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By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

A hippopotamus that is said to be making life unbearable for residents of the Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State has been killed by youths of the Agatu community.

The huge hippopotamus ran out of luck on Thursday, when it was overpowered and killed by youths in possession of local weapons.

According to reports, the hippopotamus had been preventing fishermen from freely carrying out their occupation, confining them indoors, damaging their canoes, and causing injuries to some fishermen.

It was also accused of devouring crops and destroying farmlands in the riverine villages of Agatu.

It was further alleged that the same hippopotamus had killed someone near the old bridge in Makurdi before fleeing to Agatu through the River Benue

Olikita Ekani, a former media aide to the immediate past governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, shared a video showing the youths using local tools to kill the animal.

Ekani disclosed that the Agatu youths had taken down a monster that had been terrorizing the waterways between Adeke and Ebete.

His statement reads in part “Agatu youths killed a monster that was terrorising their waterways between Adeke and Ebete.”

By Aisha Yahya Ibrahim

Almajiri is a word deduced from the Arabic word “Almuhajir, “ meaning an immigrant. Almajiri is a localised Arabic word. It is from the root word called “Hijra”, which means migration from one place to another for the sake of ‘Allah’. This concept of migration implies that one could relocate from where he does find conducive for worshipping his creator (Allah) to where he could find a conducive environment for worshipping Allah.

At this height, Nigerians correlated this concept with relocating children from one place to another in search of knowledge of Islam generally or the Quran in particular. The reason could be traced to the followings:

1. We have observed the misconception and misapplication because the children are relocating to places without proper care and sponsorship. They’ve become a nuisance to society.

2. The reason for the migration is that it is not conducive due to oppression. Whether one is oppressed or violent against people seeking Islamic knowledge cannot be equated to such oppression or violence.

3. Children are moved from where the knowledge is available without care or sponsorship, e.g. moving children from Kano to Kaduna instead of remaining with their parents in Kano, where they can have proper care and support. This results in the children begging on the street for sustenance.

4. There are instances where the children are even moved from where the knowledge is available, and the environment is conducive to where the command is not open, e.g., children being moved from Kano to Abuja.

THE IMPLICATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE AL-MAJIRI SYSTEM NIGERIA.

The following are some of the apparent implications of the Almajiri system in Nigeria.

1. The children become vulnerable to health hazards regarding their food and clothes; in most cases, some of these children walk barefoot.

– The food they eat: In most cases, these foods are remnants, and the actual eaters are unknown how the food was cooked and kept.

– The clothes they wear: We often see these children wearing the same cloth for up to a week or more without washing them.

This can lead them to develop skin problems due to accumulated germs.

– Walking barefoot: Some of these children walk barefoot. As a result, it leads to them contracting fungal infections on the nails (Onychomycosis) or the skin of the feet (Tinea pedis), better known as athlete’s foot.

2. They tend to be influenced negatively in terms of behaviour, e.g. They become exposed to drugs, i.e., taking drugs.

There’s a high level of theft mainly carried out by these children, e.g. snatching people’s items on the road when they get the chance.

3. These children will grow into adulthood as lazy citizens who depend solely on what people give or forcefully take away from people for survival.

 In today’s society, mainly in Northern Nigeria, children living with their parents sometimes disguise themselves as Almajiris just to get free money and food from people. These children have become so lazy that they don’t want to work; they prefer to go out and beg.

It’s important to note that this is due to some parents not taking responsibility for their children. 

A CALL FOR ACTION

For a better society, it is high time the government at all levels came in and ensured that these children are taken off the street to ensure that these children don’t become a threat to society and its people.

WAY FORWARD

The government cannot do that alone to ensure that these children are taken off the streets.

A collaboration between Government at all levels, Non-governmental organisations, Islamic religious leaders and Traditional Rulers.

Religious leaders: Religious leaders here can ensure the actual concept of the word is correctly explained to their followers as well as the need for these children to be taken off the streets through enlightening the general public about the negative consequences and acts of sins that are incurred as a result of the misapplication and the need to bring lasting solutions to it, at this moment working together to ensure that the real thing is established and the actual aim achieved.

The religious leaders are responsible for enlightening the Quranic teachers of these Almajiris on the danger of allowing the children to flood the streets begging for food.

The religious leaders also have to mediate between the Quranic teachers and wealthy Muslims to educate the rich Muslims on the need for charitable work to feed these Almajiris. They are also responsible for alerting the government through the Ministry of Youth and Development on the need to aid these Almajiri institutions and their Quranic teachers because that’s part of the government’s social responsibility instead of letting them become a menace to society. 

Traditional Rulers: Traditional rulers here are the closest people to this institution. They can physically mediate between the Almajiri institution and the government. They can ensure no child is found roaming about through their local security outfit. They can quickly investigate where the children came from, who the parents are, and so on since we now have parents who no longer take responsibility for their children.

Non-governmental organisation: The non-governmental organisation here can assist through some charitable work. i.e. distribution of food and other relevant materials.

Government: The federal government’s role in combating this menace cannot be overemphasised. The government here can put laws in place to ensure that no child is roaming the street as an Almajiri. The government can help shelter these children, i.e., just as we have government orphanages, we can adopt the same method and other assistance through collaboration with religious leaders, Traditional rulers and non-governmental organisations.

Above all, agitation for eradicating the Almajiri institution won’t be right, but a reformation.

And I hope this gets to the appropriate authority!

Aisha Yahya Ibrahim  wrote via ibrahimaishat432@gmail.com.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, denied entrance to members of staff of the Government House over lateness to work on Thursday. 

The governor drove to the Government House at about 8:30 to the reality that most of the staff were not in their offices and duty posts. 

According to reports, the governor only met cleaners and a nurse at the Government House Clinic. Consequent to the development, he ordered the security to lock up the gate and not allow entrance to anyone.

Speaking on the decision, the governor explained that “This is not a matter of joke.

 “What is expected from any serious government is to ensure timely payment of workers’ salary.

 “When I came in, I paid two months’ salaries within three weeks.

 “That is why I drove myself to the office because my driver did not come in time.

 “But I will not tell you my next line of action because you, too, came late (referring to the interviewers),” he said.

 The governor added that “I promised the people of Sokoto State that I would not betray their trust nor allow any public officers to do so.

 “You either work or return our money. You cannot collect our money without justifying it,”

By Muhammadu Sabiu
 
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) President Nasser Al Khelaifi has once again expressed his firm stance on the future of star player Kylian Mbappé, stating that the young forward must make his decision within the next week or two. 
 
In an interview with Le Parisien, Al Khelaifi emphasised that this deadline marks the limit for Mbappé to make his final decision regarding a new contract with the club.
 
Al Khelaifi made it clear that if Mbappé does not wish to sign a new deal, the door is open for a potential departure. 
 
The PSG president asserted that no individual, not even a player of Mbappé’s stature, is bigger than the club itself, highlighting the importance of the collective over any individual.
 
The PSG president expressed his disappointment and shock at the situation, revealing that there had been a verbal agreement between the club and Mbappé. Al Khelaifi stated that Mbappé had confirmed this agreement, which is why the recent turn of events has left him disillusioned.

By Adnan Abdullahi Adam

Even before his swearing-in as Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf had issued a public warning that any state government land or property awarded by former Governor Ganduje’s administration to any private individuals would be revoked and demolished and reverted as own state property.  Soon after his swearing-in, the execution of the Governor’s exclusive order started. Heavy-duty bulldozers were deployed near Kano Race Course and Daula Hotel at midnight. Soon, the new buildings developed by Ganduje were raised down into piles of rubble.

 At the speed of light, pictures and video clips filtered on social media platforms carrying the demolishing scene instantly became a trending topic. And the out of the blue, just before dawn, youths rushed to the scene “looting”, carrying away everything valuable that may be sold for reuse or recycling. It is like a free for all; a hundred youths went out scampering and carting away so-called “Booty” from roofing sheets, doors, iron rods, and wood, among other things of valuable importance.

Similarly, the next day multiple shops building outside the parameters of historic Old Eid Ground, along IBB Way, were demolished. Again, hundreds of youths went out pillaging and carting away people’s valuable goods and properties. Likewise, rumours spread about the following line of demolishing.  In anticipation, some youths converged and burst into The Triumph Newspapers Publishing House Building and carted away doors, windows, iron rods, and other expensive building materials.

Before this “looting” by the youths, there were many outcries across the residents of Kano about the rising crimes of phone snatching in Kano. The city is becoming dangerous, primarily by night; it is impossible to walk across busy streets carrying your smartphone freely. This may amount to losing one’s life. Several disturbing stories from media houses reported mobs carrying dangerous weapons and robbing unsuspecting victims of their phones and valuable goods. If he plays a hero or tries to resist, they attack him with knives and pointed steel objects. In many cases, the victim is killed or sustained life-threatening injuries.  

Hardly a week goes by without the PRO of Nigeria Police Force, Abdullahi Musa Haruna Kiyawa, parades apprehended suspects of various crimes from stealing cars or motorcycles, phones robbery, killings, homicide, clashes between thugs, drug peddling and addiction, among others. Recently, the spate of rising crimes perpetrated by some harmful youth elements has changed the tranquil city of Kano, the second biggest commercial city in Nigeria.

Worried and disturbed by the incessant phone-snatching crimes, some Kano residents call for the death sentence to be meted out to the culprits of this capital punishment, including a summary death sentence on the spot; some even justified a jungle justice on phone snatchers.

Firstly, we must constantly remind ourselves that youths are the backbone of society. If they are empowered, guided, educated and equipped with in-demand skills, they will develop their community and make it a good place to live. Likewise, society will fail if society neglects its youth’s potential resources, both male and female. Therefore, youths are like a double-edged sword to serve as an ingredient of potential development or a recipe for impending great disaster.

Secondly, we should not just look for the outward behaviour of youths but also its deep causative agents. There are immediate and remote causes of this ever-increasing crime rate among the youth. We must dig deep to know why things have become how they are. In single shot execution of criminals cannot blot out crimes in society. There is the law of cause and effect. Youth must be redirected, guided, and oriented toward achieving a meaningful and productive life. 

They say, “Satan finds some mischief still for the idle hands”. Something must be found to fill the void of the prime time of the youths. Youths must be made to know how to learn. They must be educated and learn positive thinking, which will birth positive action. It is only when a person knows better that they can do better.

Thirdly, elders and parents must set a good example for the younger ones. Children learn from imitation rather than just verbal admonishing. Children are brilliant. They do not listen to what their parents say but copy from their habits and patterns. If you want your children to tell the truth, start by telling the truth yourself in your words and action. Only after you earn respect from your children, you may likely emulate them. In the same analogy, if a politician tries to get power by hiring youth thugs giving them drugs and arms to attack opponents or buying them phones to bully his political opponent on social media, he inevitably has set a negative pattern.

Fourthly, no society would know peace if drugs could be bought and sold cheaply and easily like pure water. There is a correlation between the availability of drugs and rising crimes. Many heinous were traced to be committed under the potent influence of drugs. And among all Godly creations, thinking and reasoning are the qualities of only human beings; if a man loses his human sense, he becomes a wild beast. So to all fight crimes, first and famous you must fight drugs. 

In addition, media has a profound influence, especially television, smartphones, and computers. The Russian Communist leader, Joseph Stalin, called TV “The “greatest propaganda machine to be invented”. It can retain attention and indoctrinate a person or even an entire community. As we lack reading culture, we consume and learn from TV content more than radio, newspapers, and magazines. Most films and music videos our youths watch nowadays glorify thug life, drugs and sex. It has brainwashed our youths to think of thuggery, drug taking and having extra-marital sex as the best thing to do on earth. So to stamp out social evils and every form of crime, including phone snatching, parents should guide children to watch only educational programs and other non-toxic entertainment programs. 

Lastly, our first line of action, if we want to stamp out the menace of crimes, phone snatching and many social vices in Kano and elsewhere, we must trace the root cause. Capital punishment, jungle justice or summary execution is not enough to break the jinx of the rising crime rate. It is like a saying,” so much to be done, but so little is done”. So also, it would not yield the desired outcome of mitigating crimes among youths. If not, our action will become like a proverbial Hausa saying of killing a snake without cutting its poisonous head. 

Adnan Abdullahi Wrotes From Kano Ungogo via adnanadam37@gmail.com.

By Garba Sidi

In local governance, effective leadership is often characterised by innovative approaches to tackling communities’ diverse challenges. One such exemplary leader is Honourable Bala Umar, the Chairman of Hadejia Local Government. Under his visionary leadership, Hadejia has witnessed remarkable strides in addressing pressing social issues, particularly the plight of female beggars and sex workers, and ensuring equitable access to vital resources like petroleum. This opinion piece aims to shed light on Chairman Umar’s commendable initiatives and their positive impact on the community.

 Female Beggars and Their Children:

Chairman Bala Umar’s approach to addressing the issue of female beggars stands out as a testament to his commitment to uplifting marginalised members of society. Instead of merely dispersing them or turning a blind eye, he has taken a proactive stance by initiating a program that involves repatriating them to their hometowns. This approach recognises the inherent dignity of these individuals and seeks to provide them with opportunities for a better future.

By collaborating with relevant stakeholders, including local authorities and non-governmental organisations, Chairman Umar’s administration facilitates the safe and responsible return of these women and their children to their places of origin. This comprehensive approach includes providing necessary transportation, reintegration support, and access to vocational training and job opportunities. By addressing the root causes of begging, such as poverty and lack of educational opportunities, Chairman Umar empowers these women to build sustainable livelihoods for themselves and their families.

 Issue of Sex Work:

Another noteworthy aspect of Chairman Umar’s tenure is his dedication to addressing the challenges faced by sex workers in Hadejia. Recognising the complexities of this issue, his administration has taken a multifaceted approach. Rather than resorting to punitive measures alone, Chairman Umar prioritises compassion, recognising the need for rehabilitation and reintegration.

Through collaborations with law enforcement agencies and social welfare organisations, the local government implements programs to support sex workers transitioning to alternative livelihoods. These initiatives include skills training, entrepreneurship development, and access to educational opportunities. By offering viable alternatives, Chairman Umar’s administration demonstrates a commitment to addressing the underlying factors contributing to the perpetuation of sex work, such as poverty and limited employment prospects.

Equitable Distribution of Petroleum Resources:

Under Chairman Umar’s leadership, Hadejia Local Government has also witnessed substantial improvements in the distribution of petroleum resources. Recognising the significance of electricity and its impact on the quality of life, the local government prioritises the allocation of petroleum to areas where it is needed most, particularly in quarters with limited access to electricity.

One crucial aspect of this initiative is ensuring that areas reliant on generators to pump water from their reservoirs receive a fair share of petroleum. By addressing this essential need, Chairman Umar’s administration not only improves the living conditions of residents but also demonstrates a commitment to equitable resource distribution. This approach not only enhances the well-being of individuals but also contributes to the overall development and prosperity of the entire community.

Conclusion:

Honourable Bala Umar’s tenure as the Chairman of Hadejia Local Government has been characterised by innovative and compassionate approaches to addressing pressing social challenges. Through his proactive stance on the issues of female beggars, sex workers, and equitable resource distribution, he has demonstrated a commitment to uplifting the most vulnerable members of society.

Garba Sidi can be contacted via sidihadejia@gmail.com.

By Muhammad Abdurrahman

An Islamic human rights group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has faulted the final report of the European Union observer team on Nigeria’s 2023 general election. MURIC described the report as an imperialist agenda.   

The group spoke on Tuesday, 4^th July 2023, through its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

His full statement:

“The Chief Observer of the European Union Election Observer Mission (EU EOM), Barry Andrews, at a news conference in Abuja last week presented its final report on the 2023 general election in Nigeria. The report was an undisguised indictment of Nigeria’s electoral system.

“We are nonplussed by this blatant attempt to push an imperialist agenda down the throat of Nigerians. The report is a premeditated attempt at inciting anarchy in the country with the hope of gaining political and economic influence at the outbreak of commotion.

“The EU EOM final report is the odd one out when juxtaposed with those of other election monitoring groups. We saw nothing close to this in the report of the US-based International Republican Institute (IRI) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI). NDI/IRI came with 40 observers from 20 countries led by Dr. Joyce Banda, former president of Malawi. They did not sow any seed of confusion.

“229 different observer groups deployed 146,913 domestic and international monitors. 33 of these were international observer missions which deployed 2,113 observers and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INED) threw its doors wide open for them.

“Why is the EU EOM report a different cup of tea? Is this group trying to tell the world that the Commonwealth Observer Group led by Thabo Mbeki which also covered the elections is blind? The African Union had its team and so did the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) observer team led by Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan.

“Nigerians should not allow the EU EOM to destabilise the country. Imperialists will never teach you what will benefit your country but what will make you despise it. The aim is divide et impera. MURIC rejects this EU EOM report. It is jaundiced.”

By Muhammadu Sabiu

A German-based Nigerian lecturer at the University of Cologne, Germany, Dr Muhsin Ibrahim, has taken to his social media handles to question some Nigerian governors for donating a huge amount of money to Nigerian pilgrims in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

The Daily Reality understands that some of the governors who made the donations include Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State, Dikko Radda of Katsina State and Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed of Bauchi State.

According to reports, Governor Kabir gave 6,166 Kano pilgrims N65 million; Governor Radda gifted N278 million to Katsina pilgrims, while Governor Bala gave over 300 pilgrims 300 Saudi riyals each.

Questioning the governors’ actions, the lecturer asked what the essence of this is, looking at Nigerians’ critical situation.

His words, in Hausa, and translated into English: “For God’s sake, what is the essence of donating millions of naira to pilgrims by some governors?

“Giving out is good, but is this gift a “priority”, especially at this critical moment people are in? Hmm.”

Nigerians are in a critical situation characterised by the inflation of almost every consumable product nationwide.

Recall that an announcement of fuel subsidy removal by President Bola Tinubu during his inauguration triggered an increase in the prices of petrol by over 100%, leading to a significant increase in transportation fares and the prices of commodities.

By Muhammad Abdurrahman

Pope Francis expressed his strong disapproval of the burning of the Quran, stating that he was both angry and disgusted by the act. He rejected any notion that this action could be considered a form of freedom of speech.

Recently, there was an incident of Quran’s desecration in Sweden where a man burned a copy of the sacred book outside a mosque in the country’s capital city. The Pope has made remarks in response to this event.

On Sunday, 57 Muslim states — under the banner of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation — said that collective measures are needed to prevent acts of desecration of the Quran and that international law should be used to stop religious hatred.

Swedish police had granted Momika a permit in line with free speech protections, but authorities later said they had opened an investigation over “agitation against an ethnic group”, noting that Momika had burnt pages from the Islamic holy book very close to the mosque.

Sweden’s government condemned Momika’s actions on Sunday, calling them “Islamophobic”.

Dear beloved Nigerians,

I pray that this message finds you in the embrace of joy and tranquillity. Today, I humbly beseech your kind hearts to join me in fervent prayer for the esteemed President Bola Ahmad Tinubu (PBAT). Let us come together, enveloped in a sweet, soothing aura of prayer for our beloved leader.

Recently, a poignant incident unfolded during President Tinubu’s visit to France, which has captured our attention. In a video circulating on social media, an enchanting French lady, amidst the ensemble of waiters outside the Presidential Jet, momentarily received an item, surreptitiously placing it tenderly within her pocket. Soon after, she had the extraordinary privilege of shaking hands with our beloved President Tinubu, only to return the item discreetly to the ever-vigilant security personnel.

While the intentions and essence of this encounter remain shrouded in mystery, it is of utmost importance that we, as noble citizens, approach this situation with tenderness and delicacy. Let us refrain from hasty conclusions or harsh judgments. Instead, let our collective energies converge towards a more meaningful, fruitful response.

President Bola Ahmad Tinubu has dedicated his life to the noble cause of public service, exemplifying an unwavering commitment to the growth and prosperity of our beloved nation. He has illuminated our path with hope, championing positive transformation and kindling the fires of inspiration in the hearts of generations of Nigerians. In these trying times, our beloved leader needs our unwavering support and the solace of our heartfelt prayers.

Therefore, I beseech each and every one of you, with the gentlest of requests, to join hands in a tapestry of prayer for President Tinubu’s well-being, wisdom, and divine guidance. Let us fervently implore the heavens for his enduring strength, robust health, and celestial protection as he toils ceaselessly to steer Nigeria towards an even brighter future.

We must always remember that unity stands as our most formidable strength. Regardless of our political affiliations or personal opinions, let us set aside our disparities and unite in a harmonious symphony of solidarity, placing our unyielding trust in the power of prayer. Together, we possess the might to craft an ethereal atmosphere of unwavering support and boundless goodwill, uplifting our cherished President during these trying times.

May our prayers, like the sweetest nectar of a thousand blossoms, serve as a balm for President Bola Ahmad Tinubu’s spirit, reminding him that he is cradled in the loving embrace of the Nigerian people. Let us emanate waves of positive energy, affirming our resolute belief in his visionary leadership.

With hearts overflowing with gratitude for your steadfast devotion and boundless love for our beloved nation, let us remain steadfast in our prayers for the well-being of President Bola Ahmad Tinubu and our great Nigeria.

May divine blessings cascade upon Nigeria abundantly!

With utmost sincerity,

Abdurrazak Muktar Makarfi.