Pastor Abel Damina, founder of Abel Damina Ministries and Power City International, has sparked debate by declaring that smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol are not sins.

Speaking during his New Year’s Eve sermon on Tuesday, Damina argued that these acts are often misrepresented as sinful when they are not inherently so.

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

However, he made it clear that he was not encouraging such behaviors, cautioning his audience to exercise 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.”

Damina’s sermon also addressed the theological basis for his views, challenging traditional interpretations of sin and morality.

Referencing the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, he questioned the belief that their sin resulted from eating fruit from the forbidden tree.

“Adam and Eve ate nothing,” he said. “Adam and Eve didn’t eat anything. 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, he argued that sin is not caused by what one consumes but by the condition of the heart. “If they (Adam and Eve) ate, it’ll go to their stomach. It’ll digest and go to toilet. They’ll be free,”

Damina said. “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 Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP), in the 2023 elections, Mr. Peter Obi has said there was currently no merger agreement between the party and any other opposition party for a merger. 

The former Amambra State Governor spoke against the backdrop of speculations that the LP had entered into a merger deal with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
Although he didn’t admit or deny the existence of merger talks, he was emphatic that there was “no agreement yet.”

He appealed to all lovers of Nigeria irrespective of political affiliation to unite because it was only in unity that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) whom he said has “mismanaged” the nation’s resources can be defeated.

Obi described Nigeria’s security situation as unfortunate. He expressed sadness that Nigerians were needlessly being sent to their early graves on account of banditry, terrorism, and kidnapping-for-ransom.

He also faulted the current administration’s claims of fighting corruption.
Obi argued that the level of corruption in Nigeria remained high just as the cost of governance which has said has led to an astronomical increase in public debt.

Obi stressed that the situation was worsened by the fact that government officials willfully mismanaged public funds in 2024 through incessant foreign travels.

Recall that the LP candidate and his PDP counterpart, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar lost the 2023 presidential election to APC’s Tinubu.

Tinubu won in 12 of Nigeria’s 36 states, and also secured the enough votes in several other states to claim the highest number of votes — 8,794,726, almost two million votes more than his closest rival — Atiku Abubakar of the PDP.

Atiku, who has ran for the presidential seat a record six times, got 6,984,520 votes, while Obi, a first-time contestant, secured an unprecedented 6,101,533. NNPP’s Rabiu Kwankwaso, former Kano State governor, finished fourth, claiming victory in his state — Kano. He secured 1,496,687 votes.

The Kaduna State Police Command has arrested Mohammed Bashir Saidu, a former commissioner under the administration of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai, on allegations of financial misconduct involving billions of naira.

Sa’idu, who served as the Commissioner of Local Government Affairs, Chief of Staff, and Commissioner of Finance during el-Rufai’s tenure, is accused of money laundering to the tune of ₦3.9 billion and misappropriation of ₦244 million.

The allegations stem from a petition accusing Sa’idu of selling $45 million belonging to the state government at an exchange rate of ₦410 per dollar in 2021, instead of the prevailing market rate of ₦498 per dollar, resulting in a ₦3.9 billion shortfall.

Additionally, Sa’idu is alleged to have failed to account for the proceeds from the sale of Kaduna State government properties located in Marafa Estate. As chairman of the committee overseeing the sale of government assets, he is said to have violated financial protocols.

Saidu is currently in police custody while the allegations are being investigated.

Sources quoted by Vanguard confirmed that his passport has been confiscated, and he is also under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

In June 2024, the Kaduna State House of Assembly set up an ad hoc committee that recommended investigations into alleged financial irregularities during el-Rufai’s administration.

The committee alleged that public funds amounting to ₦423 billion were diverted, and loans obtained during the administration were misused for purposes other than their original intent.

The Senior Pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Dr. Paul Enenche, has revealed prophetic insights into the year 2025, declaring it a year of divine judgement and new beginnings.

Speaking during the church’s crossover service at its headquarters in Abuja, Pastor Enenche told congregants that God had shown him visions of lifting spells and breaking embargoes, signaling a significant shift for believers.

According to the clergyman, 2025 will mark a season of new opportunities for God’s people.

He emphasized that the year would not only be one of blessings but also of divine intervention against forces of ooppression.

Pastor Enenche urged believers to remain steadfast and embrace the opportunities that the new year presents.

He said, “While praying and preparing for the year 2025, the first thing I saw was the lifting of spells, embargos.

“Embargos that have limited people’s lives, embargos of singleness, joblessness, fruitlessness, and idleness; I stand here tonight with the prophetic mantle on my life to declare that the spell is broken.

“He said as the last year just gave way for a new year and night gives way for the day, the past gives way for the future, in the same way; your season of emptiness is giving way for your season of fullness.

“He said it’s a new season that has come with new changes, new openings, new opportunities, a new song, and a new dance, so get ready.

“I’m arising in anger, it is said time for Jehovah to rise in judgment, in battle, it is said time for Jehovah to uncover the mystery and make the things in darkness come up to light.”

The founder of Abel Damina Ministries and Power City International, Pastor Abel Damina, has questioned the belief that Adam and Eve’s sin in the Garden of Eden was caused by eating fruit from the forbidden tree.

Damina stated this during his New Year’s Eve sermon on Tuesday.

He said, “Adam and Eve ate nothing. Adam and Eve didn’t eat anything. 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.”

Referencing Mark 7:18-21 in the Bible, Damina went on to argue that it is not what a person eats or drinks that makes them a sinner.

He added, “Do you not know that if Adam and Eve ate something, they would not be sinners? It is not what people eat that makes them sinners. It is not what you eat. You cannot be a sinner by eating or drinking something.”

Damina also stated that smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol are not sins, saying, “I’ve told you alcohol is not a sin. I’ve told you cigar is not a sin. If you like put it on newspaper headline, I said it.”

He, however, made it clear that he wasn’t encouraging such behaviours.

“Am I saying you should smoke? You should have sense from your father’s house to know that cigar will cut short your life,” he said.

“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.”

According to Pastor Damina, it is not the act of eating or drinking that corrupts a person, but rather what resides within their heart.

“If they (Adam and Eve) ate, it’ll go to their stomach. It’ll digest and go to toilet. They’ll be free,” Damina said.

He added, “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.”

A former National Vice Chairman, North West, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Salihu Lukman, has pleaded with Nigerians to vote out President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

He, however, stated that this can only be carried out if Nigerians focus on producing a functional political party that respects its own rules.

Speaking via a statement on Tuesday, Lukman noted that such a functional political party must be distinctively different from the APC, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and all existing registered political parties in the country.

He said: “The expectations for free, fair, and credible elections in Nigeria may elude Nigerians once more. Or, as was the case in 2015, we could have relatively free, fair, and credible elections in 2027, which may only result in the defeat of APC and President Bola Tinubu, with the attendant danger of retaining the status quo of producing leaders who are emperors, who would only pretentiously commit to resolving Nigeria’s challenges.

“As Nigerians, we must rise to this challenge and make the defeat of APC and President Asiwaju not only possible in 2027 but, most importantly, guarantee the election of truly democratic leaders and not emperors.

“This should be about properly organising a political party that could allow for the emergence of party leaders at all levels through internal competition.”

Babafemi Ojudu, former Special Adviser on Political Matters to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, has revealed how he and other allies convinced President Bola Tinubu to reject an offer to serve as Minister of Finance under the late President Umaru Yar’Adua.

Ojudu disclosed this during an appearance on State Affairs, a podcast hosted by Edmund Obilo, on Monday.

He noted that accepting the role would have posed significant political risks for Tinubu, who was then the leader of the Action Congress.

“Tinubu called me one day and said, ‘Congratulations to me.’ I asked, ‘Congratulations for what?’ He then told me that former President Yar’Adua had called him to join his government of unity as Minister of Finance,” Ojudu recounted.

According to the journalist, he immediately warned Tinubu about the potential fallout of the decision, citing the fate of Bola Ige, a former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, who was assassinated under controversial circumstances.

“I said, ‘You are in Action Congress. Are you not a student of history? Do you not see what happened to Bola Ige? You are digging your political grave if you accept that type of job,’” he stated.

Rauf Aregbesola, a close ally of Tinubu and former Governor of Osun State, reportedly joined the discussion and supported Ojudu’s stance.

He added, “Rauf walked in and said, ‘Femi is right; that is not a job to take.

“One businessman walked in and said, ‘You guys are too radical. This thing will benefit everyone.’ But I insisted, ‘No, we are not looking for this type of benefit. We are looking for his political survival.

“He is our leader. Our dream for him is bigger than him becoming a minister in Yar’Adua’s government. Nine months down the line, they would arrest him, try him, and finish him off — the way they did to Bola Ige.”

Ojudu also addressed allegations of betrayal during the 2023 presidential election, where he backed former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo instead of Tinubu for the All Progressives Congress ticket.

He dismissed the claims, emphasising that their differing visions at the time were not personal.

He said, “We cannot quarrel. It is about our vision taking different routes. I just came from Bayo Onanuga’s daughter’s wedding. People saw me and said, We never knew you would come around.

“I told them, Do you think we are boxing each other? It is not personal. For me, loyalty to friendship is on a lesser scale than sacrifice for the country.”

Elon Musk starts 2025 as the wealthiest person on the planet, with a groundbreaking fortune exceeding $400 billion, as reported by Forbes on January 1.

The Tesla and SpaceX mogul tops a list of global billionaires whose combined wealth now totals $1.9 trillion, up from $1.8 trillion in December 2024.

These top-tier billionaires, primarily from the tech, retail, and luxury goods sectors, continue to dominate industries and influence global markets significantly.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang makes his debut in the top 10, reflecting the booming semiconductor industry.

Below is the updated list of the world’s richest individuals:

1. Elon Musk

– Net Worth: $421.2 billion
– Source of Wealth: Tesla, SpaceX, X, xAI
– Age: 53
– Citizenship: U.S.

Musk’s fortune saw a $91 billion boost in December due to SpaceX’s valuation hitting $350 billion.

His recent appointment as co-head of the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) by President Donald Trump further solidified his prominence.

2. Jeff Bezos

– Net Worth: $233.5 billion
– Source of Wealth: Amazon
– Age: 60
– Citizenship: U.S.

Bezos reclaimed the second spot after Amazon’s stock rose 5% in December, increasing his wealth by $10 billion.

3. Larry Ellison

– Net Worth: $209.7 billion
– Source of Wealth: Oracle
– Age: 80
– Citizenship: U.S

Despite Oracle’s stock slump resulting in a $17 billion loss, Ellison remains firmly in third place.

4. Mark Zuckerberg

– Net Worth: $202.5 billion
– Source of Wealth: Meta
– Age: 40
– Citizenship: U.S.

Meta’s stock price increase of 1.9% nudged Zuckerberg’s fortune slightly higher.

5. Bernard Arnault

– Net Worth: $168.8 billion
– Source of Wealth: LVMH
– Age: 75
– Citizenship: France

The luxury goods titan enjoyed an $8.5 billion rise thanks to LVMH’s stock performance.

6. Larry Page

– Net Worth: $157.9 billion
– Source of Wealth: Google (Alphabet)
– Age: 51
– Citizenship: U.S.

Google’s co-founder maintains his position among the elite wealthiest individuals globally.

7. Sergey Brin

– Net Worth: $153.4 billion
– Source of Wealth: Google (Alphabet)
– Age: 50
– Citizenship: U.S.

Brin’s wealth reflects Alphabet’s sustained dominance in the tech industry.

8. Warren Buffett

– Net Worth: $139.6 billion
– Source of Wealth: Berkshire Hathaway
– Age: 94
– Citizenship: U.S.

Buffett’s wealth declined by $8.9 billion due to a 6% drop in Berkshire Hathaway’s stock in December.

9. Steve Ballmer

– Net Worth: $123.5 billion
– Source of Wealth: Microsoft
– Age: 68
– Citizenship: U.S.

The former Microsoft CEO and Los Angeles Clippers owner saw a $500 million decrease in his fortune but remains in the top 10.

10. Jensen Huang

– Net Worth: $118 billion
– Source of Wealth: Nvidia
– Age: 61
– Citizenship: U.S.

Nvidia’s stock surged by 171% in 2024, securing Huang’s place among the world’s wealthiest for the first time.

Key Highlights

– Nine of the top 10 billionaires are American citizens, and all are male.

– Musk’s unparalleled fortune is heavily linked to his stakes in Tesla, SpaceX, and other ventures.

– The rankings fluctuate based on market trends, showcasing the dynamic nature of global wealth.

These billionaires’ influence spans technology, luxury goods, and beyond, shaping economies and industries worldwide

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed new details about Nigeria’s refinery woes, recounting failed efforts to privatise the country’s refineries and the subsequent financial losses under government management.

In an exclusive interview with Channels TV on Thursday, Obasanjo discussed the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries during his presidency.

He explained how he sought external help to rehabilitate and manage the facilities but faced resistance.

He recalled, “I asked Shell to come and run it for us and Shell said they wouldn’t I said, Please come and take equity they said no. I said okay, don’t take equity, come and run it, they said no. 

“Later on, I called them. I called the boss of Shell to come and tell me what the problem was and he gave me four or five reasons. He said, first of all, they make a major profit from upstream, not from downstream. He said they run downstream just to keep their head above water.

“Two, our refineries were too small: 60,000 barrels 100,000 barrels and I think 120,000 barrels. He said that at that time, the average refinery was going for 250,000 barrels.

“Three, he said our refineries were not well maintained. Four, he said that there was too much corruption around the activities of our refinery and they would not want to get involved in that.”

Obasanjo shared that after Shell’s refusal, Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, assembled a team and paid $750 million to operate the refineries through a public-private partnership.

“Aliko got a team together and they paid $750m to take part in PPP (Public–Private Partnership) in running the refineries. My successor refunded their money and I went to my successor, I told him what transpired, he said NNPC said they wanted the refinery and they could run it and I said but you know they cannot run it,” he stated.

The former president expressed confidence in Dangote’s ability to manage his privately owned refinery effectively, contrasting it with the government’s inefficiency.

“I was told not too long ago that since that time, more than two billion dollars have been squandered on the refinery and they still will not work.

“If a company like Shell tells me what they told me, I will believe them. If anybody tells you now that it is working, why are they now with Aliko? And Aliko will make his own refinery work; not only make it work, he will make it deliver.”

Obasanjo concluded with a Yoruba proverb, comparing inflated claims about the refineries’ performance to planting 100 heaps of yam but falsely claiming to have planted 200.

“They say after he has harvested 100 heaps of Yam, he will also have 100 heaps of lies. You know what that means,” he said.