,000 actually pay taxes. He said he would work towards capturing more people into the tax bracket.
Mr Sanwo-Olu promised to double the state’s health budget from its present 9 per cent to 18-20 per cent. He said he would focus on health insurance for all inhabitants of the states and his priority will be improving primary healthcare.
Mr Sanwo-Olu, however, spent a lot of time talking about his educational qualifications and his experience as a commissioner. Though he put a spirited fight especially when other candidates suggested he was a stooge of Mr Tinubu; but like flies feeding off the wounded ears of a dog, hard as he tried, he was unable to shake off the attack.
He lied that Lagos was transparent and received several rebuttals from other debaters over the claim. Also, some of his responses sounded like he was berating the manner his party has run the state.
Score 6/10
Agbaje
Perhaps the most disappointing candidate of the night was the PDP candidate. His disappointment may not have come from the weakness of his responses as it did from the fact that they were usually below par from what was expected of him. He stammered several times and his responses cross the time given each candidate to respond.
Also, the unexpected brilliance of Mr Gbadamosi appeared to have stolen Mr Agbaje’s thunder. The candidate who was running for the third time may have been hurt by the familiarity of his responses.
On solving the traffic problems of the state, he said he would fix potholes, and innovate the traffic control by installing radar-controlled traffic lights in the state. He said he would strengthen the state traffic control agency, LASTMA, to be more efficient.
Mr Agbaje said he would provide leadership as he is not a stooge. He said rather than ask people to pay more taxes he would open up the state for more businesses in order to capture new taxpayers.
Jimi Agbaje (Centre) is a during the Lagos Governorship debate (Photo Credit: Twitter handle)
He promised to improve the school system with technology and more internet broadband in the state would encourage more students to learn to code and become tech savvy.
He said he would make local governments more efficient by making them independent of the state government. He also promised to expand the road and extend the railway system to other parts of the state to reduce vehicular traffic on the road.
Score 5/10
Salis
The AD candidate, who is no stranger to running for the position of governor, having run three previous times, promised to cut the state from the control of Mr Tinubu. He said he would work to eradicate violence by purging the pockets of gangs across the state.
He, no doubt, provided comic relief during the debate with his somewhat awkward mannerism. And he welcomed a lot of jeers from the audience and criticism from those commenting on social media when he said he was going to build a subway in the city. His said he would appoint 50 special assistants that will help him see to the development of local governments in the state. His response here left many people wondering what would happen to the appointed local government officials.
He promised to take back the wealth of the people of Lagos from those he said have hijacked it and use it to develop the state.
Score: 4/10
Primate ELIJAH AYODELE: The Seer, And the Country That Listens
By Femi Oyewale
Ejigbo, Lagos — When Primate Babatunde Elijah Ayodele steps onto the pulpit of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church each week, he does more than preach: he convenes a national conversation. For decades, the clergy has issued blunt, often headline-grabbing prophecies about presidents, markets, and disasters — pronouncements that are dutifully copied, debated, and digested across Nigerian newsrooms, social media, and political corridors.
Primate Ayodele is best known for two things: the regular release of New Year’s and seasonal “warnings to the nation,” and a large, loyal following that amplifies those warnings into national discourse. He publishes annual prophecy booklets, holds prayer mountain conventions where journalists are invited, and maintains active social media channels that spread his messages quickly beyond his church gates. In July 2025, he launched a compendium of his prophecies titled “Warnings to the Nations,” an event covered by national outlets, which Ayodele used to restate concerns about security, governance, and international affairs.
Ayodele’s prophecies have touched on lightning-rod topics: election outcomes, the health or fate of public figures, infrastructure failures, and international crises. Nigerian and regional press have repeatedly published lists of his “fulfilled” predictions — from political upsets to tragic accidents — and his followers point to these as proof of his accuracy. Media roundups in recent years credited him with dozens of prophecies he argued had been realised in 2023 and 2024, and his annual prophetic rollouts continue to attract wide attention.
Impact beyond prediction: politics, policy, and public mood
The practical effect of Ayodele’s ministry is not limited to whether a prophecy comes to pass. In Nigeria’s politicised and religiously engaged public sphere, a prominent seer can:
• Move conversations in electoral seasons; politicians, commentators, and voters listen when he names likely winners or warns about risks to candidates, and his claims sometimes become part of campaign narratives.
• Shape popular expectations — warnings about economic hardship, insecurity, ty or public health influence how congregations and communities prepare and react.
• Exert soft pressure on leaders — high-profile admonitions directed at governors or ministers often prompt responses from the accused or their allies, creating a feedback loop between pulpit pronouncements and political actors.
Philanthropy and institution building
Ayodele’s public profile extends into philanthropy and church development. He runs INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church from Oke-Afa, Lagos, and his ministry periodically organises humanitarian outreach, scholarships, and hospital visits — activities he frames as evidence that prophetic ministry must be accompanied by concrete acts of charity. Church events such as extended “17-day appreciation” outreaches and scholarship programmes have been widely reported and help cement his appeal among congregants who value spiritual counsel paired with material support.
What makes him unique
Several features set Ayodele apart from other public religious figures in Nigeria:
1. Productivity and documentation. He releases extensive, numbered lists of prophecies and compiles them into booklets — a tactic that makes his predictions easy to track (and for supporters to tally as “fulfilled”).
2. A blend of national and international focus. His pronouncements frequently move beyond parochial concerns to name international actors and events, which broadens his media footprint.
3. Media-savvy presentation. From staged press events to active social accounts, Ayodele understands how to turn a prophecy into a viral story that will be picked up by blogs, newspapers, and TV.
The public verdict: faith, influence, and skepticism
To millions of Nigerians — and to his core following — Primate Ayodele remains a pastor-prophet whose warnings must be taken seriously. To others, he is a media personality whose relevance depends as much on spectacle and circulatory power as on supernatural insight. What is indisputable is his role in magnifying the religious dimension of national life: when he speaks, politicians, congregants, and newsrooms listen. That attention, in turn, helps determine which social and political questions become urgent in public debate.
Looking ahead
As Nigeria heads into another cycle of elections and economic challenges, Ayodele’s annual pronouncements will almost certainly return to the front pages. Whether they are read as sober warnings, political interventions, or performative theology, they will continue to shape conversations about destiny, leadership, and the kinds of risks a deeply religious nation believes it must prepare for.
Politics
BABATUNDE OLAOGUN STORMS LAUTECH; GIFTS DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION WORKABLE TOOLS
BABATUNDE OLAOGUN STORMS LAUTECH; GIFTS DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION WORKABLE TOOLS
In a remarkable display of commitment to academic excellence and community development, Hon. Babatunde Olaogun, a distinguished alumnus of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), has gifted the Department of Business Administration with state-of-the-art workable tools such as stationery items which includes several reams of A4 papers, detachable whiteboards. permanent markers, temporary markers among others things.
Olaogun also added that as part of his commitment to ensuring that students of the department enjoys first class academic infrastructure, a contemporary projector facility would be delivered to the department in no distant time courtesy of his humble self to further enhance ease during presentation of seminar and projects.
The donation ceremony was graced by eminent personalities at the department, including Prof. (Mrs) Ojokuku, Prof. Adegoroye and Dr. (Mrs.) Akanbi who warmly received Mr. Olaogun. The trio of the reverred academics thanked Mr. Olaogun for his commitment to good causes and urged him to continue doing even more good for the university, Ogbomoso in particular, Oyo State and the entire nation at large.
In their goodwill message, Prof. Ojokuku and Prof. Adegoroye also counseled Mr. Olaogun to stay focused and not be swayed by naysayers who may seek to tarnish his reputation. They further encouraged him to carry along, students of Public Administration from LAUTECH, with a view to a availing them practical skills and knowledge essential for their success in their future endeavors.
The Department of Business Administration is thrilled to receive this donation and looks forward to leveraging these tools to improve academic outcomes and produce highly skilled graduates.
Mr. Olaogun’s gesture is a shining example of the university’s alumni community’s commitment to supporting and nurturing the next generation of leaders.
OGUN VISIONARIES CONGRATULATE SENATOR YAYI ON BIRTHDAY.
A socio political group Ogun Visionaries For Yayi, has felicitated with her principal and Senator representing Ogun West at the red chamber, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Yayi) as he celebrates his birthday.
Solomon Yayi has been described as an illustrious Ogun Son, who is ever committed to the reformation of Ogun State and Nigeria.
According to the statement by the State Director General Hon. Odunjo issued on behalf of the group thanked Senator Yayi, for his outstanding transformation of the entire Ogun West and the State in general, his people oriented law making and contributions to the development of Ogun West , the State and Nigeria in general.
The group described Senator Yayi as a thorough bred politician, an epitome of humility, a game changer and lover of the people, while urging him to sustain his contributions to humanity.
The Visionaries for Senator Yayi noted that the Senator has brought his political experience to bear on the various constituency projects spread across the state.
The Socio Political group also lauded the technocrat-turned politician for his charming and urbane disposition to the discharge of his responsibility as a law maker representing Ogun West and as Chairman, Senate Committee on appropriation.
“Senator, Chief Solomon Olamilekan Adeola has continued to blaze the trail by providing and offering leadership at various levels of governance, the maverick Senator has continued to serve his people well without relenting”.
“He has continued to provide sound and relevant legislation at different times and we thank you for always being there for us”.
Over the years, you have carved a niche for yourself by dint of hard work and discipline, maintaining a charismatic and unblemished leadership style that has endeared you to many Ogun West residents, entire State and Nigerians in general”.
“You have exhibited absolute leadership traits of a man committed to doing things differently as it is in developed and organised climes”.
“On behalf of all of us in Visionaries for Senator Yayi, we congratulate you Our dear leader, brother and friend, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola on the occasion of your 56th birth anniversary”.
“In the past 56 years, your family and indeed, your political and associates and admirers have caused to be grateful to Almighty God for having granted you a life of great accomplishments and abiding fulfillment”.
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