Month: June 2022

By Muhammadu Sabiu

Residents living in the Mada district of the Gusau Local Government Area, Zamfara State, have lamented that gunmen operating in the area have now taken complete control of the region.

According to available information, the district’s residents had abandoned their communities as a result of the men of the underworld’s relentless terror strikes.

A source states that numerous peasants have set up camp along the route between Kotorkoshi and Mada town as refugees after the robbers defeated the security personnel.

“We have not taken our baths for some days now because the notorious bandits have hijacked the entire area as they have overpowered the security operatives.

“As I am talking to you now, I don’t know the whereabouts of my two wives and children and I don’t know whether they have been kidnapped or they escaped to another area.

“We have no other means of livelihood except farming but we have been banned from our farming activities by bandits. The only wife and children with me now have entered Kotorkoshi village to beg for food for us to survive,” a resident identified as Mallan Ibrahim Mada was quoted as saying.

Recall that the Zamfara State government through its commissioner of information, Hon. Ibrahim Magaji Dosara and that of Security and Internal Affairs confirmed that Mada district has been witnessing incessant terror attacks.

This forced the government to close all the markets and gas stations in the affected areas due to the increasing frequency of banditry operations in the axis.

“The State government is aware of the plight of the people due to banditry activities bedevilling the entire area; we, therefore, decided to shut down all the markets and filling stations to reduce the incessant terror attacks in the axis.

The incessant attacks appear to be one of the reasons the Matawalle-led administration seeks the Federal Government’s approval to legalise the use of firearms by residents of the affected communities.

The commissioner said, “We engaged the Federal Government into dialogue so that it can approve our request for everyone that is qualified to be carrying weapons for self-defense to reduce the tension.”

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

A young man reportedly passed away after donating kidney to his ailing mother who needed a transplant.

According to Ahmed Muntaqa, who announced the young man’s demise on Facebook, the mother is doing well after the transplant but the young man died.

“This young man died shortly after donating kidney to his mother. What a heart touching death. 💔💔The mother survived the surgery and she’s alive as we speak now. May the soul of this gentleman rest in peace and may Jannatul Firdaus be his last abode..” Muntaqa wrote on Facebook.

The identity of the donor who is now reportedly dead is sketchy at the time of fielding this report, however, many have taken to their social media account to pray for the dead donor and commend the wonderful gesture.

Baffa Sanusi, a lawyer who shared Muntaqa’s post prayed that God should give people the strength to take care of their parents.

“Ya Allah give us the strength to take care of our parents, like they took care of us when we were little,” Sanusi wrote.

By Muhammad Aminu & Uzair Adam Imam

Kano State students from public secondary schools may not write the 2022 Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) due to the failure of the Kano State Government to settle outstanding debt of N1.5bn to the National Examination Council (NECO).

Sources familiar with the matter in the Kano Ministry of Education and NECO office confirmed to The Daily Reality.

The examination body has been in touch with the Kano State Government for the settlement of the debt, but the feedback remained negative.

At least 15000 students from Kano State public secondary schools are expected to sit for the examination, whose fees are paid by the Kano State Government.

Insiders in the NECO Office said that due to the indebtedness, which affects logistics and other obligations, it is less likely for the exam to commence tomorrow, June 27, as scheduled nationwide.

Earlier, Permanent Secretary Kano State Ministry of Education, Hajia Lauratu Ado, told Solacebase that the state government is already discussing with NECO.

Hajia Lauratu said the state government had paid NECO N356m last week. Still, the examination body insisted that N700m must be paid before the state students would be allowed to write the examination.

“We are surprised with the stand of NECO because apart from the payment of N356m, the state government also wrote a commitment letter to the body stating that N50m would be released to the examination body monthly.

“The examination body did not inform us that it did not accept our commitment and the payment of the N356m not until yesterday. Since then, we have been in discussion with NECO so as to address the issue,” quoting the Permanent Secretary.

Hajia Lauratu said the state government is committed to releasing another N300m to enable Kano students to participate in the examination, but the NECO’s portal was not available as at Sunday evening.

NECO’s Public Relations Officer, Azeez Sani, said he is unaware of the development between NECO and Kano State Government.

Meanwhile, parents and teachers lament the lackadaisical attitude with which Kano State Government is handling the education sector in the state.

“Look, I paid the fees for my children and I was told they may not be allowed to write the examination starting tomorrow due to the government owing NECO, how is that my problem?

“As I speak with you, my children are disturbed about the situation,” said a parent.

A secondary teacher who spoke in confidence to The Daily Reality said: “The development is very traumatic. The Kano State Government has failed both teachers and students, let alone parents.

“Government shouldn’t have allowed this to happen. The debt of about N1.5bn should be paid, so our students do not miss this year’s exams.”

It can be recalled that NECO withheld the 2021 results for Kano students due to the outstanding debt the state owed the Council.

Similarly, in 2022, Kano State Government drew public outcry for declining to pay NECO fees for students that failed the Qualifying Examination.

By Tijjani Muhammad Musa

Our primary problems in Northern Nigeria (Arewa) as far as the media landscape is concerned are a lack of support and patronage for our own media outlets, shallow-mindedness of our Arewa celebrities and self-centeredness of our social media influencers. Let me briefly explain these.

When a media outlet is floated, whether physically or online, many of our intelligentsia would choose to ignore it and refuse to contribute to its development, survival or sustenance. Some even find it offensive to see their writings featured on such platforms. So how can you imagine them making any effort towards reaching more people via such channels with their brilliant ideas?

This lack of encouragement by the intellectual elites of the Arewa region eventually quashes the zeal of the owners of the medium. So they end up laying their medium to rest, and nobody bothers to ask them why.

Next, our Arewa celebrities are primarily uneducated, digitally unsophisticated or advanced in thinking enough to realize the importance of their newfound status.

Instead of leveraging their popularity to drive home the concerns and aspirations of their people, their region and religion across the country or even globally, most of them just let the star status get into their heads. Thus, they end up as an ill wind that blows nobody good.

Finally, our Social Media influencers, most of them except for a minute few, are more or less acting like local champions, without any focus on using their influence to change the mindset of their followers.

These so-called influencers are constantly striving to create and upload content that only keeps the fire of attention from their followers burning, thereby getting them more and more Likes, comments, and emotes.

Very few among the influencers bother to target being a voice of the masses they represent. In contrast, their voices could be heard echoing the primary issues that concern their embattled region on a national and global scale so that something is done about it.

And they also would refuse to echo and make a trend of burning matters that affect their people, region and religion. A typical example is the acquisition of PVC for the 2023 elections. Have you seen any Arewa Social Media influencers making it a topic of importance? Almost none!

That attitude is unlike that of their counterparts across the divide and globe, who would each lend their support and credence to any trending topic of local, state, regional, national and global concern. Create and add their voices to any other SMI’s effort, so it assumes a loudness nobody can ignore.

Ours would instead choose to write or talk about what will keep their fans entertained, no matter how mundane that is.

Tijjani Muhammad Musa, alias Poetic Tee, is the Chairman of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) Kano Chapter. He can be reached via mmtijjani@gmail.com.

By Ahmad Abdulhadi

Math phobia, as from the name, means fear of mathematics or a mixed feeling of tension and apprehension towards mathematics. When dealing with mathematics, many students feel like they are in the middle of a battle with little or no chance of surviving. Thus, such feeling interferes with the atmosphere of their emotional and intellectual status, hindering them from understanding the concept.

I will begin this article with a true story that happened to me when I was in secondary school. I told myself that mathematics is a gift, but I was left to believe that I lacked that gift. Hence I would not even practice what I was taught in mathematics class, even though I don’t know how to simplify simple fraction addition.

The real journey began when I secured admission to a university to study in the Faculty of Sciences. Among the prerequisite courses I had to take, mathematics was among, and in the university, the fear of carry-over will hunt someone to his sleep. So, naturally, the student will try every possible means to see that he is free from such prison; that was what I did.

When I absolutely realized that I had to pass those elementary mathematics and other elementary courses that require the application of mathematics, like Chemistry and Physics, I decided to face my fears. I firstly installed in my mind that mathematics was no gift. Then, I started practising every topic taught in mathematics class, solving numerous examples, and going to tutorials and group discussions. In less than three months, I realized mathematics was not a gift. All it needs is the morale to learn and the time to practice where you have missed.

After I paid the price of time sacrifice, I began to enjoy mathematics more than any course. Moreover, understanding mathematics helped me significantly pass other elementary courses like Physical Chemistry and Mechanics with A grades, including mathematics which was almost every 100-level student’s headache.

In short, I face my fears, and I surely did see wonders in less than three months, and so does everyone that thinks mathematics is a gift to certain people. If only you can face that fear hidden inside of you and pay the little price you have to pay, I’m more than sure that you, too, will see wonders    

Ahmad Abdulhadi wrote via bnabdulhadee@gmail.com.

By Tajuddeen Ahmad Tijjani

Every 26th day of June is the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking as identified by the United Nations. This year is not unprecedented due to the menace that keeps rising, which sadly causes untold hardship to our communities and the world in general.

The date is to commemorate Lin Zexu’s dismantling of the opium trade in Humen, Guangdong, ending on June 25, 1839, just before the First Opium War in China. The observance was instituted by General Assembly Resolution 42/112 of 7th December 1987. The global observance of the day aims to raise awareness of the major dilemma that illicit drugs represent to society. Indeed, the aim is an expression of the United Nations’ determination to strengthen action and cooperation to achieve the goal of an international society free of drug abuse.

Justice and health are two sides of the same coin when it comes to addressing drug problems. The pertinent question is: what have we done in our immediate communities to address this situation that is posing a danger to our survival as a society and a nation? Are we to maintain silence while the future of our children and that of unborn children is on the brink? No! Most of the crimes committed were done after the criminals took drugs and illicit trafficking caused, according to sociological trumpets.

In Nigeria, the Boko Haram in the Northeast, ungodly bandits and kidnapping in the North West, and the IPOB terrorists in the southeast have something in common, which is criminality, havoc and destruction. However, the acts were mostly committed after taking unprescribed drugs, which are injurious to the health and well-being of the people.

Perhaps, those taking illicit drugs don’t know the dangers and injuries they create for their lives and, at the same time, for society. It’s the drug that impels them to commit crimes against humanity, which, of course, triggers instability in the world. However, there has never been a better time to convert this serious threat into a human cooperative existence than now. But, to achieve this, we must destabilise the sources of illicit drugs.

For one thing, you can’t discourage and combat illegal drugs and trafficking without addressing irresponsible parenting; how could God bless you with juveniles and then neglect their proper upbringing? In our society, you see someone with ten youngsters or more without taking care of their full responsibility. We must take the bold step and tell ourselves the truth. Never produce what you can’t take care of. Their moral upbringing is a primary responsibility of every parent. The association of pair groups in such a way trains your wards to be good ambassadors to society. for them to be productive citizens of the country and the world. 

The Nigerian drug law enforcement agencies must take their obligations with all seriousness. Indeed, perpetrators must be punished according to the law of the land. This is the only way that will serve as a deterrent to all with similar horrible intentions, and of course, at the same time, our justice system must be overhauled.

It’s clear in the northern part of the country, some hawkers go round selling illicit drugs, expired and villagers are taken with their hard-earned resources without doctors’ prescriptions, which post hazards to the health care system. This and similar illegal actions should be properly checked. Indeed, health is wealth. We should all play our part in spreading awareness to make our environment clean and live in a prosperous world.

Tajuddeen Ahmad Tijjani wrote from Galadima Mahmoud Street, kasuwar Kaji Azare, Bauchi State.

By Muhammad Sabiu

Contrary to rumours claiming that the exam had been postponed to a later date, the National Examination Council has declared that the 2022 Senior School Certificate Examination would begin on Monday, June 27, 2022, for school-based applicants.

Azeez Sani, the council’s head of information and public relations, revealed this information in a statement to journalists in Minna on Saturday.

Sani urged interested parties to reject rumours that the examination would be delayed.

“State Ministries of Education, Principals, Commandants and all stakeholders are enjoined to disregard any speculation on the alleged postponement of the examination,” Sani said, adding that “the Council has put all necessary measures in place to ensure a seamless conduct of the 2022 Senior School Certificate Examination.”

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

Nigeria’s former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, said his choice of Atiku as a running mate during the 1999 general election was a mistake. 

Obasanjo disclosed this on Saturday, June 25, while addressing students in Abeokuta at a leadership and entrepreneurship mentoring session. 

The former president admitted to having made many mistakes in his life. He also disclosed that one of such mistakes was his choice of running mate in the 1999 presidential election.

“I don’t say I don’t make mistakes – I made many of them,” Obasanjo said.

“But one thing that has happened to me is that God has never disappointed me. And that is very important.

“For instance, one of the mistakes I made was picking a number two when I was going to become President.

“But because it is a genuine mistake, God saved me out of it.”

The presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, contested alongside Obasanjo in the said election.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Tension rocks the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the party’s presidential candidate, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, allegedly obtained no primary and secondary school certificates. 

However, Tinubu insisted that he had two degrees from two American universities. Yet, he stated that the certificates were stolen by unknown soldiers during the military junta of the 1990s.

The Daily Reality gathered that the information was in an affidavit submitted by Tinubu to the INEC office as part of his eligibility filings for the 2023 presidential elections.

The documents released Friday by the electoral body showed that Tinubu completely left the columns for his primary and secondary schools unmarked.

Additionally, the latest claims by Tinubu in his submission to INEC reportedly contradicted the previous submissions of 1999 and 2003 when contested as a governorship candidate in Lagos state.

It was gathered that Tinubu allegedly claimed in 1999 and 2003 that he attended primary and secondary schools.

He indicated that he attended St. Paul Children’s Home School, Ibadan, between 1958 and 1964 and secondary school at the Government College, Ibadan, between 1965 and 1968.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

The United States Supreme Court in a draft opinion voted against the nearly five decades-old precedents in the landmark abortion case of Roe V Wade on Friday. The court held that there is no longer a federal constitutional right to an abortion.

The judgement overturned the decision in Roe V Wade. The majority of the justices of the court are of the opinion that the decision in the old case of Roe V Wade was reached in error and the American constitution did not expressly contemplate such rights.

“Roe was egregiously wrong from the start. Its reasoning was exceptionally weak, and the decision has had damaging consequences. And far from bringing about a national settlement of the abortion issue, Roe and Casey have enflamed debate and deepened division,” Justice Samuel Alito wrote in an initial draft majority opinion.

The opinion of the US Supreme Court has elicited condemnation from leaders around the globe.

President Joe Biden has described it as “a tragic error” and urged states to enact laws to allow the procedure.

Former President Barack Obama described the judgement as an attack on the freedom of Americans

“Today, the Supreme Court not only reversed nearly 50 years of precedent, it relegated the most intensely personal decision someone can make to the whims of politicians and ideologues—attacking the essential freedoms of millions of Americans.

Across the country, states have already passed bills restricting choice. If you’re looking for ways to respond, Planned Parenthood, The United State of Women, and many other groups have been sounding the alarm on this issue for years—and will continue to be on the front lines of this fight, ” Obama posted on his Facebook page.

Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, on Friday joined other leaders in condemning the judgement. He described it as horrific.

“The news coming out of the United States is horrific. My heart goes out to the millions of American women who are now set to lose their legal right to an abortion. I can’t imagine the fear and anger you are feeling right now,” Trudeau tweeted.

Trudeau further explains that the decision of what a woman does with her body is solely hers, and not for the government or anyone.

“No government, politician, or man should tell a woman what she can and cannot do with her body. I want women in Canada to know that we will always stand up for your right to choose,” He explains.

The British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson said the judgement is a big step backwards.

“I think it’s a big step backwards. I’ve always believed in a woman’s right to choose and I stick to that view, and that’s why the UK has the laws that it does.”

French President, Emmanuel Macron also pledged solitary with American women after the Supreme Court Overturned Roe V Wade.

“Abortion is a fundamental right for all women. It must be protected. I express my solidarity with the women whose freedoms are today challenged by the Supreme Court of the United States of America,” Macron said.