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Presidency speaks on cabal plotting to hijack Tinubu’s administration
The presidency has categorically denied the potential for a cabal to dominate the administration of President Bola Tinubu, addressing concerns that have lingered in the public discourse.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, provided this assurance during an appearance on TVC News Sunday Politics, where he tackled a wide range of issues currently affecting the nation.
Ngelale specifically highlighted the ongoing security challenges in parts of the northern region, attributing them to what he termed “sub-regional forces” actively working to destabilize the country.
This assertion underscores the complexity of the security situation in Nigeria, pointing to a mixture of internal and external dynamics contributing to unrest.
Amid discussions surrounding the state of the economy, the legacy of past government officials, and the security architecture, questions have emerged regarding the potential emergence of a powerful group within Tinubu’s administration, similar to what has been perceived in previous governments.
Such a group, often referred to as a “cabal,” is believed to wield undue influence, potentially mismanaging and abusing public office.
However, Ngelale firmly dismissed the notion that President Tinubu’s administration could fall under the sway of any such group.
He emphasized Tinubu’s leadership style, suggesting that the President has proactively structured his government to prevent any single official or group from exerting the kind of influence that could lead to governance hijack.
He said, “The good fortune we have is that we elected, not just a professional accountant, a professional auditor, but we elected a man who fully understands the governance mechanisms, not just at the federal level, but at sub-national level. I think this is a man who anyone working in the office of the President would tell you, there is not one individual in the Presidency that has a monopoly over what the President sees, hears and reads. Nobody has that kind of power in the office of this President and that’s intentional.
“He is someone who everyone has access to, everyone who needs to have access to him, has access to him. He has direct communications on a frequent basis with the heads of intelligence agencies, anti-graft agencies, and the like. So there is not going to be the potential there for anyone to form a cabal around this President because he’s aware of the dynamics of what has happened in the past and he is determined to ensure that that is not replicated under his watch.
“I will also add the fact that in the person of the current CBN Governor Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, this is a man who is reputed around the world as being a prudent manager of men and resources. This is someone who has a reputation, even within the government, of being tight fisted and that is by the intention of President Bola Tinubu to have someone like that in place.
“I would also add that when you look at organizational structures that lead to Governor Emefiele, … put him in the position that he currently is in, the President has taken a comprehensive review of that structure and he has said, even by legislation, that we are going to ensure that not only guardrails are put in place, but that legislative changes be enacted in such a way that this can never happen again.
“He’s determined to do it, Nigerians will watch him do it and that will mean that moving forward, the kind of elite conspiracy we saw between CBN officials, high ranking government officials and high ranking members of the private sector, they’re not going to be able to conspire amongst themselves to find loopholes within the system because we have a President who’s an auditor and accountant, who will close those loopholes, just the way he did in Lagos State many years ago.”
Speaking to the issue of the security situation in the country, especially in the north, Ngelale alleged that there are some sub-regional and geopolitical forces working against the stability of the country, he however noted that the government will continue working on finding solutions through collaborations.
The Presidential spokesman, who further gave insight into plans to ensure peace and stability in all parts of the country, said those currently conspiring to rob the nation of security, through sub-regional conspiracies would be made to face the wrath of the law.
He said, “First of all, the President has been very clear that this is an administration of no excuses. If you look at other parts of the countries that were in flames before he took office, such as the Southeast and parts of the Southwest for example, you will know the level of work that has gone into securing our nation.
“Where we still have some challenges is in the north central in the northwest and to a lesser extent in the Northeast. There’s still a lot of work to be done along the Kaduna axis. Remember the time when you could not travel by road on the Abuja-Kaduna highway? Now, you’re able to do that.
“Now the problem is when you have these far-flung communities, we do have these hit-and-run incidences of not just violence and killings, but obviously kidnappings and hostage-taking.
“But I will say this, across the north, we understand that some of the sub-regional forces, sub-regional, geopolitical forces that are currently at play are actively conspiring against the stability of the Nigerian nation.
“We understand that and we are not sleeping on that. We are responding to it, and we’re doing it in a way that is concerted with our neighbors and it is worth noting that the United States government has also pledged its assistance to ensure that there is a full return of all of the school children who are kidnapped recently in Kaduna.
“But the point is, we are going to continue to intensify our collaboration, not just within the region, but internationally to make sure that some of the regional actors that are conspiring against our nation are brought to justice ultimately silenced in the future of our country.”
Meanwhile, Ngelale has revealed that President Tinubu will launch the highly anticipated student loan scheme on Thursday, he said “later this week, on Thursday, the President will launch the historic National Student Loan Programme”
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has said its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, remains the most popular opposition candidate capable of leading a proposed coalition to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
The National Publicity Secretary of the NDC, Osa Director, stated this while reacting to efforts by the G100, a group seeking to facilitate the emergence of a single presidential candidate among opposition parties ahead of the election.
Director said the NDC had been approached by the group and was not opposed to its proposal, but insisted that the candidate chosen to lead the opposition coalition should be the “brightest, best and most popular” among the presidential contenders. According to him, the NDC believes Peter Obi meets those criteria.
“The G100 has approached the NDC and we are not opposed to their suggestions. However, we are of the opinion that the brightest, best and most popular candidate in the opposition should lead the coalition, and that is our presidential candidate, Peter Obi,” he said.
He added that the NDC expected the G100 to act in the broader interest of Nigerians as discussions continue over the possibility of presenting a single opposition candidate against the incumbent.
“We want to believe that the G100 is working in the interests of Nigerians. At the end of the day, it is the electorate that would determine who leads them,” Director said.
The development comes amid growing efforts by opposition groups and political parties to explore a possible alliance ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The proposed arrangement is aimed at bringing opposition presidential candidates together to consider the possibility of presenting a single candidate against President Tinubu, who is seeking another term in office.
While discussions around opposition unity continue, the NDC’s position is that popularity and acceptability among voters should be key considerations in determining who ultimately leads any proposed coalition.
Former Anambra State Governor and 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called for urgent government action to halt the wave of killings, abductions and destruction of communities in parts of Nigeria.
Obi, in a statement posted on X on Sunday, said recent deadly attacks in Benue, Plateau and Niger states had highlighted the worsening security situation in the country.
He described the three states, which are located in Nigeria’s North-Central region, as the latest areas to suffer attacks that have claimed scores of lives and displaced residents.
Obi cited the attack in Jwak Maitumbi, Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, where he said at least 23 people were officially reported killed, while residents put the death toll at more than 30.
He added that over 45 houses were reportedly destroyed in the attack.
The former governor also referred to recent attacks in Borgu, Niger State, where reports indicated that more than 40 people were killed and over 100 others abducted, although he acknowledged that the figures remained contested.
Obi said the situation in Benue was equally troubling, with communities facing repeated attacks, killings, abductions and destruction of homes and livelihoods.
“What is happening in Benue, Plateau and Niger is similar to what is happening elsewhere in the country, with some attacks even going unreported,” he said.
According to him, the recurring attacks should no longer be viewed as separate incidents but as a broader national security crisis requiring a coordinated response.
“Nigeria is not officially at war, yet citizens are being attacked in their villages, abducted after prayers, driven from their homes and stripped of their farms,” Obi said.
He urged the federal, state and local governments to take immediate measures to protect vulnerable communities and prevent further attacks.
Obi called for improved intelligence gathering and rapid-response capabilities, as well as intensified efforts to rescue abducted Nigerians and apprehend those responsible for the violence.
“I urge governments at all levels to wake up to their responsibility and take urgent and decisive action to end this madness once and for all,” he said.
The former presidential candidate said the government should focus on preventing attacks rather than merely responding after lives had been lost.
“We cannot keep counting bodies after every attack. We must prevent these attacks before they happen,” he said.
Obi stressed that the protection of lives and property remained the fundamental responsibility of government.
“Protecting lives and property is the most basic duty of government. Nigerians deserve nothing less,” he said.
He concluded by warning against allowing the deteriorating security situation to become normalised, declaring: “Nigeria must not become a killing field.”
….Lagos-based daughter who supplies the drug arrested
A 101-year-old woman, Esther Ogunmabo, has been arrested by officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for allegedly selling cannabis in Ilisan, Ogun State.
The centenarian was arrested on Saturday, August 15, 2026, with 90 grammes of skunk, a form of cannabis, which was reportedly packaged in small quantities for sale.
NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, disclosed that the supect, Ogunmabo admitted that she sold the substance to people in the community.
Babafemi said the suspect told investigators that she became involved in the illicit trade after a fire destroyed her provisions store.
The agency spokesman added that the woman claimed one of her daughters, based in Lagos, was responsible for supplying her with the cannabis at regular intervals.
“She said one of her daughters, who resides in Lagos, arranges the supply of the substance to her every four days, which she in turn sold in bits,” the NDLEA spokesman said.
The arrest was listed among the agency’s recent operations against drug trafficking and illicit drug activities across the country.
Following her arrest, NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), directed that the elderly suspect be granted bail and referred for counselling because of her age.
The agency also disclosed that the daughter allegedly linked to the supply of the cannabis had been arrested.
The NDLEA said its latest operations also recorded other interceptions and arrests at different locations, including the country’s land and maritime borders.
The agency has continued to intensify its campaign against the cultivation, distribution and sale of illicit drugs across the country.
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