Present Politics

29/08/2026

I want to build a country where the son of nobody can be somebody.

— Alhaji Atiku Abubakar

29/08/2026

The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, has warned that its informants and agents could be targeted and assassinated if it makes the alleged drug trafficking record of Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu public.

The FBI issued the warning in a court filing while responding to a Freedom of Information Act, FOIA, lawsuit before Judge Beryl Howell of the US District Court for the District of Columbia in Washington, DC

29/08/2026

29/08/2026

Daily Post Nigeria
News
Alleged drug trafficking: Tinubu trying so hard to keep record hidden – US firmPublished on August 29, 2026By Matthew Atungwu

Alleged drug trafficking: Tinubu trying so hard to keep record hidden – US firm

A United States-based policy advisory and lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, has said that Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu is fighting hard to keep records of his alleged drug trafficking hidden.

In a post on its verified X handle on Saturday, the firm said President Tinubu had pleaded with the court not to order the Department of Justice, DOJ, Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, and Drug Enforcement Administration, DEA, to release the records.

According to the firm, President Tinubu pleaded with the court to block the records from being released.

Von Batten-Montague-York stated that President Tinubu cited his right to privacy as the reason the alleged heroin-trafficking records should not be released.

“President Tinubu goes on to essentially argue that even the Nigerian public’s interest in his background and fitness for office does not give the public a right under the Freedom of Information Act, FOIA, to obtain the withheld information in his law-enforcement records.

“Nigerians, this is your President,” Von Batten-Montague-York tweeted.

DAILY POST reports that United States District Judge Beryl Howell had granted Donald Trump-appointed attorney, Jeanine Pirro additional days to release the alleged drug-trafficking records.

It will also be recalled that Tinubu had joined the US Department of Justice’s request for a 10-day extension to respond to a motion seeking the release of records relating to allegations of drug trafficking.

29/08/2026

THE DAY PEOPLE REPORTED ME TO THE ATTAH IGALA FOR HARBOURING CULTISTS IN MY BET9JA SHOP

Early 2015.

I was managing a Bet9ja shop owned by an Edo State man.

The man trusted me so much that he could leave the entire business in my hands, travel out of Idah and sleep peacefully.

And honestly, I was doing well.

Very well.

At that time, the town was practically in love with my shop. 😂

As someone who had travelled around, I had brought some new ideas and little luxuries into the shop. I made the place comfortable, organised and attractive.

Customers were coming.

The money was coming too.

I was making about ₦90,000 every week from my 10% commission.

Consistently.

But you know how this life is...

When your business starts doing well, some people don't ask, "How can I learn from this guy?"

They ask, "How can we bring him down?" 😂

Some rival shop owners started spreading stories.

One of the stories was that my Bet9ja shop had become a hideout for cultists.

I heard about it, but I didn't take it too seriously.

Until one particular day...

The shop was packed.

People were playing games.

Everywhere was choke.

The atmosphere was noisy—the kind of noise you hear when everybody is trying to predict the next winning ticket.

Suddenly, one of my cashiers called me.

"Oga, person dey find you."

I looked at him.

"Who?"

He pointed towards the entrance.

I walked over.

There was a man standing there.

He looked at me and said someone wanted to see me outside.

"Me?"

"Yes."

I didn't argue.

But as I approached the entrance, I suddenly saw several policemen standing outside.

My heart skipped.

For one second, my brain started calculating escape routes. 😂

"Ezekiel, wetin you do sef?"

I was genuinely confused.

Then I looked properly.

And that was when I saw him.

Agabaidu.

His Royal Highness, Michael Oboni II, the Attah Igala.

As an Igala boy who grew up in Idah, I knew exactly who I was looking at.

My legs almost automatically went into traditional mode. 😂

I immediately prostrated flat on my face...

"Agabaidu!"

He smiled.

And said something like:

"May u live long."

Then he looked around and said:

"So this small boy na him these men wan chase from business?"

I was just there, confused and humbled at the same time.

Then he asked me:

"What is your name?"

I said:

"Esude is my name, Gabaidu."

He looked at me.

"You are the second Esude I have seen."

Then he explained why he was there.

Some people had come to report me.

They claimed my shop was harbouring cultists and wanted the place shut down.

But instead of sitting in the palace and believing the story...

He came to see the place himself.

Then he looked at me and asked:

"Are you a cultist?"

I almost laughed.

"No ooo, Gabaidu!" 😂

He smiled.

Then another question:

"Are you educated?"

I said:

"Very well, Gabaidu."

He asked:

"What did you study?"

I replied:

"Agriculture."

He paused.

"Ehhh... Elushe!"

He smiled.

Then he simply told me:

"Go back to your shop and work."

And then came the statement I have never forgotten:

"Anybody that tries to intimidate you, come to the palace."

He blessed me.

And he left.

That was it.

No unnecessary drama.

No humiliation.

No judgment based on rumours.

No "I heard this, therefore it must be true."

He came personally.

He saw the business.

He saw the young man running it.

He asked questions.

He listened.

And he made his decision.

That day taught me something about leadership that I have never forgotten:

A good leader doesn't punish people because of what he heard about them. A good leader investigates.

Anybody can believe gossip.

Anybody can spread rumours.

But it takes wisdom and fairness to say:

"Let me see for myself."

Sadly, Agabaidu has gone hunting now.

But that encounter remains one of those moments from my younger days that I will never forget.

And whenever I remember that afternoon, I still laugh at myself.

Because when I saw those policemen at the entrance, my first thought was not:

"Let me defend myself."

It was:

"Ezekiel, wetin you do sef? Run or stay?" 😂

Thankfully, I stayed.

Because the man who came to investigate me ended up becoming the person who told me to go back inside and continue my business.

That is how a leader is supposed to lead.

Not by gossip.

Not by intimidation.

By finding out the truth.

May the soul of His Royal Highness, Attah Igala Michael Oboni II, rest in peace.

Agabaidu, your boy still remembers. 🕊️

29/08/2026

Breaking. Mass defection hits Rainbow Coalition

A new wave of massive defections has struck the Rainbow Coalition, with many more potential defectors putting their house in order before absconding from the coalition in the coming weeks

Over 200 party faithfuls from the All Progressive Congress (APC), the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and other groups within the Rainbow Coalition has dumped their party and moved to the African Democratic Congress (ADC)

The party members openly brought out all their brooms(the symbol of APC) and pour them Kerosene burning them to ashes, in a bold demonstration of departure from the APC and Rainbow Coalition

This defection happened during the ward-to-ward tour by the ADC in Emuoha Local Government Area(LGA)

The new members were joyfully received by the ADC LGA chairman chief Achinewhu Alexander Ichendu. He categorically reassured them of adequate integration and equal opportunities and treatments in the ADC to drive the party forward

Meanwhile other members of the coalition who still has few things to tidy before taking off are gearing up in high spirit to join their colleagues in ADC in few weeks time, with many months to go before 2027

As at the time of filing this report the Rainbow Coalition is yet to address this latest humiliation from it's own members

28/08/2026

19KM FOR ₦25 BILLION: WHY IS ADO PAYING MORE?

The Conflicting Figures and KMs behind the Ado Road Projects Demand Answers

By Isaac Odang Ochapa

Sometimes, the most powerful questions in public accountability are found in simple mathematics.

The Deputy Governor in a viral video from the ongoing thank you tour has reportedly stated that a 19-kilometre road in Igumale to Agila costs ₦25 billion. That translates to approximately ₦1.32 billion for every kilometre.

Yet, the APC Chairman has also reportedly put the cost of the 31-kilometre Igumale–Agila Road at about ₦19 billion that's approximately ₦613 million per kilometre.

Put simply, 19 kilometres is reportedly costing ₦25 billion, while 31 kilometres is reportedly costing ₦19 billion. Wait a minute how many roads do we have from Igumale to Agila??

That means the reported cost per kilometre of the 19-kilometre project is more than twice that of the Igumale–Agila Road.

This is not an accusation. It is a question of value for money.

Of course, no two roads are necessarily identical. Terrain, road width, pavement thickness, drainage, culverts, earthworks, mobilisation and other engineering requirements can significantly affect construction costs. That is precisely why the public needs to see the details.

What exactly is contained in the ₦25 billion?

What is the road width? What is the pavement specification? How much is allocated to drainage and culverts? When there's clearly no bridges, major structures or difficult geological conditions?

Is the figure for construction alone, or does it include other associated projects we are yet to see as user it residents?

These questions should not be interpreted through the lens of party politics.

Whether the figure came from the Deputy Governor or the comparison comes from the APC Chairman, the responsibility remains the same: explain the numbers to the people.

Ado people deserve roads. But they also deserve value for every naira spent on those roads.

When public funds run into billions, asking questions is not disrespect. It is responsible citizenship.

Let the documents speak.

Let the BOQ speak.

Let the cost per kilometre speak.

We are constrained to also look at examples outside Benue.

In Kogi State, the government awarded ₦6.387 billion for 106.36 kilometres of rural farm-road rehabilitation under RAAMP—about ₦60 million per kilometre. This is not an asphalt reconstruction project of exactly the same specification, so it should not be treated as a direct like-for-like comparison agreed but it demonstrates the wide variation in rural-road costs.

But looking at Other's that are Asphalted are are;

1. Sokoto Kajiji–Zamfara border
25.65 km ₦7.1bn which is ₦277m/km.

2. Adamawa 20-km Super Highway
20km ₦2.5bn budget estimate ₦125m/km
All above between 2025 and 2026

Because ₦25 billion is too much money for the people to simply hear the figure and ask no questions.

Hon. Isaac Odang Ochapa, FCE, FCICPFM, MRE,ANIEEE.
PDP Candidate, Ado State Constituency.
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