Month: February 2022

By Ahmad Ganga

The constituted consensus committee was headed by the former head of service, Muhammad Aliyu, Commissioner for women affairs, Hajiya Rabiya Muhammad, three former Members house of state assembly namely; Lawal Alfaki, Kabir Ado and Yusuf Shehu, two former LG Chairmen; Abba Mato and Kabir Akka. 

Hon Fatuhu, Member House of Representatives, and Ahmad El-Marzuq, Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, opted out of the consensus Committee because both have candidates in the race. HoR’s candidate is Hon Shehu Abdu, whereas Hon Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General’s candidates are Bala Musa and Laminu Gidado.

Laminu Gidado, one of the candidates the Attorney General has an interest in, was asked to step down for Bala Musa so as they form a formidable alliance. Bala Musa is a younger brother to former DG DSS, Lawal Musa.

Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General wanted to impose his candidate by fire or by force, but other parties opted for elections. Finally, an election was conducted on the 10th of February, and Hon Shehu Abdu emerged victorious with 177, Bala Musa 113 and Yawale Adamu 11.

Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Former DG DSS, were not happy with the outcome. The Attorney General then pledged to indict the victorious candidate, Shehu Abdu, charge him to court and send him to prison. The aim is to disqualify him, leaving their favourite candidate as a potential candidate.

He (AG) then cooked up a conspiracy with the bit of fact of a scenario that happened four years ago when Shehu Abdu was an aide to Late Senator Mustafa Bukar, which even the people can’t vividly remember. He facilitated many jobs to constituents. Some of them gave him tokens in appreciation of what he did. Few didn’t get the job, and they had already moved on since Senator Bukar’s death. 

Before the election, AG pledged if not his candidate, whoever emerges victorious would face a serious legal battle. And it happened. 

On the 15th of this month, security personnel from State CID came to Daura to arrest that victorious candidate, Shehu Abdu, because he collected money from four people from Madobi (A)Ward four years ago. Unfortunately, two out of the four petitions presented for his arrest were unaware of their name and signature used in the papers. That means someone acted on his own.

As I write this, the victorious candidate who’s loved by the majority in Daura is still in detention. Hon Fatuhu, Member House of Representatives, chipped in and secured his release. However, in connivance with some people from the DG DSS side, the Attorney General called State CID and ordered them not to dare release the detainee. On the 16th of this month, he was arraigned to court, and his crime was winning an election in an open contest.

Ahmad Ganga can be contacted via ahmadganga66@gmail.com.

By Tajuddeen Ahmad Tijjani

The increasing traffic gridlock in Abuja is simply nerve-wracking. A journey that, in normal circumstances, would have taken 30 minutes takes more than an hour now. This has not only caused daily waste of precious man-hours but has also inflicted enormous pain on commuters who have to contend with extra costs at this challenging time of a shrinking economy. It’s not a changing time for Nigeria to borrow a leaf from the developed world. We should not continue suffering since there are long-term and short-term solutions.

To be specific, here are some notable spots where heavy traffic snarls are a constant feature, which unfortunately affects the well-being of the people. They include Mararaba-Nyanya Bus Stop; AYA Roundabout along the Abuja-Keffi corridor; Madala-Zuba-Kubwa-Gwarinpa-Aso Radio Junction, along the Abuja-Kaduna corridor; and Girri Junction-Alaita-City Gate, along the Abuja-Gwagwalada corridor. Indeed, a lot of concern was raised about these notorious traffic hubs. And I can’t believe it if someone tells me the FCT administration is not aware of this development.

To be fair to the FCT minister, he’s trying, though his best is not enough. It’s gruesomely inadequate. We must come to terms with the fact that we’re in the 21st century and that new technology should be put in place to reduce the long-suffering of commuters. The axes mentioned above need to be expanded to accommodate the daily traffic volume.

I’d be willing to bet my bottom dollar that if the FCT administration built “railroad tracks” from end to end of the city, beyond a shadow of a doubt, this unbearable traffic jam would disappear in no time. Both the income and the revenue generation will increase. An uncountable number of commuters will drop their vehicles.

The transportation system will give cheerful colour, beautify the city, and compete with global best practices. Can’t we do these for the benefit of all? But, someone might decide to ask, where should we get the funds? Yes, there it is. Invite investors and strike a Public-Private Partnership. I believe we can do it. Building, operating, and transferring is one of the surest ways of getting it done. 

I urge the FCT administration to look inward and try railway tracks in the city. For instance, the same should be in place in other axes from Zuba to Dey Dey, Kubwa, Dutsen Alhaji Junction, Gwarimpa, Maitama to Mararraba, etc. It would be a life-changing event for both the government and the people. Indeed, this will enhance internally generated revenue and increase work productivity. It will be a win-win for the country.

Tajuddeen Ahmad Tijjani writes from Abuja. And can also be reached via sen.taju@gmail.com.

By Sadiq Aliyu Waziri

“Education is the key to success” is the cliché that filled our ears to the extent that we got hypnotised and went to school. We have listened and done what was demanded, but success remains a de luxe ethereal dream. Thanks to the system for bringing such a motivational saying down to nothing. Who said it first deserves pity while those that believed should wait for succour. The system’s failure to prove that education is indeed the key has doomed our society with the presence of unemployment, the begetter of revolt. 

The way I see it, the unemployment problem should not be last or penultimate, but the first in the other direction. Every government should tackle its course to building a sound society or salvaging a community endangered by their predecessors, as they will prefer to say it. This and how bad the system is are no longer alluring headlines. Calls and cries have been on the air for a long time. However, the system has turned a deaf ear and refused to act for the absence of patriotism or of acumen or perhaps the two put together.

The number of unemployed youth is alarming, ranging from secondary school certificate holders to second-degree graduates. Everyone’s desperate to secure a good job for survival. But, like it or not, this desperation is putting both the youth and the country at stake, endangering the youth morality and the country’s peace.

My advice to the unemployed youth is, don’t allow your love for a lucrative job to destroy you by leading you to do heinous things or following every fool that promises you a job. What you need is patience. Then, ready yourself for every challenge that is to come. Money and power are not everything. Don’t steal or terrorise anybody or become a ‘pimp’ for not having a job. Unless it is a dream to build a political career, don’t go into it because you think it is the only place to get a job.

I don’t know how or when, but you will secure a job that you crave with or without the help of anyone. As a matter of fact, you do not need to kowtow to anyone to help you get a job so that you won’t be forever in anyone’s debt. So be patient now until the time comes.

Sadiq Aliyu Waziri sent this article via sawaziry@yahoo.com.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

The Secretariat of the Students Representatives Council (SRC) of the Institute of Administration, Kongo, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, was gutted by fire on Friday, February 18.

The secretariat, which served as an office and accommodation for SRC executives, was gutted by fire that reportedly started from a neighbouring shop at about 5:50 pm.

After speaking with the Director of Welfare of the ABU SRC, Comrade Usman Tukur Babangida, the Daily Reality gathered that the fire razed about two rooms down and personal properties of the students’ executives occupying those rooms were destroyed entirely. He also said other rooms of the SRC executives were partially affected.

Mr Tukur noted that if not for the timely intervention of the institution’s fire service, the fire would have razed down the entire secretariat and nearby buildings. 

The Daily Reality also gathered from sources who witnessed the accident that no loss of life or injury was recorded.

By Salihu Sulaiman

Hard work and appreciation are part of human existence at the individual or government level. Appreciations for deeds that are more than worthy of commendation is a form of motivation to spur the individual that is so much appreciated to do even more. And as I will demonstrate it today in this little tribute, I will celebrate this epitome of hope with this accolade. He’s someone whose humanity transcends his friends, families, community members, and even adversaries. 

Alhaji Musa Majia is the subject of my glowing tribute. A seasoned-cum philanthropist born in poverty in the slums of Majia town of Taura local government in Jigawa state but strived and succeeded in business by venturing into his productive money-making schemes. Alhaji Musa, while transiting into that rigorous walks of life and reaching his Eldorado, he has since become a renowned public philanthropist in his unmatched quest to help children born with wooden spoons with whom he shares the same circumstances. 

He’s the modest wealthiest man I know.  He lives a simple life and completely loathes ostentation. Yet, he’s warm around people and always wears his heart on his sleeve. The most self-effacing, in words and action. Someone who always stands through thick and thin, always well-meaning that it always takes him long to lose in anybody. 

Alhaji Musa’s footprints will forever remain in the sand of time and indelible in his hometown of Majia and Jigawa state at large. A man not known to have acquired any conventional tertiary education in any chosen endeavours, by providence, he established the first conventional, integrated, subsidised, well-equipped, highly strategised private University in Jigawa. He named it Khadija University Majia, after his beloved mother. This is a deliberate philanthropic gesture worth commendation. 

However, Alhaji Musa Majia demonstrated the potency of his patriotic favour when he offered automatic scholarships to indigenous Majia candidates who obtained the minimum requirements to gain admission to the university. 50% waiver to Jigawa state indigenous students and 30% waiver to others from Kano state. This commendable initiative will surely encourage and pave the way for willing and determined students who have a passion for furthering their studies but couldn’t afford the tuition due to their various financial constraints. 

Alhaji Musa’s clean-hearted, grass rooted, and inexhaustible philanthropic gestures are too numerous to enumerate extensively. However, he has distinguished life of service to God and humanity in the cause of his life. He continues to reverberate this, especially in his impeccable character, thoroughbred humanity records, and enviable stature.

In all this heroic precedence he has set, he has proved that character, generosity and purpose are the ingredients he needs to deploy in helping back and lending his helping hands to his community. Thus, he provides them with a first-class private institution at their doorsteps to assist the masses in furthering their education and achieving their full potentials in their various life endeavours. Moreover, he displays courage and integrity in contrast to the willingness and opportunism that other equally wealthy people haven’t shown given the similar circumstance. 

An instructive insight on some of his inexhaustible philanthropic gestures would reveal a man who has a consistent and unmatched commitment towards improving the life and well-being of the members of his community. Little wonder how he has distantly distinguished himself from the general culture of the wealthy. On different occasions, he kept his word on the transitions of helping the needy and carried out with utmost transparency with complete blindness to any family lineage or any discrimination. 

Alhaji Musa Majia has overseen the construction and distribution of over 120 houses to people in his community who have no shelter and have sponsored over 40 students to further their studies abroad from 2011 to date. Alhaji Musa has also facilitated the construction of arguably one of Jigawa’s best secondary schools with the tahfiz section known as Adams Science and Tahfizul Quran academy Majia in 2020. It is situated in his hometown of Majia to also aid in realising the full potentials of the willing and talented students of Majia town. 

In job creation, he has facilitated the employment of indigenous youths of Majia town in various professions, especially the bureau de change professions. Many young graduates and non-graduates who have benefitted from his benevolence have excelled in that endeavour and created manpower for other equal contemporaries to curb unemployment in the community. Alhaji Musa has also facilitated the situation of the FRSC division and police division in Majia town to curb the menace of security in the community. 

Additionally, in his generosity, Alhaji Musa has also provided white-collar jobs to numerous Majia youths in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Over a hundred youths were provided with police offers, FRSC civil defence, and other para-military agencies across the country. With also a large farm settlement and a multi-millionaire plaza that employs over 500 workforces.  

This exceptional gesture of establishing a world-class private institution in his hometown of Jigawa earned the commendation of Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu. They both describe his efforts as motive born out of patriotism and commend his potency of inherent  Ingenuity, which will be invaluable to the people of Majia, Jigawa and Nigeria. 

From the ongoing and his burgeoning philanthropic trajectories, it is evidently clear that Alhaji Musa Adamu Majia is a man of history. He has left a permanent mark in the annals of his community. He is also a worthy role model and inspiration for many aspiring philanthropists.

Salihu Sulaiman wrote from Dutse. He can be reached via salihusulaiman6540@gmail.com.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The G-7 faction of All Progressive Congress (APC), under the leadership of Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, sweared to have proceeded to the Supreme Court.

The faction said they will proceed to the supreme court over the crisis rocking the party in the state.

Ahmadu Haruna Zago revealed to BBC Hausa Service that their lawyers were studying the court’s ruling for a possible appeal. Zago said, “We will appeal. Abiding by the ruling is quite different from filing an appeal. Our lawyers are studying the court’s ruling.”

The Court of Appeal, Thursday in Abuja, has invalidated the ward and local government congress by the APC faction led by Senator Ibrahim Shekarau in Kano.

The court has rejected the judgment of an FCT High Court, which declared the Shekarau faction victorious.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Niger Republic has sought greater cooperation through the strengthening of students’ exchange programmes and other related issues on collaborations with tertiary institutions between the country and Kano State.

The Niger Republic Minister of Vocational training, Kassoum Mamane Moctar and his counterpart of Education and Scientific research, Dr Mamadou Djibo from the same neighbouring West African country, made the proposal.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor of Kano State, Hassan Musa Fagge, in a statement signed Thursday, disclosed.

The minister said many years back, students from Niger Republic came to Nigeria, particularly Kano, to study in various tertiary institutions.

He said, “now we want that students exchange programme to be revived and sustained”.

“Through the partnership, we will promote quality of education and research in both our tertiary institutions, which will be of benefit to all of us,” he stated.

Responding on behalf of the Governor, his Deputy Dr Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna said Kano State is ready to collaborate with Niger Republic in areas of interest and benefit.

Gawuna thanked the delegation from Niger Republic for the visit and assured them of cooperation.

By A. A. Bukar

Dear Iroro,
It still touches my heart that you feel entrapped by frustration and desperation as a banker. And hope you will find solace in the fact that this is not your making. Life has an inexplicable way of fixing us where it pleases. That’s what we call destiny, isn’t it? A mysterious power beyond the freedom of our choices.

In the vicissitudes affecting your life and career, I am sure you’ve wondered: what on earth has Chemistry got to do with Banking? I have also thought about it when another mentee recently joined the apex bank of the country with a degree in Linguistics. But remember it wasn’t either your dream to be a chemist, nor of your teachers and mentors. Here’s an exposè on the initial agenda:

Fresh from College, we were entrusted with your intellectual upbringing as freshers in that private secondary school. Unbeknownst to you and our teachers that brought us there, we were equally at a point of self-discovery; with youthful exuberance, spurred by desire and desperation to make impact on our immediate society. Our immediate concern was the state of the general hospital, dearth of health personnel and what to do about it – big as it was and the multitude it supposed to serve, the hospital could not boast of having 3 medical officers whether resident or itinerant then. We were worried by how, for example, when a family member fell sick, we had to rely on a chemist or a ‘family doctor’ who probably had only a certificate in Community Health. For all type of ailments – from malaria, typhoid to child delivery.

So what to do? We started brainstorming with your other teacher – Audu Bulama. Initially we agreed to abandon our NCE certificates and return to a science secondary school, obtain another SSCE and gun for Medicine. This was in spite of my numero-phobia. Upon further discussions, we decided to maintain our charted course but encourage you to pick up the battle on our behalf; on behalf of all. This largely motivated the extraordinary devotion given to your generation. You’d no Saturdays of your weekends. Extracurricular activities, lab practicals and whatnot. The teachers, on the other hand, made the school their second home, passing the night when duty forced. We were gladdened when, after the career talks in which late Dr Gishiwa was involved, many of the finest brains opted for science class. But in no time destiny began to take toll.

First, your headgirl and her friend got married. That was the end. Travails of UME transposed you and the other boys to B.Eds. Now, one of the two Bashirs that graduated with first class in Mathematics is in airforce. You’re in a bank instead of laboratory. Your close friend, Tijjani, a thoroughbred from art class wanted to study Law but ended up with B. A. in Hausa Language. You can always feel how he struggles to suppress his dissatisfaction ever after. Zarah, your overall best in the first session, found her “destiny” in the kitchen! Only your headboy went nearer to fulfilling the dream with a degree in Pharmacy. My sisters, who I similarly encouraged thus, followed the same pattern of career trajectory – Mathematics, Pharmacy, Medical Imaging Technology and so on.

Dear Iroro, you’re not alone. We were all at this crossroads of dilemma and indecision in the process of evolution. Sometimes due to lack of choice or due to multiplicity of choices. In 2007 I got two admission offers to study B. Sc Mass Communication (100 level) or B. Ed English (200 level) at Bayero University. For obvious reasons I registered for Mass Communication. But before lectures could start, my friend Musa Lawan Kaku , who was doing his double honors in English and Islamic Studies, began to take me to the exciting classes of Prof. Saleh Abdu, IBK and Mustapha Muhammad. I instantly found home and wanted to switch over. We even went to the admin. block with Usman Abdullahi making inquiries on how my registration in Mass Communication could be converted to English. When they said the ink had dried, we, in desperation, asked further whether new registration was possible – that meant a forfeiture of the former. When, along the way, I placed a call on your proprietor (who was my teacher and mentor), Dr AbdulRahman, with regards to this I found consolation and wisdom in his advice. His argument was our community had teachers in excess, dividend of the CoE in the locality but not so journalists. Thus I remained. Happy thereafter, grateful for ever.

Enthused by my editorship of our departmental newspapers and magazines, I kept an eye on practice after graduation. But destiny took me elsewhere. NYSC posting took me closer home – where I was to teach Hausa (another irony) in a Jigawa state village school. Dissatisfied; without any prodding from anyone; without knowing anyone, I ventured into a nearby College of Legal/Islamic Studies requesting to be given a part time job in Mass Communication to kill the idleness precipitated by my posting. After brief perusal of my CV, the provost, Sheikh (now Dr.) Muhammad Al-khamis looked up and said: “Abubakar, we will give you a full time job. We are looking for people like you…” In the voice of Wajahat Ali, “That’s how they (read: destiny) pulled me back to classroom”. Grateful for ever.

But let me be very blunt here. Nurtured to be one, I know I will remain a teacher. But a decade or more in my life was intended for journalism practice before reverting to the classroom. That reminds one of Peter Nazareth or some other literary critics who said Ngugi wa Thion’go, the Kenyan writer, was a village writer. By that he meant Ngugi’s setting has always been village. Even if he starts his story in the city, rest assured he will end up in a village. That’s me with teaching. My friend, Barr. Maidugu Abubakar, once said teaching is just like cultism – obsessing. Axiomatic.

In May 2018, just few months after my Master’s degree, I met with the bureau chief of a leading national daily at a function. We struck a discussion wherein I revealed to him my itching for practice and even told him that I was currently earning a little above hundred thousand in my lecturing job; if they could give me the equivalent I would join them. He looked up in suprise, telling me how he’s on the other hand eager and lobbying to be a lecturer. Note: months earlier than this ABU Zaria had began beckoning. Details some other day. Such an irony.

More ironic about journalism is that while those who have university degrees in it often find themselves elsewhere, those who studied other things find themselves in it. When we reflected over this with my final year students recently, one of them retorted that “It’s because there is no money in practice. That’s why we prefer marketing aspect of it – Advertising or Public Relations”. In recent times Political PR, probably, to be singing “Napoleon is always right.” Remembered Squealer? This in itself is the end target of many veterans in the field; which affects the overall quality of journalistic output currently, sadly.

Now back to you once again. Was your inability to study Medicine an intransmutable destiny? I doubt. Increasingly I see things more from the prism of political economy nowadays. Suppose we liased with a sympathetic powerful politician or a certain influential rich man in the community – since it’s said with anything from 500k such admission offers could be obtained. This is Nigeria! Achebe’s aphorism in “A Man of the People is starker than ever!” The issue is that most of us brought up in this tradition (of knowledge generation and dissemination) were conditioned to see politicians as dirty filthy selfish do-no-gooders. Again, don’t ask me whether it’s right or wrong to bribe for admission offers in this regard. It is a matter of intense debate and disagreement between teleologists and deontologists in Ethics philosophy.

It might have stunned you either that my generation in the community can boast of only a medical laboratory scientist – the cerebral Alwali. Well, ours was largely a victim of educational policy somersaults that excised Sciences during our days and left the Arts students with no option but be boarders once interested in it. And with apathetic parents that were like “just go to this your Boko school and come back to write receipts in the shop”, the outcome is apparent. They were partly so for you will be shocked if you’re told what the take home of a graduate civil servant (read: teacher) was in the ’90s. It was a point in time also when the whole locality had no a single private school that could provide the alternative. You think Boko Haram found ground for nothing? Much a commingle of cultural, economic and doctrinal factors. In the Jigawa village school where I did my “service”, pupils disappeared to farm and never returned for after-break-fast classes. Reason? Parental inducement and priority. So much to talk about which makes this a roller coaster of some sort.

I have intended intimating you on the WHEN question on marriage at this stage. A character in Leo Tolstoy’s War & Peace would tell you after accomplishing all goals – an AOB in the agenda of your life. How reasonable and practicable this is, we discuss later inter alia.

With the proliferation of degree awarding institutions in the locality, we will soon start grappling with how to contend with graduates bulge. I hope one day someone will fish out your likes with strong science background and place them on scholarship for a second first degree in where the community has the most pressing need. Meanwhile keep your eye on a foreign one – especially for a post graduate degrees. That opens windows for unimaginable opportunities. Sorry for writing you this: So Long a Letter. It is coming while completing Anne Frank’s Diary on transit, and made open perchance your type herein will stumble, benefit, or relate. At least.

A. A. Bukar writes from ABU Zaria, Department of Mass Communication.

By Muhammad Sabiu

Following a horrific attack on foreigners by criminals, the Nigeria Union South Africa (NUSA) confirmed the death of another Nigerian, Nicholas John, in South Africa on Thursday.

Mr. Collins Mgbo, the President of NUSA, disclosed John’s death in a statement to NAN on Thursday.

On February 12, a mob allegedly attacked John, an Ogun State native, at his shop in Kimberly, Northern Cape, South Africa.

Many young Nigerians who immigrated to South Africa to find work have continued to perish.

According to NAN, at least 128 Nigerians have been slain in the erstwhile Rainbow Nation since the beginning of 2019.

On December 12, 2021, a man named Olusola Solarin died after hoodlums attacked him and stole his money.

Mgbo revealed that John’s South African wife had just been married for three months.

On the circumstances surrounding Nicholas’ death on Tuesday, the NUSA president stated that a South African gang assaulted him on February 11 for allegedly purchasing a stolen laptop.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State has called on his rivals, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau and others, for reconciliation in order to enhance the unity and stability of the APC in Kano state.

Ganduje made the call a few moments after being declared victorious at the Court of Appeal in Abuja this morning. The governor, who said he was pleased with the judgment, has extended a hand of unity to Shekarau and the G-7 faction of the APC in the state.

The Daily Reality reports that the court of Appeal in Abuja has invalidated the ward and local government congress by the APC faction led by Senator Ibrahim Shekarau in Kano. The court has rejected the judgment of an FCT High Court, which declared the Shekarau faction victorious.

In an interview with the Daily Trust, while reacting to the court judgment, the governor said, “his confidence in the judiciary had been strong since the beginning of the case, and as such he is very happy with the judgment.”

Ganduje, who spoke through Malam Muhammad Garba, the state’s Commissioner of Information, said the judgment would further enhance the unity and stability of the APC in Kano state.