Daniel Bwala, President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Policy Communication, on Wednesday described the opposition as jobless, stressing that they are “lazying about.”

Bwala made the remark while featuring on Channels Television’s Politics Today, in reaction to the United States, US, President, Donald Trump’s letter to President Bola Tinubu.

In the letter, Trump had lauded Tinubu for his decisive leadership in tackling terrorism and insecurity in Nigeria, particularly attacks on Christian communities.

According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Trump conveyed the commendation in a letter dated July 6, 2026.

However, Bwala said: “The opposition is jobless, allow the opposition to keep lazying about, Nigerians want to hear what is happening to their lives.”

Bwala insisted that Nigerians currently want to know Tinubu’s strides in the areas of economy and security.

“Nigerians want to know what is happening with their economy, their education, and most importantly with security and we have made substantial progress,” he said.

The presidential aide also maintained that Tinubu made history in collaboration with the US government.

“First time in Nigeria’s history where the leadership of Tinubu brought about a very strong collaboration.

“The letter was written by the US government applauding the President of Nigeria for deeper cooperation but unfortunately we are not discussing it in the media Today, is it fair to Nigerians?

“Is it fair to Nigerians who want to know that this country has experienced progress to the point where our collaboration is yielding results,” he added.

Former senator Shehu Sani has criticised presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Atiku Abubakar, over the engagement of a United States lobbying firm to circulate documents relating to President Bola Tinubu’s past US forfeiture case, describing the move as unconscionable and unpatriotic.

Sani, in a post on his X handle on Wednesday, argued that involving foreign lobby groups to portray the President and his administration negatively before the US government could damage Nigeria’s international reputation and have adverse consequences for ordinary citizens.

He warned that such actions could escalate global distrust of Nigerians and expose the country to sanctions or visa restrictions.

“Engaging US lobby groups to criminalise the President and his administration and curry favour from the US Government is unconscionable and unpatriotic.

“It may not achieve its objectives but will undoubtedly damage the international reputation of the country, escalate global repudiation against our citizens and lead us into the traps of sanctions and visa restrictions.

“Most times, ordinary Nigerians end up paying the price for negative campaigns against the country.

“The opposition should fight and struggle for power within the borders of our country. Seeking for foreign help for regime change in a democratic setting is wrong,” Sani wrote.

His comments followed reports that Washington-based lobbying firm Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., engaged by Atiku, had begun sharing documents relating to a long-running United States forfeiture case involving Tinubu with officials in the Donald Trump administration, members of Congress and congressional staff.

The firm said it was distributing records from the US Department of Justice concerning allegations linked to a 1993 civil forfeiture proceeding involving funds connected to Tinubu.

Atiku reportedly engaged the lobbying firm in March under a 12-month contract valued at $1.2 million to undertake advocacy, diplomatic outreach and present his perspectives on issues concerning Nigeria-US relations.

The National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prof. Sodiq Abubakar Gombe, said the party secured a Federal High Court judgment in Abuja on Wednesday directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Dr Adebayo Ajala as the party’s sole candidate for the Osun State governorship election scheduled for August 8, 2026.

He disclosed this during a briefing at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.

According to him, the judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja is a victory for the party’s leadership.

He said the opposition party is awaiting the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment to serve on INEC accordingly.

He noted that the distractions confronting the party had been overcome.

Gombe, therefore, urged INEC to respect the court’s verdict and include the name of Dr Ajala as the recognised SDP candidate for the forthcoming Osun State governorship election.

“The SDP recorded a victory at the Federal High Court today by affirming our governorship candidate and recognising him as the duly elected candidate of the Social Democratic Party through a primary duly monitored by the commission and conducted by the party.

“So, even this issue they wanted to pursue through the back door has already been settled. The Federal High Court resolved it with today’s judgment,” he said.

Recall that Salawu-Adeniyi Mustapha Olaitan, a candidate endorsed by the embattled former SDP National Chairman, Shehu Gabam, secured a Federal High Court judgment in Abuja on June 24, 2026, ordering INEC to recognise him as the party’s candidate.