By Okoi Obono-Obla

Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State deserves unreserved commendation for his rare candour and statesmanship. In an era where opposition politics in Nigeria has been reduced to perpetual wailing, cynicism and playing to the gallery, Bala Mohammed has risen above partisanship to speak truth to power in the most patriotic sense.

Despite being the National Leader of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and a key pillar of his party’s presidential ticket, Governor Mohammed did what very few Nigerian politicians dare to do: he publicly appreciated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his bold, courageous and transformative reform agenda.

This is leadership. This is maturity. This is putting Nigeria first.

President Tinubu has done what others feared to do. He has brought a semblance of order and transparency to the opaque, previously cabal-infested oil and gas sector. Where subsidy fraud bled the nation of 5% of GDP annually and enriched a few, the President stopped the bleeding. He has introduced unprecedented transparency in the petroleum value chain, from crude production to revenue remittance.

His tax reforms are equally historic. For decades, Nigeria operated a chaotic, multiple-taxation system that stifled business and encouraged evasion. Today, under Taiwo Oyedele and the Presidential Tax Committee, we have a streamlined, pro-growth tax reform that protects the poor and compels the rich and corporations to pay their fair share. Revenue generation has surged, and as Governor Mohammed rightly observed, states are now receiving far more resources to drive grassroots development than ever before.

The security intervention in Bauchi – the deployment of a high-powered military contingent and the establishment of two battalions in Alkaleri and Tafawa Balewa when bandits nearly overran the state – shows a President who does not discriminate by party affiliation. That is the hallmark of a national leader.

It is time for the rest of the opposition to learn.

The ADC, NDC and other opposition elements must desist from this infantile, bitter and bad opposition politics of playing sour grapes. You cannot wish Nigeria to fail simply because you lost an election. You cannot condemn every policy, even those clearly yielding positive results, to remain relevant. Nigerians are wiser than that.

Governor Bala Mohammed has shown the way: when the government does well, say it. When reforms work, commend them. Opposition is not about blind hatred of the President.

In this spirit, the APM presidential candidate, Governor Seyi Makinde, should follow the honourable path his party’s National Leader has laid. If Bala Mohammed can see and commend President Tinubu’s good work, then the logical, patriotic, and statesmanlike thing for Makinde to do is step down so President Bola Ahmed Tinubu can complete his bold agenda of resetting and rebuilding Nigeria.

Nigeria needs continuity, not disruption. It needs reformers, not pretenders. Bala Mohammed has demonstrated statesmanship. Others should emulate him.

By Isa Abdul

The construction of an alleged mortuary close to public school and residential buildings has been protested against by the residents of Agbeji Community in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State.

The protesters who carried placards on Tuesday cite health and environmental concerns, even as the landowner insists he has the right to develop the property.

One of the protesters, who spoke on camera said they are not against someone’s business but their worry is the location of the mortuary near residential buildings and a public school.

But the landowner who identified himself as Alh. Rilwan Okobomude, disagrees, insisting the property is his and that he has the right to develop it, while pledging to comply with relevant regulations.

In an interview with News Central, monitored in Abuja, the land owner talked about building the mortuary for the hospital.

But it is not clear why he’s building a mortuary before the hospital.

By Felix Umande

The Benue State Government has decried the arbitrary erection of billboards across the state by individuals, groups and political parties without approval, warning that all unauthorised structures will be pulled down after a two-week grace period.

In a joint statement issued on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, by the Benue State Signage and Advertisement Agency, the Benue State Internal Revenue Service, BIRS, and the Urban Development Board, the government said the billboards were erected without permit, without clearance and without payment of prescribed fees.

The agencies said the practice breaches the law, deprives the state of legitimate revenue, endangers public safety and undermines orderly urban development.

The statement, signed by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Hon. Chief Solomon Iorpev, however, said government was prepared to assume that many offenders acted out of ignorance rather than deliberate defiance.

Consequently, owners and operators of unauthorised billboards have been given two weeks, beginning Tuesday, October 6, 2026, to regularise their structures.

Within the window, they are required to approach the Benue State Signage and Advertisement Agency to begin the permit process, obtain clearance from the Urban Development Board, and pay all required fees.

The government warned that enforcement will commence on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, with no further notice.

“Enforcement teams are expected to begin the removal of every billboard that has not been regularised from the set date. Billboards taken down will be at the owners’ cost. Anyone who ignores this window should expect no sympathy and no exception, regardless of status, affiliation or political party,” the statement said.

It described the grace period as a sign of government’s goodwill and preference for compliance over confrontation, urging all concerned to use the window.

For further clarification, the government advised the public to contact 09034345007.