Month: December 2022

By Muhammadu Sabiu

Reports reaching The Daily Reality show that gunmen stormed certain towns in Gombe State on Friday night, leaving three people dead.

Unknown armed individuals assaulted the villages of Amtawalam and Pobaure in the state’s Billiri Local Government Area on Friday night, according to Adamu Kupto Dishi, the commissioner of homeland security for Gombe State.

Dishi confirmed the incident on Saturday following an emergency State Executive Council meeting chaired by Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya of the state.

“We responded immediately to calls about the attack by mobilising security operatives, including the police, the military and our local vigilantes, to the area. So far, the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has carried out assessment for immediate deployment of relief materials,” he said.

Security agents are presently conducting an investigation to identify individuals responsible for the heinous act, the commissioner assured.

By Ibrahim Garba.

Since the announcement of the success of oil discovery by the Muhammad Buhari-led administration through Nigeria National Petroleum Company, NNPC Ltd., people from different parts of the country rejoiced over the milestone achievement.

However, the development came with many controversies by the citizens who are, in one way or another other, have a direct or indirect connection to the development that is from some groups of people and individuals from the host community.

Immediately after the ground-breaking ceremony, which was attended by his Excellency President Muhammad Buhari, Bauchi State Governor Bala Muhammed, the Group Managing Director NNPC Mele Kyari, among other dignitaries in Nigeria, an argument broke between the neighbouring states, Gombe and its mother state Bauchi, about who owns the Kolmani oil well.

Besides, Bauchi may be right to claim the ownership of Kolmani oil because the oil well is located in Barambu, a village under the Alkaleri local government area of Bauchi state. Bauchi cites the presence of their governor at the breaking ceremony as one of the reasons that they own the oil well.

Gombe state, on the other hand, has more than a reason to claim the ownership because of their closeness to the point where the oil was drilled. Therefore oil as liquid stuff cannot just be for Bauchi alone.

Unfortunately, farmers operating within the host community of MaiMadi, Kwaimawa, among the other 7sevencommunities, complained that they were not paid for the damage done to their farmlands during the oil drill.

Among them, one claimed the ownership of the Kolmani oil well, which according to him, was inherited from his father and yet to be compensated. Also, the report indicates that workers who served during the seismic operation were not adequately paid but only promised to be paid on unspecified dates.

Farmers and other people from the host community should be well informed about the operation of that kind to seek entitlement associated with the oil drill operation in their localities.

With the allegations above, one must note with dismay challenging the Public Relations section of that particular for failing the Social responsibility service expected to render to those communities.

Above all, what Nigerians need to know is how much we need to poster national development above our interest to build Nigeria of our dream. We should also learn from the experience of our people down the south. There is a need for cooperation and mutual understanding between the two states, the farmers, and the entire host community to benefit from such a remarkable achievement. 

Ibrahim Garba writes from Bauchi.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has required citizens to take their current naira notes to the banks as quickly as possible.

The CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, made this disclosure while fielding questions from State House reporters on Thursday.

He said that the banks had already started dispensing the new cash, which reached their various offices on Wednesday to their customers.

The redesigned notes presented to the public are the N1000, N500 and N200, respectively.

The governor added, “I can only assure you that it will go around. Let us just be calm. Luckily, the old currency continued to be legal tender till January 31, 2023. 

“So, I want to crack a joke, both the painted (new notes) and unpainted (old notes) will operate concurrently as legal tender. 

“But by January 31, the unpainted one will not be useful to you again, so please take it to your bank as quickly as possible,” he said.

By Salisu Yusuf

Reading is the interpretation of some signs, symbols and codes into meaning for intellectual consumption. Reading is the third skill in the order of the four language skills behind writing, for one can only write when he knows how to read. The significance of reading can be viewed in the context of the world being a global village; reading has today made our world a unipolar entity where communities understand each other and realise their diversity.

In Islam, reading is the most crucial skill in seeking knowledge and understanding God. The first verse of revelation is “Iqra’a”, or read, for it’s through the pen(writing) that the Lord teaches man some knowledge.

Reading has been the highest source of joy for man. It emancipates and frees man from the shackles of servitude. People have read to escape from the deception of the perverts, the so-called clerics who misinterpret divine injunctions according to their caprices. Reading can wrench you from the grips and chicanery of postmodern politicians. Read and be free from the bog of tradition, the tyranny of the oppressor, the darkness of illiteracy and the glibness of the scammers. 

In fact, reading can make you a gentleman/lady; men/women have become milder, sober and more empathetic through years of excessive reading. When you read, you will understand yourself, your immediate environment, and your world. When you don’t read, you suffer from a lack of effective education. That’s called illiteracy.

 Reading can take you to places you’ve never been. I was once with the notorious Adolf Hitler in a ditch shortly before his infamous suicide. I was once in a Bagdad prison, witnessing the despicable hanging of dictator Saddam Hussein. I have been to Elysse Palace with the powerful Charles de Gaulle during his assassination attempt. Asare Konadu has given me an imaginative ride to cultural Ghana. James Hardly Chase has numerously chauffeured me to an underworld, taught me criminology, spying and espionage. Achebe has taught me some aspects of Igbo culture; in fact, he was the one who told me that “breaking cola” wasn’t only a Hausa culture.

I once read a fable with a combination of animal, bird and spirit characters. I melted into the sky, and became a spirit. I perched on branches of trees as a brood, hatching and nestling. I had become a spirit and mutated into a bird the next moment, flying on a vast, blue and cold sky, feeling acrophobic. I still remember with nostalgia those imaginative, daring escapades. A reader can go directly to a character’s mind and discover his inner thought. He can scale a river and be on war fronts. 

Reading can be your route to escape, add to your knowledge experience, and can polish your language, open you to new vistas and give you aesthetic joy.

 As an advanced reader, you shouldn’t read excessively at night (learn to rest for your mental well-being), or in sunny spots (you should go under a shade). Preferably, don’t read from a white paper; the best paper to read from is either a light yellow or light blue.

 The best thing in your reading is to protect and harness your eyes from being strained. Your eyes aren’t only your sighting treasure. They’re your intellectual and economic assets. By using the best and appropriate paper, you take a long-term measure that’s best for your eyes in later life.

The uncomfortable truth is that, you’ll reach a stage in your life when you lose that flexibility in and around your eyes. So, you must compensate them with reading glasses. But using the right paper will sustain the tempo and rhythm of your sight. You should harness your eyes at this crucial stage of your life. To quote from the famous English poet, Oliver Goldsmith, “husband out life tapers at the close. And keep the flames from wasting by repose.”

At an advanced level of our reading, we read when we’re in the mood, when we’re in the best mental state. This is why it’s crucial to coordinate your eyes and mind together during your reading; otherwise, you’ll only say the alphabet, not the semantic words. There’s a difference between saying and reading. In saying, you don’t understand; in reading, you get the gist.

During our personal/independent reading, we should avoid vocalisation and sub-vocalization because they’re diversionary; we employ the use of silent reading, where the eyes and mind do the bidding. We move the eyes but not the head.

 As an advanced reader, you should devise a contextual reading. A context reading is when a reader utilises all those syntactic, semantic, and discourse markers as well as the surrounding information, use an appropriate analytical approach to the vocabulary, and use the historical and cultural backgrounds in his quest for meaning. 

A reader should digest both the content and form. Reading is twofold; he digests the content for the message and the form or language where he learns some contextual expressions. 

Reading should be a lifetime endeavour. However, reading cannot be an obstacle to my midday siesta, my routine physical exercise, or my light walk. It cannot hinder my other religious obligations.

Reading is my morning tea, my late morning cake and drink, my heavy lunch, my afternoon dessert, and my evening supper. Reading is my light dinner. I will read until I can read no more until I feel numb and dark.

 Salisu Yusuf wrote from Katsina via salisuyusuf111@gmail.com.

By Ibrahim Hamisu

Following the cheerful welcome received by the presidential candidate of All Progressive Congress, APC, candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, when he visited Kano State, and the considerable role played by many members of Kannywood in his acceptance in the state, names of many members of the industry appeared in the list of the members of Tinubu/Shatima campaign committee. 

The list was a part of an announcement made by the Director General of the APC presidential campaign committee, Governor Simon Bako Lalong. He confirmed the selection of Kannywood members among the Presidential Campaign Council, PCC, with producer Abdul Amart Maikwashewa, as its leader. 

The announcement was signed by the Director of Press and Public Affairs to Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State, Dr Makut Simon Macham, on 8th November 2022. 

The PCC chairman, Governor Simon Lalong, beseeched the members of Kannywood to call all their fans, supporters, and every Nigerian to support their candidate and promote his good political agenda. 

The members include Abdul Mohd Amart (Maikwashewa) as Director, Isma’il Na’abba Afakallah as Deputy Director, Jadda Garko as Deputy Director II, and Sani Mu’azu as secretary. 

Other members include Malam Khalid Musa, an advisor to the Kano State Governor on the Kannywood industry, as an advisor of the committee; Bala Ahmad and Shu’aibu Yawale, also as advisors. 

Others include a veteran actor in the industry, Ali Nuhu, as a director of actors’ affairs; Jamila Umar Nagudu as his Deputy I and a comedy actor, Sulaiman Yahaya (Bosho), as Deputy Director II. 

A famous singer, Fati Nijar, was appointed as Deputy Director I, singer’s affairs; Ado Gwanja is her Deputy Director II; Dan Isa Mai Kaho is Deputy Director III. 

A comedy actor, Mustapha Badamasi Nabraska, an advisor to Kano State Governor on propaganda, was appointed as director of Works, while Alasan Kwalle was appointed as his deputy. 

Ahmad Salihu Alkanawy will be the operation director; Emmanuel will be his assistant. Tahir I. Tahir will be the program secretary; Adam A. Zango will be his Deputy I; Dailo Pam Lojok will be Deputy II. 

Nasir S. Gwangwazo, a writer, film producer, and editor of Manhaja Newspaper of the Blueprint Media company, will be the News and Publicity Secretary. Hafsat Sulaiman from Kaduna State will be his assistant. 

Hassan Shehu Kano will be the news coordinator on newspapers, radio, and television. Ibrahim Adamu will work as a social media news coordinator, where they will assist Gwangwazo. 

Malam Ado Ahmad Gidan Dabino (MON) will be the director of technical works; Hamza Baban Muri as his Deputy I, and Ibrahim Maishunku as his Deputy II.

Ɗan Musa Gombe will be the studio’s matters, while Sulaiman Albankudi will be the coordinator. Auwal Big Time will be the assistant coordinator. 

Mansura Isa will be the welfare officer; Nuhu Abdullahi will be her first assistant, while Abubakar Ndako Kutugi will be her second assistant. 

Director Sadiq N. Mafia will be the program manager, Audi Sitin will be the first assistant, and Audi Boda will be the second assistant. Asma’u Sani will be the women’s coordinator I, while Maijidda Minna will be coordinator II. 

Sadiq Sani Sadiq, transportation coordinator; Bello Muhammad Bello will be his assistant. Falalu A. Dorayi is the finance director, while Shatima Mansoor will be his assistant. Amina Adamu will be the chief coordinator, while  Ibrahim A.I.T will be her assistant. 

There is also the list of elders of the committee, which include: Sani Idris Moɗa, Magaji Ibrahim Mijinyawa, Muhammad B. Uwar Hankaka, Hajara Usman, Sa’idu Isa Gwaja, and Ɗan Azumi Baba which is also known as Kamaye. 

List of general members of the committee includes Maryam Yahya, Husaini Sule Koki, Nura Ɗan Dolo (Yaya Dankwambo), Aminu Ari Baba, Fati Abubakar Das, Nazifi Shariff, Abubakar Sulaiman (Ɗan Auta), Umma Shehu, Yahanasu Sani, Hauwa Abubakar (Waraka), Aminu Mirror, Waziri Dabo, Anas Sulaiman Nasir, Sani Ɗangwari, Bala Kufaina Abuja, Hamza Badamasi, Hadiza Abdullahi Kabara, Aminu Dumbulum, Maimuna Abubakar (Momi Gombe), Hauwa Garba (‘Yar Auta), Aisha Mahuta, Musa Mai Sana’a, Binta Ola, Abdulrahman Alfazazee, Nasir Adam Salih, Adamu A.D Bauchi, Mudassir Kassim, and Tijjani Abdullahi Asase.

Kannywood Elders Forum, through its public relation officer, Kabiru Maikaba, has already congratulated Abdul Amat Maikwashewa and other members of Kannywood for the well-deserved appointments.

By Muhammadu Sabiu

Senator Rabiu Kwakwanso, the presidential candidate for the New Nigeria Peoples Party, labelled the proponents of his rumoured merger with another party as failed politicians on Thursday.

Just moments after addressing NNPP members at the party office in the state capital, Kwankwaso made this statement while responding to reporters in Abeokuta.

Kwakwanso was quoted saying, “That’s absolute nonsense. You see we believe that we are not above the three or four parties in this country, but by 2023, next year, by the grace of God, the NNPP will win the election at national and all other levels.

“So, these are people who are failed politicians who have nothing to tell Nigerians other than to spread unnecessary rumour of a merger.

“Merger is already gone. We have our candidates. In all the parties, everybody is campaigning. So, disregard that nonsense.”

By Uzair Adam Imam

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressive Congress, has continued to be criticised over his failure to show up at the ARISE Townhall interactive sessions attended by other presidential candidates on Sunday.

Tinubu has been challenged for being unprepared and incapable of withstanding the rigour and the complex nature of the session.

The main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said Tinubu decided to avoid the debates intentionally because he had nothing to tell Nigerians.

However, addressing some young Nigerians in London, Tinubu said the debate was not an issue, adding that he could have debated from morning till night.

He added, “I am ready to debate with you from morning till night… and I’m speaking in London, not in Jigawa. It is great that you are alive to tell the story, just giving the assurance never to give up…

“Broadband creation, the energy that you talked about.. if they’ve taken our advice.. at the beginning of democracy in 1999, we brought in investment. 

“My Deputy then is here.. and then so many other innovative things….,” he said.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has condemned a decision by the Lagos State Office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to hold its meeting inside a church in Ikeja, Lagos State.

Prof. Ishaq Akintola, the MURIC Director, made the condemnation in a statement released and issued to journalists on Thursday.

It was gathered that the Lagos headquarters of INEC scheduled a meeting for Thursday and picked Archbishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral, Ikeja, as the venue of the meeting.

Akintola advised INEC Lagos headquarters not to hold any of its activities in any church except those meant for church members alone and that same goes for mosques and shrines.

He added that INEC has no business using places of worship for their activities, adding that the development is ‘very disappointing’.

The statement read, “This is very disappointing. How can an electoral body of INEC status pick a religious house of worship as venue for its meeting? Is the meeting for the Christian wing of INEC or what? Is INEC meeting members of the church? It is unacceptable.

“The choice of a church as venue for a meeting of INEC is very insensitive particularly given the very volatile situation, we are in Nigeria today. It is an open secret that Christian pastors are deeply involved in political campaigns.

“Many of them have turned 2023 election into a straight fight between them and the Muslims.

“INEC Lagos Headquarters has taken a false step. Holding an electoral body’s meeting inside a church is like holding it inside the secretariat of one of the political parties.

“It erodes confidence. It is totally wrong particularly in a situation whereby the church has publicly revealed that it is an interested party in the ongoing electioneering exercises.

“Why pick a church when there are hundreds of neutral places all over Lagos? Is INEC promoting the church’s vested interest in the 2023 election? Is some kind of connivance in the offing?

“INEC Lagos headquarters must prove to Lagosians that their votes will count. We call on Lagosians to watch the activities of INEC from now on because we are not convinced that it is going to be neutral,” Akintola said.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

Nigeria’s Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo is set to attend a meeting in the United States for African Carbon Market.

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity (Office of the Vice-President), Laolu Akande said Prof. Osinbajo will be in attendance alongside other key actors in the clean energy market.

Mr Akande said the Vice-President will be delivering the keynote address at a high-level meeting hosted by the Rockefeller Foundation in New York.

He said : “In a major push for funding and technical support for the Nigerian Energy Transition Plan, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, will be delivering the keynote address at a high-level meeting hosted by The Rockefeller Foundation in New York, with global agencies and potential financial partners in attendance to facilitate the activation of the Voluntary Carbon Market in Nigeria and on the African continent.”

He also noted that the high-level which holds on Friday will also be attended by officials from the US government and will explore potential opportunities which the carbon markets offer.

“The high-level meeting which holds on Friday will also be attended by officials from the US government and will explore potential opportunities which carbon markets offer to generate resources for clean energy transitions while accelerating economic growth in Nigeria and other African countries.” He said.

By Muhammadu Sabiu

The Senate has scheduled a hearing on the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) most recent cash withdrawal limit policy for Tuesday, December 13, 2022.

In its plenary session on Wednesday, the Senate voiced its concerns.

In a point of order, Senate Minority Leader Aduda Phillip called attention to the CBN’s new policy because it will have an impact on many people, particularly small company owners.

In response, Senate President Ahmad Lawan instructed the banking committee to speak with the CBN and discuss the issue during the screening of the CBN Deputy Governor, which is anticipated to take place before the next week. 

Recall that Lawan had previously advised the CBN not to approach the policy immediately.

The CBN limited the maximum weekly cash withdrawal over the counter (OTC) by corporate organisations and individuals to N500,000 and N100,000, respectively, under the new withdrawal policy.

The new withdrawal rule set the weekly limit cash withdrawal by Automated Teller Machine (ATM) at N100,000, with a daily maximum of N20,000.