Fuji maestro Pasuma’s 40 years on stage Lagos concert, held at the Sheraton Balmoral Hall, Ikeja, on Tuesday, is notable for several reasons.

Aside from marking four decades of Pasuma’s illustrious career and electrifying performances, it also saw fuji icons Kollington Ayinla and Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as K1 De Ultimate, reunite.

The highlight of the evening was the emotional reunion between Kwam 1 and Kollington, two Fuji legends whose strained relationship had long been a subject of public interest.

Their rivalry has always revolved around supremacy in fuji music, with their fans usually pitting them against each other, a trend that has trailed the genre for decades.

However, at the gathering hosted by singer Alariwo of Africa, the music icons were spotted sharing lighthearted moments, chatting, laughing, and posing for photographs as fans and media scrambled to get photos of the landmark moment.

Also at the gathering, Saheed Osupa and Pasuma, who recently ended their long-standing feud, shared a rare moment of friendship as they hugged and shared the stage. Thereafter, Osupa, Pasuma, and Malaika challenged each other on stage to a fuji singing marathon battle, much to the admiration of their fans. Their performances and camaraderie elevated the night to a truly historic occasion. Portable also graced the event.

Goodwill messages

On the other hand, intermittently during his performance, Pasuma spoke about his music journey and how he has grown through the ranks and grown a loyal fan base beyond the shores of Nigeria.

In his remarks, Koliington, who also graced the stage, said, ‘‘On behalf of all Fuji practitioners home and abroad in the Diaspora, we congratulate you. You will continue to excel in your generation. Forty years on stage is not a joke. You shall continue to rise and rise … (You will not die on the road like smoke, but you will get to the promised land, your answered prayers will not suddenly become confusing) singing’’.

Kwam 1 said: ‘‘You are up already, and you will not fall. You will not die young. Whoever is unhappy with what you have done today, only God can determine the end of such people. What has allowed two elders (Kollington &Wasiu) to be in attendance for what you are doing today? You will continue to do greater things’’.

Ending the day on a high note, Pasuma surprised band members who had spent 30 years and beyond with N10m each.

Pasuma, an aspiring footballer turned singer who nursed the ambition of competing for Nigeria in the 1985 FIFA U-16 World Championship in China, was raised in the Lagos state neighbourhood of Mushin. He chose to do music because he was excluded from the 1985 squad that participated in the FIFA/KODAK World championship in China, which Nigeria ultimately won.

Inspired by his role model, K1 de Ultimate, Pasuma began writing songs in 1984. In 1993, he released “Recognition,” his debut album. Since then, he’s put out more than 30 albums.

The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele on Friday released a 94-page compilation of prophecies for the year 2025.

Ayodele’s prophecies touched on issues around Nigeria’s political scene in the incoming year.

He said President Bola Tinubu will make moves to impeach the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

In the compilation tagged ‘Divine messages for the year 2025 and Beyond’, Ayodele also issued prophecies touching on the health sector, aviation and maritime industry, economy, education and different countries of the world.

Other areas the popular prophet touched on include energy and power, financial institutions, ICT, security and paramilitary, religion, terrorism, entertainment, judiciary, oil and gas, Labour union, and traditional institution.

Parts of the compilation of prophecies read: “I foresee that at the beginning of the year 2025, Nigeria will experience lots of ups and downs. The year will start with confusion here and there even as people will be complaining. The spirit of God says Nigerians must in the first seven days of the new year to fast and pray and seek the face of the Lord because of five major things.

“President must pray for protection upon his family. I foresee that there will be a document in circulation that the political enemies will use to fight the Vice President.

SEYI TINUBU

“Seyi Tinubu cannot be governor of Lagos state now. A lot will happen in 2027 and many secrets will be exposed. So much tension that will build towards 2027.”

WIKE, TINUBU, FUBARA AND 2027

“I foresee that Tinubu will be forced to dump Wike as Wike will put in efforts in order to keep up. Wike and Tinubu will have disagreements. Wike sincere efforts will be truncated. If Wike did not strategize properly, I foresee that Sim Fubara will win the 2027 gubernatorial election in Rivers State. Except the election is rigged or it turns
to violent but on a free and fair, Wike candidate will lose.”

ATIKU AND FINTIRI

“Atiku and Governor Fintiri will have misunderstanding and disagreement that will lead to confrontation.”

ECONOMIC HARDSHIP

“The economic hardship will cause the citizens to throw sachet of pure water at some Honorables, government officials and politicians. People will be attacking government convoys. Let the politicians be watchful.”

“The spirit of the Lord revealed to me that things will be difficult even as the economy will be sluggish. I foresee there will be deaths and political tension. There must be prayers for the people in power and positions of authority even traditional rulers and

“The spirit of the Lord says Nigeria needs to seek the face of God in 2025 because things will take a new format that will baffle the people. I foresee the government will be struggling but the manifestations will be very confusing.

“Let us rebuke the removal of the Speaker or Deputy Speaker of any State House of Assembly. Let us rebuke also what can cause the impeachment of the Speaker or the Deputy Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives. We must commit our State Governors and their Deputies into the hands of God and rebuke crisis that may arise between or among them.

“There is going to be a lot of political maneuvering in 2027. Political leaders from different geo-political zones will pledge their loyalties to the ruling party. Some will want Tinubu to continue while some will not.

“The spirit of the Lord says that the only way to fight this poverty is for the Nigerian government to encourage local manufacturers and exportation. This will go a long way to put an end to poverty and hardship.

“Tinubu’s government will develop five strategic formulas to fight the opposition. And if opposition are not desperate, they cannot unseat him.

“I foresee that different opposition groups will come up to criticize Tinubu’s government but the government will find a way to deal with them effectively. Tinubu will reduce opposition movement to nothing. Only a few that are very strong will be able to stand.

“I foresee that this government will take many steps to actualize the second term ambition of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. A lot of programmes and strategies will be unveiled to actualize and realize Tinubu’s second term in Office Project.”

See complete prophecies below…

A COMPILATION OF THE DIVINE MESSGAES

Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State has spent millions of naira to purchase brand new SUVs for chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of the state’s local government councils despite the July 2024 Supreme Court judgement affirming the financial autonomy of Nigeria’s 774 local governments.

On 13 November, Mr Otu, represented by the Deputy Governor of Cross River, Peter Odey, presented Coolray SUVs to 18 vice-chairpersons at the Government House Calabar.

Mr Odey was assisted by the Governor’s Chief of Staff, Emmanuel Ironbar.

A spokesperson to Governor Otu, Nsa Gill, in a press statement on 14 November, said the SUVs were meant to enhance productivity and efficiency at the local councils.

The statement said the Vice-Chairperson of the Obubra Local Government Council, Leonard Ogwa, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, “expressed gratitude” to Mr Otu for the vehicles.

Mr Ogwa said the vehicles would “enhance the smooth and efficient operation of their offices”.

The statement quoted Mr Ogwa as assuring them they would work alongside their council chairpersons to “build on the governor’s achievements.”

Cost of SUVs

According to information available on the Internet, the retail price for a Coolray SUV is between N14,700,000 (Coolray SUV – Dynamic Plus), N13,900,000 (Coolray SUV – Dynamic) and N16,900,000 (Coolray SUV – Sport Plus).

At a unit price of N16,900,000, 18 Coolray SUV—Sport Plus would cost N304,200,000, but the Cross River State Government must have spent much more than that if that is the exact brand it bought for the officials. This is because of the characteristic opaque nature of government procurement processes in Nigeria, which makes them susceptible to prices of goods and services being inflated.

According to the statement, Governor Otu had earlier presented Ford SUVs to the chairpersons of the 18 local councils.

The governor may have spent at least a billion naira to purchase the vehicles for the council chairpersons and vice-chairpersons.

Where did the money come from?

PREMIUM TIMES asked Mr Otu’s spokesperson why the governor should give out vehicles to officials of local councils when the councils are expected to enjoy financial autonomy.

“The autonomy is still there, and the governor abides by the judgement of the Supreme Court, but you also know that even the (Nigerian) constitution also gives power to the House of Assembly to make laws for the administration of the local governments,” Mr Gill responded.

He said the governor’s giving out vehicles to the officials of the local councils does not diminish the regional government’s autonomy.

PREMIUM TIMES also asked Mr Gill where the money for purchasing the vehicles came from.

“You know, for sometimes, there was a joint account (between the state government and the local councils) operation, and there were some reserve funds, so to say, in the joint account.

“I can’t say that the fund came from there, but I know they may have come from there as well,” he responded.

Mr Gill, however, said Governor Otu will not operate the joint account.

He said there is some kind of partnership between the local and state governments to develop Cross River.

Our reporter asked Mr Gill about the possibility that vehicles for local officials may not have been a priority need of the councils.

“First, the chief executives of the councils need to be mobile. The departments in the councils will also need vehicles. And those vehicles (needed by the departments) will be bought directly by the councils,” he responded.

Background

Before the landmark Supreme Court judgement, local councils and their officials existed at the mercy of the governors of their respective states.

Many governors deliberately refused to conduct local elections for several years. They were comfortable appointing their allies to run the affairs of the councils and dictating to them how to use the councils’ funds.

In some cases, the governor arbitrarily dissolved the leadership of some councils and handpicked a new set of officials.

With the Supreme Court judgement, the joint account has been abolished. The Accountant General of the Federation has been mandated to pay funds that belong to the local government directly into a council’s bank account.

The Supreme Court also declared setting up a caretaker committee to run local councils illegal.