During an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Ogala addressed concerns raised by critics and opposition figures regarding the omission of primary and secondary school details from the personal particulars submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Key points from his remarks include:

• Constitutional Compliance: Ogala emphasized that the matter should be evaluated strictly based on constitutional provisions rather than speculation about the President’s family or history.

• Citizenship and Age: He affirmed that Tinubu meets the legal requirements for Nigerian citizenship and satisfies the mandatory age threshold for the presidency.

• Educational Qualifications: Highlighting that the constitution requires candidates to be educated up to at least the School Certificate level (or equivalent), Ogala argued that Tinubu’s declared Bachelor of Science degree from Chicago State University surpasses this minimum requirement.

• Legal Perspective: He likened demanding lower-level school records from someone who holds an advanced university degree to asking a Senior Advocate of Nigeria to repeatedly prove their basic legal credentials.

Fika held the traditional title of Zarma Kura of Fika and had a distinguished career in public service and legislative administration, which included:

• Serving as the pioneer Director-General and Clerk-Designate to the National Assembly.

• Chaired the National Assembly Service Commission to support federal legislature administration and development.

• Leading the Board of Trustees for the Council of Retired Clerks and Secretaries of the National Assembly as Chairman.

• Contributing to the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies located in Kuru, Plateau State.

Funeral prayers for the late statesman are scheduled for Friday, August 7, 2026, at the National Mosque in Abuja, while family, associates, and well-wishers continue to mourn his loss as a significant blow to the Fika Emirate, Yobe State, and Nigeria as a whole.

Responding to remarks made by former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke during a television interview—where Duke questioned the project’s viability beyond Lagos and its status as a priority—Umahi maintained that President Bola Tinubu remains fully committed to delivering the infrastructure as scheduled.

Highlighting the project’s current progress across multiple sections, Umahi noted significant milestones:

• Section 1: Completed (7.47 km from Victoria Island to Elepe village).

• Section 2: Approximately 70% complete (spanning about 50 km from Lagos to the Ogun border).

• Sections 3A & 3B: Roughly 30% complete (covering about 67 km).

• Section 4 & Beyond: Active works and design stages extending through Ogun, Ondo (covering about 82 km), Akwa Ibom (the longest section at roughly 180 km), and continuing toward Rivers, Bayelsa, and Delta states.

While praising Duke as a brilliant gentleman who avoided insults during his critique, Umahi firmly rejected the notion that the highway would stall or fail to materialize, crediting the administration’s determination to overcome past funding hurdles.