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A prominent Edo politician and stalwart of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, Dan Orbih is dead.

This was disclosed in a family notice signed Francis Udukhomoi Orbih Esq on Tuesday stating that:

“With profound sadness and a heavy heart but in total submission to the will of the almighty God, the family of Chief M.C.K. Orbih announce the passing of our beloved brother, husband, father and uncle, Chief Daniel Osi Orbih, who passed away on Monday, 31 August 2026.

“He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Florence Orbih; his children, Ms. Winifred Anwosiobor Orbih and Dr. Mildred Omonemi Orbih; his brothers and sisters; as well as other members of the extended family.

“At this difficult time, we ask family members, friends and well-wishers to remember the entire family in their prayers as we mourn this painful loss.
Further details will be announced in due course.

May his soul rest in perfect peace.

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By Gloria

Nigeria’s economy expanded by 4.43 per cent in real terms in the second quarter of 2026, strengthening the Federal Government’s push to build a $1 trillion economy by 2030.

The latest figure, released by the Federal Ministry of Finance on Tuesday, represents an improvement on the 4.23 per cent recorded in the second quarter of 2025 and 3.89 per cent in the first quarter of 2026.

According to the ministry, performance showed that the economy was gaining momentum, with growth spreading across more sectors.

“The strong Q2 2026 outturn lifted real GDP growth for the first half of 2026 to 4.16 per cent, up from 3.68 per cent in the corresponding period of 2025, a clear signal of sustained strengthening across the economy,” the statement read.

According to the ministry, 27 economic subsectors recorded real growth above three per cent during the quarter, compared with 23 subsectors in Q2 2025.

“Growth is also becoming more broad-based.

It added: “In Q2 2026, 27 economic subsectors recorded real growth above 3.0 per cent, up from 23 subsectors in Q2 2025, showing that expansion is no longer concentrated in a handful of industries,” the ministry said.

The productive sectors recorded notable improvements, with manufacturing, agriculture and services all posting stronger growth than in the corresponding period of 2025.

“Manufacturing grew by 3.24 per cent, more than double the 1.60 per cent recorded in Q2 2025, reflecting improved industrial output.

“Agriculture expanded by 4.39 per cent, up from 2.82 per cent, underscoring stronger production and value-chain performance,” the ministry stated.

The services sector, which remains the largest contributor to economic activity, also recorded stronger growth.

“Services, the largest driver of growth, expanded by 4.60 per cent, up from 3.94 per cent,” it said.

The ministry also pointed to the relative stability and appreciation of the naira as another factor boosting Nigeria’s economic performance in dollar terms.

“The naira appreciated by more than 12 per cent between H1 2025 and H1 2026, resulting in an expansion of the economy by approximately 17 per cent in U.S. dollar terms over the period,” it noted.

The ministry said the trend, if sustained alongside the government’s social programmes, could have a direct impact on household incomes and living standards.

It said the pace of growth “will meaningfully strengthen dollar incomes, improve purchasing power and lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty”.

With the latest figures, the government said Nigeria was now better positioned to pursue its ambitious $1 trillion economic target.

“Given this momentum, Nigeria is well positioned to consolidate its standing among Africa’s largest economies and to advance toward the Government’s target of a USD 1 trillion economy by 2030,” it said.

The ministry also cited the International Monetary Fund’s projection that Nigeria would rank among the top 10 contributors to global real GDP growth in 2026 and account for roughly 1.5 per cent of world growth.

It said sustained reforms and policy consistency will be critical to keeping the momentum going.

“These results underscore the importance of sustaining our reforms and ensuring policy consistency as their benefits begin to reach households across the country.

“The Government remains focused on accelerating inclusive growth and translating these macroeconomic gains into shared prosperity for every Nigerian family,” the statement further read.”

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The 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has slammed President Bola Tinubu over his legal bid to prevent the release of records held by United States law enforcement agencies concerning past investigations involving him.

Obi, who described the development as “profoundly embarrassing,” argued that a sitting president should have the courage to confront questions surrounding his past rather than seek to shield such records from public scrutiny.

In a statement issued on Monday while reflecting on the state of the country, the former governor of Anambra state said his loyalty to Nigeria remained unwavering, adding that he had never sought citizenship of another country despite opportunities to do so.

He said he was saddened by the direction Nigeria was taking, particularly the example being set by those occupying positions of authority.

“It is profoundly embarrassing that we have reached a point where a sitting President is asking a foreign court to withhold records concerning his past, particularly records relating to matters of legitimate public interest,” Obi said.

According to him, leadership requires “courage and humility” to confront one’s history, acknowledge mistakes, explain controversial issues and apologise where necessary.

Obi noted that questions concerning a leader’s educational background, particularly foundational schooling at the primary and secondary levels, should not remain unresolved or be addressed mainly through legal proceedings.

“Nigerians deserve clear, credible, and verifiable explanations, especially when such had been submitted in the past,” he said.

The former governor said the issue was particularly significant because of the example it could set for millions of young Nigerians in schools.

He maintained that the Presidency should represent integrity, accountability, transparency and ethical leadership, insisting that an imperfect past should not necessarily define an individual if the person is willing to confront it honestly.

Obi’s comments followed recent legal proceedings in the United States in which Tinubu asked a federal court to reject efforts by transparency activist Aaron Greenspan to obtain records relating to past investigations involving the Nigerian leader.

Greenspan had instituted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) case before the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, seeking records from the U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Among the records sought are the FBI’s complete file on Tinubu, including Form 302 interview records relating to the period between 1992 and 1993.

The case also involves records allegedly connected to a 1993 civil forfeiture proceeding in the U.S. concerning approximately $460,000 linked to Tinubu.

Tinubu’s legal team, comprising Christopher W. Carmichael, Victor P. Henderson and Oluwole O. Afolabi, filed a 16-page submission urging the court to protect their client’s privacy interests.

The lawyers argued that the existence of information previously disclosed in connection with the forfeiture proceedings did not amount to a public disclosure of the contents or outcome of any possible criminal investigation.Geographic Reference

They further maintained that an individual’s privacy interest in government investigative files could remain intact even where portions of such information had previously entered the public domain.

Tinubu’s lawyers urged the court to reject Greenspan’s motion for summary judgment and uphold the FBI and DEA’s withholding of the requested materials under applicable U.S. privacy and transparency law.

Reacting to the broader implications, Obi asked Nigeria’s political class to recognise that political ambitions are temporary, while the country and the values established by its leaders endure.

“When will our political class fully appreciate that individual ambitions are temporary, while the nation endures?” he asked.

“The Presidency is an office held for a season; the moral standards established by those who occupy it can influence generations.

“Nigeria is greater than any one person, and the integrity of the Republic must always come before the interests of the individual,” he added.