₦airaland Forum

Is it not this same lobbyist firm Sahara Reporters said Atiku paid $1.2million dollars to clean up his image in the US?

Didn't the same firm promise that Atiku was travelling to the US that Atiku travelled to Dubai instead?

Why collect so much money from Atiku and failed to deliver?

Atiku hires US lobbying firm for $1.2m to boost image – Report

Ex-Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has hired a Washington-based lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., to strengthen his reputational standing in the United States.

Details of the deal are contained in documents filed with the U.S. Department of Justice, which show that the agreement was signed on March 9 and 10, 2026, by the firm’s managing partner, Karl Von Batten, and Nigerian politician Fabiyi Oladimeji on behalf of the former vice president.

According to the filing sighted on the DOJ’s website on Sunday, the contract is aimed at shaping perceptions of Atiku within U.S. policy circles and countering narratives linked to the Nigerian government.

One of the objectives of the engagement is to “counterbalance” the Nigerian government’s “lobbying narratives” in the United States, while also working to “advance understanding” of Atiku’s “leadership posture and policy vision” among policymakers.

https://punchng.com/atiku-hires-us-lobbying-firm-for-1-2m-to-boost-image-report/

Is Atiku running for election in the US?

Why exactly would Shettima be dropped? I do not think he should be dropped.

Shettima has brought a lot of stability to the Tinubu administration. He has depth, he is cerebral, and he is competent. The fears of Muslim-Muslim ticket failed as the ones who fought it have no leg to stand on again. Our issue in Nigeria is not whether those running the country are Muslims or Christians or pagans; our issue is that those who should run our affairs must be fair to all parties concerned.

I will advise Tinubu not to tinker with his ticket. Address insecurity and hunger that politicians who have no future are complaining about.

loffyloffy:
So you didn't read the response from the Accountant general that no funds was released to his fake agency, or you don't believe it

I did not refer to funds allocated. I refer to bribes paid to secure the position. Someone gave and someone received it. Who was the recipient?

Image123:
Read the OP, or copy it and send it to someone educated in your family to translate for you.

You clearly did not see where he explained what himself and Gbajabiamila specifically discussed. Why don't you have the humility and admit that he never mentioned what they discussed?

If you can't tell us what they discussed, it is okay if you maintain silence.

Image123:
Probably how to get you a good education.
Dem give you video, still transcribed join in case you no get data. Yet, you're still asking questions like a person who can't read or understand the English language.

Could you please explain to us what the guy and Gbajabiamila discussed for those of us who are not as educated as you?

What did Adeyemi and Gbajabiamila discuss? He said he never met Gbajabiamila but spoke to him through someone who is now late in a hotel fire. Let Adeyemi reveal what himself and Gbajabiamila discussed. How many times did they speak? What did they agree on?

Why was the agency set up and how was the agency's funds spent? Watching the video, Adeyemi is a guy who is not afraid. He clearly feels he is being backed up by certain forces. Who is backing him?

We would also like to know if funds were funneled to someone. We would like details of bank accounts, transaction receipts, time stamps of meetings. We also need recordings of conversations.

Adeyemi said he was in jail when the budget was prepared and he knew nothing about it. Let the budget office reveal who prepared that line item. The public deserves to know.

Adeyemi, please send ALL documents relating to this matter here so that we can have saved copies.

It is pedestrian for anyone to remotely suggest that coastal road triggered flood in Lagos state. Lagos has flooded historically even before building the coastal road commenced. Those who blame the coastal road are desperate to blame Tinubu for developing the coastal road.

What exactly is flooding? If you pour water into a bottle more than the bottle can hold, the excess water will spill out. That is flooding. Rivers, lagoons, canals and the Atlantic are water bodies meant to hold water brought in by drainages. Sometimes, the rainfall is too much that they overflood. Water percolating can be so slow because of excess rainfall that it floods. Other places like Kogi, Bayelsa and so on experiencing flooding, is it because of coastal road?

It is on record that certain individuals have been against the coastal road:

https://www.nairaland.com/8077917/peter-obi-vehemently-condemns-lagos-calabar

Femi Gbajabiamila, it is now time to disclose the full extent of your relationship with this guy.

Why is he mentioning your name recklessly? Did you enter any deals with him?

He was given an office in the second floor of the federal secretariat. Who approved it? He attended a conference in Canada, who sponsored it? He was given staff, why?

He said there was a go-between who is now dead.

Since the fallout with Desmond Elliot in the Surulere constituency, this matter came up. Is there a network of people who ate together and there are people feeling disgruntled and names are being mentioned?

At this time, the public deserves an explanation.

DSS, why has this guy not been arrested? Does he not have phones that can be geolocated? Is there a conspiracy here?

Peter Obi is the one who is egregiously incompetent.

He was incompetent as Anambra governor. He had zero development ideas and saved Anambra money in a bank he had interest. He claimed Anambra came first in WAEC, whereas WAEC never scored any states.

Anambra never manufactured anything with Obi as governor. Doctors went in strike for more than thirteen months. Teachers went on strike too.

Obi was so incompetent that he has not won any competitive party primaries in his political life and is incompetent to run for primaries.

He was so incompetent that he confessed to running away from problems. He could not resolve crisis in LP and blamed government. He ran away from PDP due to fear. His former running mate mocked him for running away from problems.

Morris Monye, a core Obidient, publicly called out Peter Obi for incompetence and neglect in managing the affairs of the Obidient Movement. Kenneth Okonkwo abandoned Obi for glaring incompetence and said so. Obi resigned from political parties (APGA, PDP, LP, ADC and NDC) due to his ineptitude in solving problems. Obi was so incompetent that he started romancing the hands of Rufai Oseni in an interview to dodge talking about how he would generate 10,000 MW of electricity and tackle insecurity. He simply could not think.

Peter Gregory Onwubuasi Obi is so incompetent that he always wants serious politicians to step down for him to give him an easy ride. He approached Amaechi to step down in ADC, Amaechi refused. His followers pressured Atiku, Atiku refused. He was so incompetent that he bungled his own petition at the PEPT.

Peter Obi wants Tinubu to resign so that he would have an easy ride to the presidency. He knows he cannot defeat Tinubu. Peter, Tinubu ain't resigning. You, Peter, should resign because you are so incompetent at opposition that no member of your family is seen around you rooting for you.

Your greatest support base is powered by content creators who will finally ruin your politics.

Everything we have heard from the opposition (ADC)

1. Tinubu wants a one-party state.

2. Tinubu wants to run unopposed.

3. The judiciary is working for Tinubu (after ruling that dismissed David Mark).

4. Tinubu cannot buy the judiciary (after ruling that affirmed David Mark).

5. INEC does not want to conduct elections.

Dear ADC, you are clearly confused.

Some people have golden opportunities and ruin things because of greed.

Randy Peterz also known as Peter Akah, a core Obi supporter who wants to represent Yala Federal Constituency, was unhappy that USA was helping Nigeria combat terrorism.

Why was he unhappy?

Their principal expressed disapproval for state police. They said Tinubu must wait until after elections before implementing state police. They want Nigerians to continue to be killed until after elections. They think they would win and take credit for Tinubu's reforms when they start yielding results.

We thank the USA for helping Nigeria combat terrorism. One of the UN SDGs is partnership for goals. However, we do not want the US to stop there. Individuals who speak agaist security reforms or turn insecurity to politics should be treated as a threat to security. Such individuals should face sanctions worldwide. They must not be allowed to book flights, travel or handle deals. Also, their bank accounts should be monitored in case they receivw illicit funds to destabilise the counry.

Why has he not been arrested?

What gives him the guts to keep talking. Someone set up a government agency, employed staff and received funding, he is roaming around.

Adeniyi should speak more. Anyone found complicit in Tinubu's government should be dismissed and tried.

This Adeniyi dude is the one we know because he advertized himself. Why do we not think that there might be others doing similar things?

DSS, this is a serious crime. Why have you not arrested him?

What about people who take advise from lunatics?

As for INEC publishing the credentials of those who submitted them, Obi can lead the charge by submitting his own credentials to the public. INEC does not have to do so. If Obi submits his, that challenges other politicians to submit theirs.

Can Obi explain to us if it is not lunatic behaviour to save state money in a bank he was a shareholder. Is that not conflict of interest? Saving the money in the bank means the bank had more money to do business and earn profits which lead to increased shareholders' dividends. Can Peter Obi boast not to have made money from investing Anambra state money in Fidelity Bank?

Tinubu will be blamed for this.

If Peter was president, will he tolerate this?

Since 2023, he has been underming the president by acting like a co-president. He went to ADC and his unruly mob ordered Atiku to step down for him. Now he is addressing policemen.

President Tinubu is president and commander in chief of Nigeria's armed forces. That includes the police. Peter Obi has no jurisdiction over the police. None!

So Amechi was not even a principal choice?

tesseract:
I'd like to ask the OP if he would sell roasted corn and akara by the road side.?

Why not? I have sold groundnuts by the roadside.

It did not diminish me.

helinues:
Some people are just sounding insensitive. The N50k can turn so many people's lives outskirts main town around if they manage it well

Empowerment cash with advise on how to use it wisely yet some people just want to be nagging about it

Some Nigerians are actually too petty

Reason they remain backward.

givedemwotowoto:
Mr Brad Ribar roasted corn and made $800,000 - enough to buy a mansion.

Corn roasters in Nigeria are struggling to feed their families after years of roasting.

There’s a big difference

It is us who refuse to support them. We go to supermarkets and pay without pricing. But that poor woman roasting corn, we price her out of her profit. Whenever I patronized street vendors, I add extra to the price. Their joy is always boundless.

helinues:
The Akara frying message wasn't even directed to the general Nigerians but the people she empowered with cash

The opposition just decided to be petty about it

In fairness, it is a message that ought to be directed at everyone. Do you know that some people go into villages, source egusi, blend them and sell them? It is sad that our people attack things that can help them. Look at NELFUND for example, some people are attacking it. Infact, Professor Nwajiuba had to appeal to his people to take advantage.

Those who are not working, please look around you. Look for a gap, fill it and make money. Do not expect to be rich, you won't be poor either.

Recently, the first lady of Nigeria, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu, came under fire for suggesting Nigerians considered small-scale businesses like selling akara, roasted corn, popularly known as agbado, and kulikuli. She said that these businesses required small capital to start. She was addressing state house correspondents after a meeting with the wives of state governors. She was highlighting efforts towards supporting vulnerable Nigerians through grants and other interventions.

Now, what is it about her statement that offended people?

There is a man called Brad Ribar (image attached). He is known as corn king. His job is to roast corn at Minnesota State Fair which holds annually for twelve days. He roasts more than 200,000 cobs of corn over twelve days and was reported to have made $800,000 in one of those fairs.

He has been featured by his university for being a successful entrepreneur, and was even called the king of roast.

https://business.stthomas.edu/degree-stories/corn-roast-king-minnesota-state-fair/
https://mspmag.com/arts-and-culture/king-of-the-roast/

In many advanced countries I have visited, you find street vendors roasting corn. Tourists patronize them. Some, like the US, you find food trucks around crowded areas. In Nigeria, you also find local vendors selling food.

Nigeria is a land of glorious opportunities. Chinese, Indians, Northerners, and Lebanese have hacked it. Put a Chinese in Nigeria and see him thrive. There are some of them who take granite in Kogi state and fabricate tiles from them which they sell to those building. There is a lady popularly known as Tomato Jos. She is a Harvard-trained American. She farms tomatoes in Plateau state. Put a northerner anywhere and see him thrive. Bring a Beninoise or Togolese to Nigeria. They will do the jobs our people do not want to do and thrive.

Instead of attacking the first lady, look around and see what opportunities you can harness for yourself. Some people rear chicken, some have ponds, some are doing rabbit farming, some go into developing areas to open small businesses. Open a car wash, open a barbing salon, open a hairdressing salon, open a day care, open a playground for parents to leave their children and get paid. Offer shopping and laundry services for people in your neighbourhood. Right now, people are condemning coastal highway, while business-minded people are supplying food, water and cigarettes daily.

I see nothing wrong in what the first lady said. Other people have done what she suggested and succeeded.

People are shouting about small and medium enterprises.

Does akara, kulikuli and corn not fall in this category?

One thing is that no matter how bad the condition, people must eat. Go to several countries, and you will be amazed at how well people live from small business. See this picture, his name is Brad Ribar. He is referred to as corn king and runs a successful corn stand at state fairs in Minnesota.

In Nigeria, we are too quick to attack.

Senate is already part-time.

How often do they attend plenary? Some of them come late and do not even read bills before passing. Some of them spend time chasing contracts and businesses.

I think the senate should be scrapped and we should have regional senates where they can make laws for their regions. We should also scrap the house of representatives and have 36 state representatives who can make national laws and debate bills.

Right now, politics is a job and many politicians have no substance.

What exactly informed Stella making that video?

Meanwhile, John Okafor (Mr Ibu) was a decent and honourable man while he was alive. There are Youtube videos of Mr Ibu's properties. He had powerful machines and buildings. One of his cars was valued at 18 million naira!

That said, I would also Mr Ibu's older sons to stop dragging their father's widow. Before Ibu died, she fought the woman taking care of Ibu. They should respect Ibu's memory and stop discussing his family affairs in public. They can also arrange to look after their younger siblings. They carry their father's blood.

Mr Ibu's widow should also stop discussing things in public. If there are issues, approach the inlaws and they would mediate.

Concerning wealth, please when you have money, do not over-indulge. Illness can be the line between wealth and poverty. Live frugally when you have money and save. Instead of selling assets for 50 million naira without a plan for the money, have the asset to yield steady income. Money looks big until you start spending it.

With due respect, these children look well fed.

The woman must be commended for her efforts to look after the family.

To Emeka Rollas, president of Actors Guild of Nigeria, consider a welfare scheme for actors. Let actors commit certain funds to a common trust account. When things like this happen, you support the family from the funds. You can even invest the funds to yield returns. There are too many cases where actors suffer and die in poverty. Wake up and have a conversation about this. Small money from actors can support their families for years.

Actors too should open trust funds for their families. Actually plan for death. Instead of buying too many properties that lead to fighting or drinking and eating all sorts, put some money in investments that can make returns. Some people do not spend lavishly while alive. They invest in forex and stocks whose returns help to train and feed their children long after they were gone.

Dear Atiku,

During your time as vice president, Harry Marshall and Bola Ige were murdered. Can Atiku explain to Nigerians what happened? Who was listening to their calls and monitoring their movements?

If Atiku is elected president, will he tolerate a politician saying he listened to phone calls of government officials? If Atiku is sincere with himself, he would see that El Rufai confessed to being a national security threat. No responsible government would allow him roam freely. At the time where terrorism is at an all time high and someone claims to listen to phone calls of the NSA, is that not a threat to national security?

I see nothing dubious in NDC.

Most of the politicians in NDC, including the founder, are politically unstable migrants. The party does not trust those who have come. The presidential flagbearer has moved among five political parties within twelve years. His running mate moved among five parties. Some of the politically-unstable ones even rejected tickets because they felt too big to hold those tickets.

Let NDC protect itself. LP failed to learn and the party collapsed.

donself9:
Peter obi did well across states, you can't lie to me to at anytime think Peter Obi will get 3m votes sef

back to present, Tinubu built lagos don cast ... how una wan take campaign to Nigerians this time

just imagine you dey inside travel bus, nd you wan campaign for Tinubu

Se o ti kor will 🤣

We are dealing numbers. Tell me how many states Obi got the constitutional requirement of 25%.

Who is your president? Who is your daddy?

Say daddy!

[quote author=WorkTheTalk post=139771283]Beer parlor analyst. You must be older and more politically knowledgeable than Wike.

Peter Obi is an exceptional leader, I learn from him -- Wike pic.twitter.com/Rfbf5vyLlV

— Obitrize (@Obitrize_042) June 18, 2026

Wike not refer to him as food is ready politician who cannot lead a party? If Wike saw him as competent, why didn't Wike support him?

zinowealth:
If you re too comfortable in this govt pls vote then let us who are not vote against them. Obi is by far a saint compare Tinubu it’s even a shame mentioning that someone as corrupt as Tinubu is in charge of this nation. Now he wants to implement the Hala economics, a sharia system into Nigeria. Your tinubu is totally against you but you all are just too myopic

You can't even spell Halal that you want to criticize. About implementing a sharia system, you know that is not even remotely true; you will keep saying it to deceive your fellow group. I am not even a Muslim, but can you actually read about Halal economics and educate yourself. Do you know one of the core practices of Halal economics is that interests are forbidden in financial transactions and allows collective risk taking? Do you know that banks like the one Saint Peter Gregory Obi deposited state funds made excessive money from interests charged on loans which eventually led to increased dividends for the saint?

Who canonized Obi a saint? Saint Peter Onwubuasi Obi (Saint POO).

zinowealth, let us say it together: Saint POO.

donself9:
You guyz are sounding like broken, All the punches you throw in 2023 at OBi yet he won Lagos and had over 6m votes

na the same song una dey sing again now, nothing new

Now that " Tinubu built lagos" don cast abeg Apc zombies weytin una go take market Tinunu this time 🤣

Una get big job ahead, walahi how yu wan campaign for most hated man in Nig. at the moment

There are 35 other states in Nigeria.

Tell us how many he won and got over 25% from.

Also, with his 6 million votes, why is he not the president?