By Imam Malik ABDULLAHI Kaga

Your Excellency, Sir,

Permit me to respectfully introduce myself. My name is Imam Malik Abdullahi Kaga, a young advocate for youth inclusion in governance in Borno State. I hail from Wajiro village in Kaga Local Government Area and currently reside in Jere Local Government Area.

Your Excellency, I write this letter with two sincere intentions. First, to express my profound appreciation for the remarkable transformation that Borno State has experienced under your leadership. Second, to humbly advocate for the emergence of a worthy successor who will continue, and perhaps even surpass, the legacy you have built.

History often remembers leaders not only for what they achieved while in office, but also for the institutions, systems, and leaders they helped shape for the future. In this regard, your tenure stands out as one that will be remembered for courage, sacrifice, and a relentless commitment to rebuilding a state that once stood at the centre of one of the most difficult humanitarian and security crises in our nation’s history.

Since assuming office as Governor, Borno State has steadily moved along the path of recovery, stability, and development. Across critical sectors, specifically security stabilisation, education revival, healthcare expansion, infrastructure rebuilding, and human capital development, your administration has restored confidence and renewed hope among citizens.

Across the state, the impact of your leadership is visible. The name Zulum has come to represent resilience, discipline, and purposeful governance. In the eyes of many citizens (both indigenous and non), you have demonstrated that leadership is not merely about holding office, but about service, courage, and responsibility.

Indeed, like every human endeavour, governance inevitably carries moments that fall short of expectations. Yet the weight of your accomplishments far outweighs such moments. May Allah forgive your shortcomings and reward your sincerity and dedication in the service of the people of Borno State.

Your Excellency, Sir,

As elections gradually approach, conversations about the future leadership of Borno State will naturally intensify. This moment, however, not merely presents a political transition, but an important historical responsibility. 

The foundations your administration has laid must not only be preserved but strengthened. The Borno 25-Year Development Framework provides a clear vision for transformation and development; the leadership that succeeds you will be responsible for ensuring this vision continues to move forward with the same discipline and determination.

Over the years, Your Excellency, you have mentored and entrusted many young, capable individuals with leadership responsibilities across government parastatal and ministries. Many of them have grown under your guidance and have demonstrated commitment, discipline, and service in various capacities. This is one of the enduring strengths of your administration. You have not only governed but also cultivated leadership.

Among those who have served under your watch are individuals who have observed your work ethic, your decisiveness, and your relentless focus on results. Such individuals understand the philosophy that has driven your administration. 

Your Excellency, therefore, you are uniquely positioned to recognise who among those you have mentored possesses the character, vision, courage, and administrative capacity required to sustain the momentum of your achievements.

Your Excellency, sir, across the world today, younger leaders are increasingly demonstrating the capacity to drive reform, strengthen institutions, and accelerate economic development. When youthful energy is combined with discipline, experience, and mentorship, it often yields bold, transformative leadership.

Sir, closer to home, the youthful leadership within your administration stands as clear proof that young minds can bring innovation, energy, and integrity to governance. These qualities speak directly to the four enabling foundations of the Borno 25-Year Development Framework. 

One of the most defining qualities of your leadership has been decisiveness. At critical moments, your ability to make firm and timely decisions restored confidence in governance and accelerated progress across many sectors. This quality has become a hallmark of your administration.

As Borno looks toward the future, it is important that the leadership which follows continues to embody this same strength of character, clarity of purpose, and courage in decision-making. Such leadership will ensure continuity, preserve stability, and sustain the progress already achieved.

Your Excellency, sir, many citizens across the state quietly share a hope that the next phase of Borno’s leadership will not only preserve your legacy but also elevate it even further. In most conversations across the state, one often hears a phrase that captures this aspiration in simple language, the desire for what some describe as a “Zulum Pro Max.”

By this, people mean a leader who embodies the courage, discipline, integrity, and commitment to service that have defined your tenure, while also building upon the strong foundation you have established.

Your Excellency, the decision regarding the future leadership of Borno State carries immense significance. History will remember not only the progress achieved during your tenure but also the path charted for the years that follow.

May Allah continue to guide your wisdom, strengthen your resolve, and bless Borno State with lasting peace, stability, and prosperity.

In my next letter, I intend to respectfully share my thoughts on one of your mentees, whom many Bornoans believe reflects the qualities needed to advance this vision and carry Borno State to the next level of development.

Yours sincerely,
Imam Malik Abdullahi Kaga.

By Malam Aminu Wase 

As 2027 approaches in Nigeria, a troubling sentiment is spreading among many citizens. There is no point in voting. Frustration is understandable. Economic hardship is real. Insecurity is real. Public disappointment is real. But choosing silence at the ballot box is not a solution;  it is surrender.

Democracy does not collapse in a single dramatic moment. It weakens gradually as citizens withdraw, participation declines, and people convince themselves that their voices do not matter. The most dangerous political decision is not voting for the wrong candidate; it is refusing to vote at all.

If we are dissatisfied with leadership, the answer is not apathy. It is participation. If we desire better governance, accountability, and reform, we must use the one instrument that gives power to ordinary citizens, the ballot.

Complaints on social media do not change governments. Private anger does not change governments. Boycotts by the disillusioned do not change governments. Votes change governments.

When citizens stay home on election day, they do not protest the system; they strengthen the influence of those who show up. Every empty polling unit is not a statement of resistance; it is an opportunity handed to someone else to decide the future.

The power to shape 2027 does not lie solely with politicians. It lies with citizens who choose to participate. Leadership is not imposed in a democracy; it is permitted. And permission is granted through votes.

This is not about blind loyalty to any party or personality. It is about responsibility. It is about understanding that disengagement guarantees continuity of whatever we claim to oppose. If we want reform, we must vote for it. If we want accountability, we must demand it through participation.

Nigeria’s future will not be written by observers. It will be written by participants. In 2027, the real question will not only be who wins. The real question will be, did we show up?

Silence is not a strategy. Withdrawal is not resistance. Our vote is our voice, and 2027 is the time to use it.

Malam Aminu Wase writes from Kaduna. He can be reached at aminusaniusman3@gmail.com.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Federal Government has announced that approximately 10 million Nigerians are set to benefit from its newly unveiled Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme, a poverty-reduction initiative targeting all 8,809 wards across the country.

Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, disclosed this while accepting his appointment as the Grand Patron of the National Councillors’ Forum of Nigeria.

Speaking after the honour, Bagudu said the recognition would inspire him to intensify efforts aimed at revitalising grassroots economies for the benefit of the majority. He reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to improving living standards through extensive local governance reforms embedded in the programme.

The initiative, he explained, will map dominant commercial activities in each ward to identify beneficiaries eligible for government support. This strategy, according to the minister, is expected to give a significant boost to the Tinubu administration’s poverty-reduction objectives.

Bagudu thanked the Forum for their continued support, noting that the councillors’ endorsement of the President’s second term reflects a broad appreciation of ongoing reforms that are steadily improving the nation’s economy.

The Forum, which comprises all 8,809 serving councillors, stated that the appointment recognises Bagudu’s remarkable contributions to national development. “Your dedication to public service and to the development of our country makes you a perfect fit for this prestigious position,” the appointment letter dated April 23, 2026 read.

During a weekend visit, Forum President Hon. AbdulRazak Sama’ila presented the letter to Bagudu, expressing hope that the minister would play a crucial role in promoting good governance, transparency, and accountability at the grassroots level. “We hope to work with him and benefit from his insights and expertise,” Sama’ila added.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Nigeria and Malaysia have taken fresh steps to reinforce cooperation between their customs authorities, with a focus on improving trade processes and tightening border control systems.

This followed a series of high-level meetings in Malaysia involving the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (RMCD).

The engagements took place during an official visit by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, to the RMCD headquarters. The visit coincided with his attendance at the Defence Services Asia (DSA) Malaysia 2026 event.

Adeniyi was hosted by his Malaysian counterpart, Director-General Dato’ Haji Amran bin Haji Ahmad. Both officials held discussions that centred on strengthening institutional ties, advancing customs modernisation, and improving coordination in border management.

Trade relations between the two countries have continued to expand in recent years. Nigeria’s imports from Malaysia rose from ₦159.9 billion in 2020 to ₦716.0 billion in 2024. Total trade between both nations has reached about ₦1.82 trillion within five years.

During the talks, Adeniyi emphasised the importance of establishing a more structured partnership between the two customs services. He described Malaysia as a major trading partner, noting that Nigeria imports products such as crude palm oil, refined palm olein, aviation fuel, machinery, and other industrial materials.

He also pointed out that customs agencies play a key role in supporting legitimate trade while protecting national economic and security interests.

Despite the long-standing trade relationship, both sides observed that there is no formal legal framework guiding their customs cooperation. They agreed to begin the process of developing a Mutual Recognition Agreement under the World Customs Organisation (WCO), which will be pursued through diplomatic channels.

As part of the engagement, Malaysian officials presented their border management structure, including the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS), which operates as an integrated frontline system.

In response, the Nigerian delegation highlighted ongoing reforms within the NCS, including the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme and other initiatives designed to speed up cargo clearance, cut costs, and improve compliance.

Both parties stressed the need for closer collaboration in intelligence sharing, enforcement efforts, and the use of technology to tackle illicit trade and cross-border crimes.

The NCS reaffirmed its commitment to building stronger bilateral and multilateral partnerships as part of its modernisation drive. It expressed optimism that the outcomes of the visit will enhance operational efficiency, promote smoother trade, and strengthen border security in line with Nigeria’s economic goals.

While in Malaysia, Adeniyi also met with officials at the Nigerian diplomatic mission and the Defence Office, where he commended their role in promoting Nigeria’s interests and assisting citizens abroad.

By Uzair Adam

The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) has announced plans to commence its 2026 book ranking and selection exercise as part of efforts to improve the quality of learning materials used in schools across the country.

In a statement signed on Monday, the Executive Secretary of NERDC, Prof. Salisu Shehu, said the initiative is aimed at ensuring that only relevant, accurate, affordable and accessible textbooks are approved for use by learners nationwide.

The statement explained that the exercise is being coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Education under the leadership of the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Maruf Alausa, and the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Said Ahmad.

According to the statement, the ministry has constituted a standing committee to streamline the book approval process, standardise selection procedures and regulate the textbook market. The move, it noted, is expected to enhance learning outcomes by ensuring that only the best instructional materials are adopted in schools.

The council emphasised that the ranking and selection of books would play a critical role in shaping the quality of education, noting that the additional layer in the assessment process would guarantee that approved books meet required standards.

“The ranking and selection of books will play a pivotal role in shaping the quality of education in Nigeria,” the statement said, adding that the process would ensure that only the most suitable materials are made available to students.

NERDC clarified that while the committee would handle the ranking and selection of textbooks, its responsibilities would not override the council’s statutory mandate of regulating the book industry. It added that the committee would operate under a structured framework designed to ensure transparency, consistency and objectivity.

The statement further disclosed that the committee would receive already assessed and approved books from NERDC before conducting its ranking exercise at a designated venue to avoid external interference.

It added that the process would follow a strict template to ensure fairness and credibility.

After completing the exercise, the committee is expected to submit a comprehensive report, including clear recommendations and justifications for each ranking decision, to the Minister of Education for approval.

NERDC also stated that the final list of ranked books would be formally communicated to state governments, while textbook selection and ranking exercises would be conducted at least every three years or whenever a new curriculum is introduced.

The council noted that a detailed workflow plan has been developed for the 2026 exercise, outlining activities, timelines and responsibilities, with further information on submission procedures to be communicated to stakeholders in due course.

By Uzair Adam

The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) has announced plans to commence its 2026 book ranking and selection exercise as part of efforts to improve the quality of learning materials used in schools across the country.

In a statement signed on Monday, the Executive Secretary of NERDC, Prof. Salisu Shehu, said the initiative is aimed at ensuring that only relevant, accurate, affordable and accessible textbooks are approved for use by learners nationwide.

The statement explained that the exercise is being coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Education under the leadership of the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Maruf Alausa, and the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Said Ahmad.

According to the statement, the ministry has constituted a standing committee to streamline the book approval process, standardise selection procedures and regulate the textbook market. The move, it noted, is expected to enhance learning outcomes by ensuring that only the best instructional materials are adopted in schools.

The council emphasised that the ranking and selection of books would play a critical role in shaping the quality of education, noting that the additional layer in the assessment process would guarantee that approved books meet required standards.

“The ranking and selection of books will play a pivotal role in shaping the quality of education in Nigeria,” the statement said, adding that the process would ensure that only the most suitable materials are made available to students.

NERDC clarified that while the committee would handle the ranking and selection of textbooks, its responsibilities would not override the council’s statutory mandate of regulating the book industry. It added that the committee would operate under a structured framework designed to ensure transparency, consistency and objectivity.

The statement further disclosed that the committee would receive already assessed and approved books from NERDC before conducting its ranking exercise at a designated venue to avoid external interference.

It added that the process would follow a strict template to ensure fairness and credibility.

After completing the exercise, the committee is expected to submit a comprehensive report, including clear recommendations and justifications for each ranking decision, to the Minister of Education for approval.

NERDC also stated that the final list of ranked books would be formally communicated to state governments, while textbook selection and ranking exercises would be conducted at least every three years or whenever a new curriculum is introduced.

The council noted that a detailed workflow plan has been developed for the 2026 exercise, outlining activities, timelines and responsibilities, with further information on submission procedures to be communicated to stakeholders in due course.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has unveiled its revised schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections, with presidential aspirants required to pay N100 million for nomination and expression of interest forms.

The timetable, released by the party’s National Secretariat at Buhari House in Abuja, outlines key dates for primaries and other critical activities leading up to the elections.

According to the schedule, the sale of forms will take place from April 25 to May 2, 2026, at the APC National Secretariat. Aspirants have until May 4, 2026, to submit completed forms and accompanying documents.

Screening of aspirants for various positions is slated for May 6–8, 2026, with results published on May 11, 2026. Appeals on screening outcomes will be heard between May 12 and May 13, 2026.

The party’s primary elections are scheduled as follows:

a· House of Representatives: May 15, 2026

b· Senate: May 18, 2026

c· State House of Assembly: May 20, 2026

d· Governorship: May 21, 2026

e· Presidential: May 23, 2026

Election appeals will follow immediately after each primary, with the last appeal for the presidential primary scheduled for May 25, 2026.

The APC also released the cost of forms for various positions, with a 50% discount for female aspirants, youth, and physically challenged persons. However, this discount applies only to the nomination fees, not the expression of interest.

1· House of Assembly: N6 million (Expression of Interest: N1m, Nomination: N5m)

2· House of Representatives: N10 million (Expression of Interest: N1m, Nomination: N9m)

3· Senate: N20 million (Expression of Interest: N3m, Nomination: N17m)

4· Governorship: N50 million (Expression of Interest: N10m, Nomination: N40m)

5· Presidential: N100 million (Expression of Interest: N30m, Nomination: N70m)

All payments are to be made directly into designated accounts with Union Bank, UBA, or Zenith Bank.

The timetable was signed by the National Organizing Secretary, His Excellency, Sulaiman Muhammad Argunu, OFR. The party has directed all inquiries to its Directorate of Organisation.

By Uzair Adam

The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s education sector, even as it continues to grapple with persistent funding challenges affecting key programmes and initiatives.

This position was expressed during the Council’s sixth inaugural Governing Board meeting held at its headquarters in Sheda, Abuja, from April 22 to 23, 2026, where members deliberated on its activities, achievements, and future direction.

According to a statement issued by the Council on Monday, the meeting brought together Board members, management staff, and other stakeholders to review NERDC’s operations and chart a path forward.

In his welcome address, the Executive Secretary, Professor Salisu Shehu, was quoted in the statement as expressing optimism that the Board’s collective efforts would “usher in meaningful change, growth and sustainable development” for the Council and its staff.

The statement noted that a documentary titled NERDC at a Glance was presented during the meeting, providing an in-depth overview of the Council’s operations, including the activities of its six academic centres, service departments, and field offices.

According to the statement, Professor Shehu also highlighted the Council’s achievements, particularly its collaborations with agencies within Nigeria, across Africa, and globally.

However, he drew attention to the challenge of inadequate funding, which has slowed the implementation of several key projects and initiatives.

Despite this, the Executive Secretary as reaffirming his commitment to driving reforms and repositioning the Council on the global stage.

In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the Governing Board, Jamilu Wada Aliyu, assured the management team of the Board’s support.

The statement quoted him as saying the Board remains committed to “strengthening NERDC as a critical pillar of Nigeria’s education sector,” while commending the Executive Secretary for his efforts.

Furthermore, the statement noted that the Executive Secretary and members of the management team led the Chairman and other Board members on a tour of the Council’s facilities, including the Administrative Block, Library and Informatics Centre, Conference Centre, Academic Centres, Warehouse, and the National Model School.

It added that the tour provided firsthand insight into the Council’s current state and highlighted areas requiring urgent attention.

The statement also listed members of the Governing Board as including Gideon Sunday Omachonu, Aliyu Muhammad Madaki, Mahmoud Muhammad Lawan, Obianuju Anigbogu of the Federal Ministry of Education, Amos Josiah Dangut, Nura Sani Usman, and Abdulmumili Umar Kwami.

Other members are Raula Said Ahmad, Peter Maktu, Omoduwa Francis Folorunso, Dean Robert Okorie, Abdulkadir Yunusa, Denja Abdullahi, and the Executive Secretary, who serves as Secretary to the Board.

By Uzair Adam

Tension gripped the popular Kano phone market, Farm Centre, after a large group of hoodlums stormed the area, attacking traders and carting away valuables.

The attackers, reportedly numbering about 200 and armed with cutlasses and other dangerous weapons, were alleged to be accompanying a Kano Central senatorial aspirant, Abdussalam Abubakar, popularly known as AA Zaura, to an event held near the market.

The Chairman of the market, Alhaji Jamilu Bala Gama, confirmed the incident, explaining that it occurred around 1:25 p.m. when the group invaded the area.

He added that the violence was not limited to Farm Centre, as nearby markets, including City Centre and New Dubai, were also affected.

The Daily Reality gathered that the movement of politicians with armed thugs has become a growing concern in Kano, often resulting in violence and disruption of business activities.

“They were many, about 200 or even more. They attacked innocent people and traders, injuring them and stealing their property,” Gama said.

He noted that as of the time of filing this report, the hoodlums remained within the vicinity of the ongoing event, forcing traders to flee and shut down their shops.

According to him, such incidents have become frequent, with hoodlums often accompanying political gatherings and targeting traders.

“We plan to take legal action against politicians generating tension in our markets by moving around with hoodlums,” he added.

Gama also disclosed that police officers from a nearby station responded but came under attack, with some sustaining injuries.

A trader, Abdullahi Dabinai, corroborated the account, describing the incident as part of a recurring pattern that has long affected the market community.

He said police eventually dispersed the hoodlums using teargas, adding that such violence tends to occur whenever political events are held nearby.

He further explained that although the latest attack was concentrated around roadside shops, many traders fear it could spread deeper into the market in future incidents.

He recalled previous occasions when political gatherings created panic, forcing traders to lock themselves inside their shops.

As of the time of this report, there was no official statement from the police. Efforts to reach the Kano State Police Command spokesperson, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, were unsuccessful, as calls to his line were not answered.

Attempts to obtain a reaction from AA Zaura also failed, as the event allegedly linked to the incident was still ongoing.

By Mohammed Bello Doka 

History is a stubborn thing. It does not bend to the whims of revisionists, nor does it dissolve under the weight of repeated falsehoods. For some time now, a particular narrative has been carefully cultivated and spread across social media platforms and traditional dinner tables. This narrative suggests that during the eight years of Muhammadu Buhari’s presidency, the North maintained a conspiratorial silence, shielding itself while the country drifted. It paints an entire region as a monolith of blind loyalty. But as the saying goes, a lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes. Today, the truth is fully dressed and ready to walk.

If the people making these claims are truly ignorant of the facts, this record will serve as a much-needed education. If they are speaking from a place of hypocrisy, then this record will serve as a mirror to their own intellectual dishonesty. To suggest the North was silent is to erase some of the most daring, scathing, and consequential political and intellectual battles fought against the Buhari administration from within its own base.

Let us begin with the most intimate of critics. On October 14, 2016, through the BBC Hausa Service, the First Lady of Nigeria, Aisha Buhari, stunned the world. She did not just offer a mild critique; she declared that her husband’s government had been hijacked by a few people who did not even know the party’s vision. She stated plainly that out of fifty people the President had appointed, he probably didn’t know forty-five of them. 

This was not a Southern critic or an opposition politician speaking; this was the President’s own wife. She followed up on December 4, 2018, as reported by Punch and Premium Times, during a leadership summit in Abuja, where she challenged Nigerian men to stand up to two or three people dominating the government. On May 25, 2019, as reported by Channels TV and Daily Trust, she attacked the administration’s Social Investment Programme, labelling it a failure in the North and questioning the procurement of mosquito nets. If the North was silent, was the First Lady’s voice not Northern enough?

The intellectual and traditional pushback was equally fierce. As the Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi used his platform to deliver economic lectures that the presidency found deeply uncomfortable. On August 24, 2016, during the 15th meeting of the Joint Planning Board in Kano, as reported by Punch Newspapers, he warned that the Buhari administration was on the path of the Jonathan government if it did not end its flawed foreign exchange policies. Years later, as reported by Vanguard on August 20, 2023, he provided a post-mortem, stating that the administration had decimated the economy and left a thirty trillion naira debt through illegal central bank borrowing.

Then there is the Northern Elders Forum. For years, this group acted as a stern watchdog. On June 14, 2020, as reported by The Guardian and The Cable, the Chairman of the forum, Professor Ango Abdullahi, issued a statement titled Life has lost its value under Buhari. He described the administration as a total failure in the face of escalating banditry and insurgency. He noted that the North was completely at the mercy of armed gangs. 

This sentiment was echoed repeatedly by the forum’s spokesperson, Doctor Hakeem Baba Ahmed. In April 2022, following the Zabarmari massacre, Baba Ahmed appeared on Channels TV and was quoted in Daily Trust stating that in any civilised nation, a leader who failed so spectacularly to provide security would have resigned. He was one of the most consistent voices debunking the myth that the North was satisfied with the status quo.

Even the clergy did not stay silent. Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, once considered a supporter of the President’s integrity, became a vocal opponent. In an interview with Punch on July 7, 2018, Gumi stated that he knew Buhari would make Nigeria worse than it was when Jonathan left. He accused the administration of being worse than its predecessor and criticised what he called the deification of the President.

When we turn to the political theatre, the evidence of Northern opposition is even more undeniable. Consider Buba Galadima, one of the original signatories to the formation of the APC. On July 4, 2018, as reported by Punch and Premium Times, Galadima led a faction to form the Reformed APC. He held a press conference in Abuja where he described the party’s leadership as a charade and the government as a disappointment. In an exclusive interview with Premium Times on July 22, 2018, he accused Buhari of betraying the loyalists who built his political career to empower a clannish inner circle.

Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the former Governor of Kano, also broke ranks early. On July 24, 2018, he was among the senators whose defection was reported by Punch and Premium Times as part of a mass exodus from the APC to the PDP. Throughout 2018 and into the 2023 election cycle, Kwankwaso was a relentless critic. 

On August 27, 2018, as reported by Punch, he stated in Owerri that Buhari lacked the capacity to improve the economy. Later, on April 15, 2022, as reported by Channels TV, he expressed deep worry that a retired General could allow insecurity to reach such levels, calling the administration’s second term a missed opportunity.

The most dramatic phase of Northern criticism occurred in the build-up to the 2023 general elections. 

This was not just rhetoric; it was a legal and constitutional war. Nasir El-Rufai, the then Governor of Kaduna State, became the face of internal resistance. Long before the currency crisis, El-Rufai’s critical stance was documented in a 30-page memo dated September 22, 2016, which was eventually leaked by Sahara Reporters on March 16, 2017. In that memo, he warned the President that the APC was losing its supporters’ trust and that the government was adrift. 

By 2023, the tension culminated in a Supreme Court lawsuit. On February 3, 2023, as reported by Channels TV and The Punch, El-Rufai, along with Governors Yahaya Bello and Bello Matawalle, sued the Federal Government over the naira redesign policy. On February 16, 2023, after Buhari’s national broadcast, El-Rufai issued a counter-broadcast in Kaduna, which was transcribed by Vanguard and The Cable, where he told his citizens to continue using the old notes, effectively challenging the President’s authority in a way no Southern governor dared at the time.

Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the then Governor of Kano, was equally confrontational. On January 28, 2023, as reported by The Niche and Daily Post, Ganduje officially asked the President to postpone a visit to Kano because the people were too angry over the currency policy to guarantee a peaceful reception. 

In early February 2023, a viral video reported by Daily Trust and Sahara Reporters showed Ganduje mocking the President’s political history, noting that Buhari only won after a merger was formed for him and was now trying to destroy the party on his way out. On February 14, 2023, as reported by The Cable, Ganduje threatened to demolish any bank in Kano that refused to accept the old notes, promising to replace such banks with schools.

How then can any honest person say the North was silent? We have the names, the dates, and the publications. From the First Lady’s BBC interview in 2016 to the Supreme Court case in 2023, from the intellectual rebukes of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi to the scathing memos of Nasir El-Rufai, and the open defiance of Abdullahi Ganduje, the North was a hotbed of criticism. Those who claim otherwise are either victims of a deep ignorance or are intentionally peddling a hypocritical double standard.

The North is not a monolithic political entity that blindly follows a leader. It is a region with a rich tradition of debate, dissent, and internal correction. When the Buhari administration faltered, it was the Northern elders who first called for his resignation. When the economy drifted, it was Northern intellectuals who provided the most data-driven critiques. When the currency policy threatened to trigger a social crisis, it was Northern governors who took the President to the Supreme Court.

To repeat the lie that the North never criticised Buhari is an insult to the courage of those who risked their political standing to speak truth to power. It is an attempt to rewrite history to fuel division and promote a false narrative of regional complicity. But the records are in the archives of Daily Trust, Punch, Vanguard, Premium Times, and Sahara Reporters. 

The records are in the transcripts of the BBC and Channels TV.

Let this be a final answer to those who peddle this falsehood. The facts do not just speak; they shout. The North did not just criticise Buhari; it provided some of the most formidable and effective opposition his administration ever faced. Whether it was on the pages of newspapers, in the chambers of the Supreme Court, or from the pulpits and palaces of its traditional leaders, the North spoke up. To ignore this is to choose a lie over the truth, and to repeat it after reading these facts is to move from the camp of the ignorant to the camp of the hypocritical. The truth has been told, the evidence has been presented, and the myth of Northern silence is hereby destroyed.

Mohammed Bello Doka can be reached via bellodoka82@gmail.com.