The former Chief of Staff to late President Muhammadu Buhari, Ibrahim Gambari, has stated that a one-party State in Nigeria cannot be actualised.

Addressing journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, Gambari, who now chairs the Board of the Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development (SCDDD), stated that he is not worried about a one-party state because political elites are too ambitious to be contained within a single political party.

He, however, stated that, as a measure to check the frequent case of defections in the country, adding that in other climes, ‘if you defect, you vacate the position because it belongs to the political party under which you emerged’.

He said, “On the political parties and the fear of a one-party state, I’m not worried about this country becoming a one-party state. You know what? You can quote me. It will not happen, if history is any guide. You know, we don’t even know our own history.

“This administration is not the first to try to have a dominant party in Nigeria. Right from the beginning, the NPC was a dominant party in the First Republic. They were not the ones who caused the crisis in the main opposition, but they didn’t discourage it. In fact, they took sides. Where has that led us? It didn’t lead us to peace or development; it led to chaos.

“The NPN was the successor. They became so confident they felt that they would be there forever. What happened to that? In the end, it didn’t work. Third one, PDP, not long ago they were boasting that they would rule for 60 years. Where are they today? So any effort to make this country one-party will not work. And sometimes, it will not work for the wrong reasons, because the political elites are too ambitious for the ambition to be contained within one political party.”

Gambari, however, cautioned, “But let’s not wait for disaster to happen. Let’s build political parties. That’s what has been missing. We have not paid enough attention as a people to political parties. We are, in a sense, super elite. We gather in this room. How many of us actually belong to any political party? How many of us here present have a party membership card? How many attend political party meetings?”

Senator Adams Oshiomhole has praised President Bola Tinubu’s new tax policy, describing it as consistent with the principles of a progressive government.

He said he was among the lawmakers who supported the tax bill that eventually became law.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, the Edo North lawmaker said the Tinubu tax policy is progressive because it shifts the tax burden from the poor to the rich.

“The facts on the ground show that President Tinubu’s tax policy is consistent with the values of a progressive government,” Oshiomhole said.

“And this is a progressive tax policy that places a higher burden on those who earn more while offering tax exemptions to those who earn less.”

The former Edo State governor emphasized that he fully supports the new tax policy, noting that no government can function without taxes.

“It is only in Nigeria that people talk about government using money or claim that government earns money on its own. Governments do not earn money; citizens earn income, and the government taxes those earnings—whether individual or corporate. The sum of these taxes determines the annual revenue of the state,” he explained.

Oshiomhole added that working families will benefit under the new tax regime.
“There is no worker who is a member of the Nigeria Labour Congress earning N1 million a month, which totals N12 million a year. So, for salary earners, this tax policy is progressive.”

On Value Added Tax (VAT), the senator noted that the average Nigerian worker need not worry, as VAT primarily affects luxury purchases.

He also criticized Nigerians who pay VAT abroad but complain when paying the same tax in Nigeria.

“Everywhere in the world, when you buy non-food items, you pay VAT. Nigerians pay VAT in America, London, Dubai, yet they resist paying VAT here in Nigeria,” Oshiomhole said.

Despite criticisms, President Bola Tinubu had, in December 2025, reaffirmed that the new tax laws would take effect from January 1, 2026.

Tinubu explained that the tax laws were not intended to raise taxes arbitrarily, but to support a structural reset, promote harmonisation, protect citizens’ dignity, and strengthen the social contract.

He also urged all Nigerians to support the implementation of the new policy.

The Federal High Court Abuja has fixed January 26 to rule on the final forfeiture of a London property linked to the late Jeremiah Useni, former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The decision followed the failure of any individual or representative of Useni’s estate, to appear within the 14-day statutory window to show cause why the property should not be forfeited to the Federal Government.

The proceedings arose from an ex parte application filed in late 2025 by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), which sought an interim forfeiture and preservation order over the disputed property, alleging it was acquired with proceeds of unlawful activity.

On November 28, Justice Binta Nyako, granted the interim forfeiture order.

The judge directed the CCB to advertise the order in a national newspaper within 14 days to invite “any person or body” with interest in the property to come forward and prove legitimate acquisition.

The property is located at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX, named in the property dispute are a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mike Ozekhome, and Useni, a retired Lieutenant-General.

The matter was filed at the First Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Land Registration, UK, under case number ref/2023/0155, with Tali Shani as the applicant and Ozekhome as the respondent.

The property had been claimed by one “Ms Tali Shani” on one hand and Ozekhome on the other.

Ozekhome said he received the house as a gift from “Mr Tali Shani” in 2021, while lawyers for “Ms Shani” insisted she was the rightful owner.

A witness known as “Mr Tali Shani” had testified in favour of Ozekhome, claiming that he had “powers of attorney” over the property and had transferred the property to the respondent (Ozekhome).

Mr Tali Shani asserted ownership of the property from 1993 and claimed he later appointed Useni as his property manager, describing Useni as an “elder friend and business partner”.

On the other hand, several documents, including an obituary announcement, NIN card, ECOWAS passport, phone number, etc were tendered by witnesses of Ms Tali Shani to claim ownership of the property.

However, the tribunal found all the documents tendered for Ms Tali Shani to be fake.

The tribunal subsequently dismissed all claims, ruling that neither “Mr” nor “Ms” Tali Shani existed.