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By Ishaka Mohammed

While some people are after the quality of leadership, others are primarily concerned about the identities or affliliations of the people in positions of authority. Anyway, democracy gives us the chance to participate in the process of choosing our leaders. The responsibility of the electoral body, therefore, is to ensure free, fair and credible elections. But can this body be graded excellent by all the electorate or citizens?

The answer is no. It’s impossible for an agency like the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), to avoid fierce criticisms. Provided some candidates lose elections, issues must be raised against the commission. However, this body can reduce doubts to the bare minimum if it scores high in terms of transparency. Sadly, it usually scores low in this aspect. 

INEC has rescheduled the governorship and state assembly elections to March 18, as against the initial date: March 11, 2023. That’s just a week difference. This decision comes with diverse consequences, but my main focus is on how it affects the suffering inflicted by the so-called cashless policy.

The Supreme Court of Nigeria ruled on Friday, March 3, 2023 that the old naira notes (N200, N500 and N1,000) remain legal tender until December 31, 2023. Many Nigerians celebrated the pronouncement, but I was unsure if President Buhari and the Central Bank of Nigeria would honour the ruling. Expectedly, it’s been almost a week since the judgment, but neither of the two has issued any statement about it. However, there’s been a sense of relief as many banks are reportedly paying and accepting the old notes.

As for the President and the CBN, I expected them to say something, maybe a few days after the governorship and state assembly elections, as they might consider the scarcity of cash as an effective measure against vote-buying. So, I was counting down to the end of our suffering—our struggle for cash—when INEC scattered my thoughts by rescheduling the elections. With this postponement, we’ll have to endure the suffering a little longer.

This cashless policy introduced by the Federal Government of Nigeria has been disastrous for the the country. Businesses and individuals are facing tough times due to the scarcity of cash in the economy. The stress of queueing at banks and POS shops, more hunger for the majority, transport costs to and from banks, a depressed market for traders (particularly those running small-scale businesses dealing in perishable goods), difficult in commuting to workplaces or schools, etc. — these are just a few of what Nigerians are enduring.

While I was preparing to go to the bank a few weeks ago, an elderly neighbour transferred N5,000 to my account to help her withdraw. It would been easier for some of us (Jaiz Bank customers) until that time. I went to the bank, fully prepared for long queues, but there was no cash. The woman’s money remained in my account for a few more days until one afternoon, when she called me on the phone (while I was at work) to send it back to her. She’d seen a POS attendant somewhere with some cash. She quickly sent her daughter home to get her debit card, but within a few minutes, the POS operator exhausted the cash by serving other customers in the queue. He charged N200 for every N1,000 withdrawn, yet the queue was long. The woman regretted leaving her card at home; she needed money to cook for her children. Before that time, she had, on two or three occasions, gone to queue at banks as early as 5 a.m. 

Talking about businesses, although some business owners have started acquiring POS machines and accepting bank transfers, bad network remains an obstacle. Besides, most business owners can’t afford such because of many reasons, including illiteracy and the smallness of their business scales. These are enough proof that Nigeria has yet to be ready for the cashless policy.

I can say that with the presence of digital financial institutions like Opay and PalmPay, multiple debit cards, and my little exposure due to education, I’m better off than millions of Nigerians in terms of the capacity to cope with the scarcity of cash in the country. Despite my obvious advantages, when a student of mine gave me N300 to buy a book for her a few days ago, I kept the cash in my pocket and transferred the same value to the bookseller. Yes, I needed the cash to buy items like onions, tomatoes, etc.

Back to the rescheduling of the elections, I don’t know if I’m being somewhat pessimistic, but this is just what I think. Neither President Buhari nor Godwin Emefiele may say anything about the Supreme Court ruling until after the governorship and state assembly elections. As a result, the postponement of these elections means that we may have to endure the suffering for another couple of days, say 11 or even more.

Ishaka Mohammed wrote from Kaduna State. He can be contacted via ishakamohammed39@gmail.com.

By Khadijah Tijani

Today is #InternationalWomensDay so I thought I should write about a not-so-popular topic.

This is a reality that many Muslim female physicians, including myself, face everyday, but people don’t seem ready for the conversation. When we try to bring up the topic, the same people who call themselves advocates of equity, justice and inclusion would only pay lip service to the issue and nothing is done about it eventually.

These biases are often rooted in stereotypes and misconceptions about Islam and Muslim women. For example, people believe that “All Muslim women are oppressed or subservient to men and therefore, therefore, they don’t belong in a prestigious profession like medicine.”

This is nothing but fallacy. The opposite is, in fact, the case. We have a long record of historical Muslim women who have excelled in the health field, even before the Western world started allowing women to learn about healthcare and medicine. The Prophet himself (peace be upon him) permitted women to be involved in healthcare. Neither the fathers nor the husbands of these women had any objections. We had women like Rufaydah Al-Aslamiyyah and Nusaybah bint Ka’ab who followed the early Muslims to the battlefield and provided care for the wounded soldiers.

Muslim women are encouraged to pursue careers like medicine because it fits our feminine nature. We are empathetic and resilient. We have seen a lot of young muslim women graduating from medical schools with excellent performance. We don’t want to waste those brains, do we? We want them to be helpful to the community and to the world at large.

These biases can manifest in several ways, such as assumptions that Muslim women cannot make decisions for themselves or that they cannot effectively communicate with male patients or colleagues or that they end up not practising medicine after all the educational investment. Muslim women are just like any other human being. Allāh has given us the ability to think critically and make decisions that can lead to the preservation of lives and limbs. We may have some limitations and boundaries, but nothing stops us from saving lives.

According to Khan et al. (2022) “gendered Islamophobia is prevalent in Canada and is premised on the stereotype that Muslim women are powerless victims of their religious tradition. Visibly identifiable Muslim women in health care professions are affected by gendered Islamophobia in the form of exclusion and discrimination, which can result in lack of safety, fear, decreased job satisfaction and burnout”. (Culled from Canadian Medical Association Journal).

Muslim women in medicine also face discrimination or stereotyping based on their appearance or religious practices. For example, a Muslim woman who wears a hijab may be perceived as less professional, or may face challenges in finding work or career advancement opportunities. Many have been forced to change the way they wear their hijabs, or even, remove it altogether!

Some patients or colleagues may have negative attitudes towards Muslim women who pray during work hours. This often leads to overt bullying and hurtful comments. While I was working in a particular hospital in Nigeria many years ago, it was hard for me to boldly take an excuse from my seniors when it was time for prayers. I had to sneak out and ask a fellow junior doctor to cover for me. In contrast, when I was in Saudi Arabia, prayer times were respected and each medical employee was allowed, and even encouraged, to pray at the right time.

Another common bias against Muslim women in medicine is the assumption that they are not proficient in English or that they are not familiar with Western medical practices. This happens when women from African and Asian countries travel to the West for further training. Muslim female physicians are often overlooked for certain positions or not being taken seriously in their work, unless and until we prove our worth beyond reasonable doubt.

These biases can have significant negative impacts on the careers and lives of Muslim women in medicine. They can lead to loss of opportunities, increased stress and burnout, feelings of isolation and exclusion, and finally, total loss of interest in the profession. These things shouldn’t be happening to us, considering the need for female doctors in the Muslim community. We need more female gynaecologists to take care of our women, but the journey is riddled with these biases we’re talking about.

You may begin to wonder…”but there are still many Muslim women doing just fine in their profession”. The truth behind their success is hidden under the sea like an iceberg. They won’t tell you how they had to reduce their hijab to a certain length so that they won’t be seen as extremists. They won’t tell you how they missed salah because the environment was not fit for praying. They won’t tell you how their marriage crashed (or almost crashed) because of an unsupportive spouse. They may also not tell you how they constantly regret the moments they were not available when their children needed them most.

It is important for the medical community to actively work towards addressing and dismantling biases against Muslim women in medicine. This can involve education and awareness training for medical professionals and staff, creating more inclusive workplace policies, and actively recruiting and promoting Muslim women in medicine.

Khan et al. (2022) opine that “Education about Islamophobia and gendered Islamophobia should be incorporated within existing anti oppression and transformative learning-teaching practices in medical education. Research and stronger institutional policies and practices are needed to mitigate the harmful impact of gendered Islamophobia on Muslim women in medical spaces.”

In conclusion, discrimination against Muslim female medical professionals is a real problem affecting Muslim communities in many parts of the world. Not all of us will be able to relocate to Islamic countries. Some of us may have to stay in our home countries or travel to the West to gain more knowledge and expertise. By addressing these biases, we can create a more equitable and just environment for all medical professionals, irrespective of religion, gender, or cultural background.

Khadijah Tijani is a medical doctor. She writes from London, Ontario and can be reached through askdoctorkt@gmail.com or @AskDoctorKT.

By Khadija Muhammad 

A young man from Jigawa state has embarked on backward trekking from Gwaram in Jigawa State to Sumaila town in Kano state, to celebrate the election victory of Honorable Kawu Sumaila. 

The young man whom Kawu Sumaila met on the road explained that he was doing this backward trekking because almost every style of trekking has already been done, so he decided to do his own.  

Even though Sumaila asked him to go back home since they met on the road, the young man insisted that he would not go back, because he had sworn to do it. 

On arriving, the senator gave him a token, and he promised him a slot to go on Hajj to Makkah, because of this manly effort that he took upon himself to travel a long in a backward manner to congratulate the senator.  

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

Professor Ibrahim Adamu Yakasai, Returning Officer of the Tudun Wada/ Doguwa House of Representatives Election, has admitted to declaring the election results under duress. 

The Professor made this known in a voluntary statement dated February 28, 2023.

According to Professor Yakasai, his life and that of other INEC officials in his company were threatened, and he was afraid he would lose his life. He added that the collation area was completely under siege by hoodlums, and he was ordered to declare the results within an hour. 

“I served as the Returning Officer for the 2023 Tudun Wada/ Doguwa House of Representatives Election, whose Result was declared by me on the 26th February, 2023. However, I will want to testify that the declaration I made was under duress for fear of losing my life and other INEC officials who were with me. ” He wrote in the statement.

He further stated that the situation made it impossible for him to act in accordance with the extant provisions of the Electoral Act.

On his reason for the disclosure, Professor Yakasai said he is testifying with the hope that necessary actions be taken to remedy the situation. However, Professor Yakasai refused to disclose whose bidding he was coerced to carry out then.

INEC has already declined to issue a Certificate of Return to Mr Doguwa, the Majority Leader at the outgoing National Assembly, for the same reason. A court in Kano granted the embattled lawmaker bail after being arrested for murder charges last week.

By Abdul Mutallib Muktar

Democracy can be likened to a human being in terms of characteristics and functions. A person is rendered incapacitated by the amputation of his limbs or by the removal of his eyes or ears. Using violence, buying votes, and bribing electoral officers and security personnel to rig elections not only render the democracy incapacitated but also lifeless. An election is the most sacred aspect of democracy that must be protected against any form of interference from within or outside the commission responsible for conducting elections, state government, national government or any foreign state.

It is worrisome how Kano State, one of the fast-developing and economically vibrant states in Northern Nigeria, is facing severe attacks from the antagonists of democracy. It could be recalled how the 2019 Governorship Election in the state was characterised by violence, intimidation, disenfranchisement, arson, and killing and injuring of voters. This prompted my article “Democracy Bleeds in Kano”, published in Daily Trust on 4th October 2019. Thanks to CP Wakil (nicknamed Singham) for standing firmly in controlling the terrible political tragedy of that year. Sadly, in the Presidential and National Assembly Elections held on 25th February 2023, a similar premeditated political tragedy occurred in some Local Government Areas of Kano State. A member representing Doguwa/Tudun Wada in the Green Chamber, Ado Alhassan Doguwa, allegedly shot innocent citizens and ordered his thugs to set on fire a building with people inside.

The Governorship Election coming on 11th March 2023 is feared to be unfree from grave challenges, especially as many issues have continued to unfold since last week. Some of these issues are mentioned below. A few days ago, the Nigerian Police Force, State Headquarters, Bompai, Kano State, released a piece of information about how it discovered a plot by some politicians to disrupt the forthcoming election using political thugs. There is a serious allegation against some politicians hiring thugs even from outside Kano to disrupt the electoral process. One may find it difficult to disagree with the allegation given the recent happenings in the state’s political space. Two Local Governments Areas that experienced this violence last week are Tudun Wada and Takai.

What raises more questions about the 11th March Election are the movements of some trucks seen across the state in the last few days, carrying a lot of food commodities and clothing materials suspected to be distributed to the masses in exchange for their votes. As alleged by some observers, those food commodities and clothing materials had not been seen during the Covid-19 predicament—a time when people direly needed assistance. Generally, Nigeria is battling abject poverty, sending many people hungry. As such, the unfortunate situation presents a golden opportunity for politicians. Vote buying, either by money or offer of any commodity, is a severe attack on democracy that any well-meaning citizen cannot oversee.

Some political parties, especially from the opposition, have cried out a plot by the ruling party in the state to buy the conscience of INEC’s staff and the security personnel, which, if found to be true, will be highly condemnable, immoral and illegal.

I am, therefore, using this opportunity to call on the Federal Government, the Nigeria Police Force, the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Kano State Government to rise to the occasion and prevent the occurrence of the 2019 political tragedy in Kano and also investigate the above allegations with a view of ensuring a free and fair election. While human beings can cheat one another, they can never cheat history.

I am also calling domestic and international election observers to be extra observant in the Kano 11th March election. Political parties and the media have a massive role in creating awareness and enlightening the masses, especially in rural areas, about the catastrophic consequences of vote buying. Security personnel and INEC’s staff should remember that there is a life after death and that one must reap what he sowed. The masses must display boldness throughout the stages of the election. They must quickly report suspicious activities by anyone to the appropriate authority. I pray that Kano State and Nigeria will have peaceful, free, and fair elections on 11th March 2023.

Abdul Mutallib Muktar can be reached via abdulmutallib.muktar@gmail.com.

By Kabir Musa Ringim

Immediately after the recently concluded presidential and national assembly elections on February 25th, the turn of events in the Jigawa gubernatorial race between the ruling APC and the main opposition PDP turned sour. The APC gubernatorial candidate, Mallam Umar Namadi, is from Hadejia Emirate, while his PDP counterpart, Mustapha Sule Lamido, is from Dutse Emirate.

The results of the elections, as declared by INEC, show that PDP won largely in Dutse, and APC won largely in Hadejia, and this results in the campaign of calumny between both parties. Social media, especially Facebook, was awash with propaganda from warring factions. This changes the narrative from a clean campaign to a battle of supremacy between the two Emirates on whose son will be elected as governor in this Saturday’s election.

Jigawa state was created in 1991 with the capital in Dutse and three senatorial zones of Jigawa North East (Hadejia Emirate), Jigawa North West (Gumel, Kazaure and Ringim Emirates) and Jigawa South West (Dutse Emirate). Since the creation of the state, it was governed by four civilian governors, two from my zone, Jigawa North West, and the other two from Jigawa South West (Dutse), leaving Hadejia Emirate with zero so far, and until now, a son of Hadejia Emirate was never opportune to be the gubernatorial flagbearer of a ruling party or biggest opposition party.

Having a leader from your region, religion, or tribe doesn’t translate to a better life for your people. Take Buhari and the North in his almost 8-year reign, for example. But humans, by nature, will always demand full privileges they are entitled to, as enjoyed by others living in the same territory. Every single one of us wants equity, justice, and fairness in life through equal representation, and that will surely bring a sense of belonging, self-esteem, fulfilment, and pride.

It is heartbreaking to think that you’re being treated like a second-class citizen in our own land, and this is why we have a federal character commission at the federation, and the major political parties introduced zoning for their presidential tickets. It is terrible for some people to assume or feel that having been from a particular region or practising a particular religion, they will never have a chance to be leaders of their country, state or local government. It is in that sense that I am rooting for an Igbo presidency one day, and that is why I am also in support of Hadejia’s call for their son to be the governor of Jigawa. Their grievances are legitimate. Their demand is justifiable.

But as we are in the peak of the political season, the third columnists, proponents of politics with bitterness and purveyors of evil propaganda with the intent to grab power and self-enrich themselves and their families, seized the opportunity to pitch Hadejia against their brothers from Dutse and vice versa. My heart sank when I started seeing the sort of messages being shared from both sides on different social media platforms meant to misinform, disinform and mislead the gullible ones among us.

The messages of hate going around are the worst I have ever seen in my life among fellow Jigawa citizens due to sectionalism. To find myself a respite, I started unfriending and muting several Facebook accounts from both ends until when I started to contemplate quitting the platform altogether for the sake of my mental well-being.

What is happening these days in our dear state is very shameful, to say the least. As adherents of Islam, it is totally against the teachings of our religion. Why the hatred? Where is the love? Where is the peace? Where is the brotherhood? Why all these lies, half-truths and malice? How can one claim that people from a whole Emirate hate the people of his Emirate? How is that even possible, please? Where are our senses of judgment and fairness? What are we going to achieve if our words cause divisions and nurture the seed of corruption and anger among fellow Muslims? Jigawa is the most homogenous state in the country, with over 90 per cent of the population speaking the same language and practising the same faith.

As I have earlier said, I have seen nothing wrong with Hadejia demanding their turn in leading Jigawa, but allowing a few bad politicians in their midst to turn their legitimate demand into a cold war between them and Dutse is very unfortunate and uncivilized. It is also heart-wrenching for the same bad eggs in Dutse to wage a similar war against their counterpart in Hadejia.

I’m from Ringim, but I am supporting APC’s Mallam Umar Namadi not because I am working and living in Hadejia or due to the fact that my biological mother is from Hadejia Emirate, but simply because for me, Umar Namadi (Danmodi) is by far more competent to be our governor than other contestants. Aminu Ibrahim Ringim, from my hometown and who is a father figure to me, is also in the race under NNPP. Likewise, Sule Lamido still remains my mentor, and I once supported his son Mustapha Sule Lamido, due to the former’s numerous achievements as a governor and how he worked tirelessly to unite Jigawa during his leadership.

However, instead of turning their preferred candidates into sectional flagbearers, APC and Danmodi’s fans should have stuck to their clean campaign purely based on the qualities of their candidate. They should have to keep selling the character and capacity of Danmodi and the required experience and exposure he possessed to lead Jigawa to the promised land. The same applies to the supporters of Mustapha Sule Lamido and PDP. We should all clean our hearts and rid them of hatred, anger, envy, and jealousy. Our life on this earth is very limited. We should desist from ruining our hereafter just to massage our egos and enjoy the illusions of this fake world full of fake pleasures.

The war of words and the campaign of calumny, fake messages of hatred, and intended character assassination of fellow Jigawa people from other zones will do us more harm than we have ever imagined. Almost all of us have friends and family from anywhere across the state. We work and live anywhere we wish in the state without facing any form of harassment, intimidation or injustice merely for being settlers. I was born and raised in Ringim, and I did my secondary school in Gumel, I worked in Legal Ringim and served a brief stint in Jigawa State Polytechnic Dutse, where I bought a house before transferring my services to Binyaminu Usman Polytechnic, Hadejia in 2018. I have said it several times to my close friends, and I will repeat it again that all my major achievements in life were facilitated by individuals from Hadejia, not Ringim.

We should bear in mind that what unites us is far greater than what divides us. We are united in faith, language, in culture. We are more alike than unlike; our food, dress and ceremonies cannot be differentiated clearly. We should never let the bad politicians separate us and destroy the peaceful atmosphere and harmony we have been enjoying to the envy of other states. We should never let our enemies succeed in their quest and evil plans to reverse the rapid development our state has been witnessing since 2007.

I’m supporting Mallam Umar Namadi based on the reasons I stated above, and I hold no grudge against those supporting Mustapha Sule Lamido of PDP and NNPP’s Mallam Aminu Ringim, provided that their intentions are pure and their reasons are not based on sectionalism and nepotism. We shall remain friends and brothers with all and sundry, and whoever emerges the winner of Saturday’s poll will have my goodwill, support and prayers.

The deeper we reflect on this sad scenario which is heading for a destructive crescendo, the more we understand that justice and equity are very important for our peaceful coexistence, and this cold war is all politics and a very bad one for that matter!

Kabir Musa Ringim is HOD Computer Engineering, Binyaminu Usman Polytechnic Hadejia and can be reached via ringimkabir@bupoly.edu.ng.

By Ibrahym A. El-Caleel

First, I am neither a propagandist nor an apologist of any of the personalities mentioned in this article. I am a Nigerian with keen interest in the Nigeria project.

Gov Nasir El-Rufai is many things. I used to say Governor Hajjaj bn Yusuf Al-Thaqafiy of the Umayyad Dynasty and Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State share some leadership traits. Both of them are efficient leaders who lead with uncommon pragmatism. They set and achieve their goals not minding whose ox is gored in the process. They made stellar achievements that haven’t been recorded by their predecessors. Both Hajjaj and El-Rufai are vicious in handling political rivalry. They fight it with mightiness, or what Robert Greene would say; crush your enemy totally. Juxtapose everything that Hajjaj did in Iraq with El-Rufai’s lockdown during Covid; mass sackings or what he calls right-sizing; demolition of houses. How El-Rufai demolished the house of his political rival and a serving senator, Suleiman Othman Hunkuyi is an example of how extreme he can handle political rivalry. So this is a man who you should ordinarily avoid when selecting a wrestling mate in the political ring. But somehow, the Kaduna Christian South establishment seemed not to have studied the personality close enough.

Their melodrama was so graphical that they presented the region as a sworn political opposition to El-Rufai. From 2015-2019, El-Rufai’s deputy, the Late Arc Barnabas Bala Bantex was from that region and a Christian himself. They have been friends from their university days and worked amicably as leaders of Kaduna State. El-Rufai would travel and give Bantex the acting governor capacity. But that hasn’t fetch El-Rufai any political capital from the region where his deputy hails from. In 2019, Bantex decided to contest for a senatorial seat in the same Kaduna Christian South but he failed the election. Thanks or no thanks to his dining with a man whose politics they are not in good terms with. On his part, El-Rufai felt he has nothing to gain politically from a people who abhor his politics. So, he decided to pick a Muslim running mate from the minority in that region. He was willing to test the depth of the river with both feet. He must be a daring researcher to experiment a Muslim-Muslim ticket in Kaduna State. No one has tried it since the return of democracy in 1999. He took the calculated risk and it eventually worked. Today, anyone can try it knowing that it flies to victory.

Kaduna State looks like Plateau State from the demographics. El-Rufai must have borrowed the template from neighbouring Plateau State, which despite having a significant Muslim population, have always fielded a Christian-Christian ticket which has always succeeded. It has never been a Christian-Muslim ticket in Plateau. We underestimate these politicians, but they are cunning. We waste so much time insulting and criticising them, while they study us carefully. Bravo to them. In this article, let’s review how they successfully study and beat the intellect of the proletariat. When did the choice of a running mate began to matter?

Five Nigerian heads of state have died while in office. Three were killed in bloody coups, while only two died from natural causes to pass the leadership mantle to their deputies. Few civilian governors died in office to give way to their deputies. In conclusion, most elected leaders complete their tenure. However, there is a developing appetite to discuss the possible death of a president or governor. The main aim is to develop some vibrancy around the offices of Deputy Governor and Vice President; to show that it matters.

These two ”assisting” offices are largely inert. When you occupy either of them, then literally, the only freedom you have is the freedom to choose the type of tea you drink in your office. The president/governor is the man who calls the shots. You don’t get to do much “to your people” unless Oga gives you the go ahead. You will be visibly absent in the news. Indigenes of your village will unconsciously forget that they have their brother in government. I explained this better in the long Hausa article I wrote in defence of VP Atiku who is constantly fired that he hasn’t done anything for the north.

If you ask my view, I would say the Vice President and Deputy Governor positions are ceremonial. Unless you have a boss like President Buhari who will gladly give you the “Acting President” for two months to show your muscle; or you have a boss like Gov El-Rufai who will give you “Acting Governor” position to swing the armchair for 3 weeks. Many ogas never give their deputies any chance to do something tangible. If a deputy is quite ambitious, then his Oga’s men (aka cabal) will easily notice it. They will set him at loggerheads with Oga. He is eyeing your seat! This is how Ogas and their deputies usually start their fight. Go and verify!

How was VP Goodluck Jonathan faring under President Yar’Adua? Was he doing anything spectacular in his native Niger-Delta region? Was Deputy Governor Ramalan Yero even in the mass media while Gov Patrick Yakowa was calling the shots in Kaduna? Deputies are not even visible, talk less of executing anything so serious. VP Yemi Osinbajo is only lucky that President Buhari is a nice Oga. Yemi Osinbajo could even use his ad-hoc “Acting President” muscle to dismiss DG SSS, Lawal Daura. He was given the opportunity as an Acting President to swear-in Justice Walter Onnoghen as Chief Justice of Nigeria after Buhari kept the judge in an acting capacity. Buhari is a soft and simple Oga. No Nigerian Vice President in the last 24 years enjoyed this opportunity and audacity. It was on this basis that I made my case saying VP Atiku was being unfairly flogged over something that was beyond his control. In his case, he was not just ambitious, he was fighting with Oga’s third term agenda. How could Oga give him any breathing space to look politically relevant in his region?

Anyway, back to my main discussion:

Today, these deputy posts have only become a discussion topic because politicians are playing to the gullibility of the fairly-conscious electorate. Religion is serious and appeals to the sensibilities of the average electorate. In a state like Plateau with a very large number of Muslim population, it has always been a Christian-Christian leadership. Currently in Kaduna, APC is hosting a Muslim-Muslim ticket, while PDP is hosting a Muslim-Christian ticket. In Plateau State, both APC and PDP are hosting Christian-Christian tickets. The same faith ticket in Plateau has become a culture in such a way that no one is even talking against it any more. Any major political party that dares host a Muslim deputy governor in Plateau State is already wearing a political disadvantage. Ditto Taraba and Benue States.

El-Rufai and Kaduna APC have understood that a Muslim-Muslim ticket in Kaduna appeals to the majority of the voters in the state as well. It worked perfectly in 2019, this is why the template is re-applied in 2023. The only reason why the success is not guaranteed this time around is because of El-Rufai’s excesses in mass layoffs, demolitions, prolonged lockdown of the major cities and markets during the pandemic and other anti-proletariat actions. This is why some voters are thinking they need to punish El-Rufai by not voting his anointed candidate in the APC. But religion is something we place above everything. When the average voter remembers the Plateau and Taraba scenarios, his mind will draw him closer to vote for the Muslim-Muslim ticket in favour of the APC. Especially since this time around, El-Rufai is not the face on the ticket. Uba Sani is largely seen as generous and will not be as socioeconomically toxic as his friend. This is why Uba Sani has better chances of coasting to victory than Isah Ashiru. 



If the APC makes it to the Kashim Ibrahim House another time, then the PDP might have no choice than to also start adopting a Muslim-Muslim ticket effective 2027. I told you that both APC and PDP are fielding Christian-Christian tickets in neighbouring Plateau State. No political party exists to appeal to your personal religious sentiments. What maters to every political party is to win elections by virtue of what majority of the electorate are okay with. This is why it was laughable watching some Islamic scholars on their pulpits explaining how the Tinubu-Shettima ticket is the next best thing to Islam since Salahuddeen Al-Ayyubiy. It is all politics!

Tinubu is a veteran politician. He knows that picking a northern Christian means he wants the PDP to defeat him as early as 8:00 am on the election day. In your right senses, do you think Tinubu believes that Yakubu Dogara or Babachir Lawal as Christian northerner will earn him the huge political capital laden in the populous Muslim North? It is said that Yoruba Muslims are a minority when you look at the entire population of Southern Nigerian. So Tinubu emerged from the so-called minority there, then he will come to the north and pick a running mate from the Christian minority again? Two minorities on a ticket? Isn’t that a recipe for defeat? This was why he picked Shettima; to tap into the political capital in the Muslim North. Not because he will launch Shari’a in Abuja. If he was that type, he wouldn’t be confidently telling you his wife is Christian. Expectedly, the average Nigerian christian electorate ran away from that ticket as if it was sponsored by ISIS; while the average Nigerian muslim electorate welcomed it as if it was formed by Shehu Usman Danfodio 200 years ago. But it was all politics! Apologies to Simon Kolawole. Tells you that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu knows his onions. A long time ago, even Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has testified that Tinubu is a great politician. 



The same faith ticket will still be a key discussion in the 2027 polls especially if Tinubu is able to get it correctly on either security or economy, or both. These two issues are the main troubles affecting the north at this time. Even if he fails every other thing, but gets these two correctly, then the north will still be so passionate about the Muslim-Muslim ticket again. The average northern electorate will only have second thoughts if he sees the same Buhari poor scorecard is what Tinubu is generating. This is when the opposition parties can have a space to gain some votes, just like we are seeing in Kaduna. Uba Sani’s strongest opponent is not Isah Ashiru. It is Gov Nasir El-Rufai. Had people not felt that El-Rufai mercilessly dealth with them, then Isah Ashiru would have been a walk over for Uba Sani. The mere mention of Muslim-Muslim ticket will command a huge voter turnout, and Uba Sani would not have so much to worry about. Especially since Uba Sani appears to be more qualified and ready for the job than Isah Ashiru.

Same-faith tickets give very little room to discuss what matters in a nation like ours. No time to discuss quality of the candidates and what they have to offer for our myriad of problems. In 2023, Nigeria that used to be richer than Singapore does not have a stable electricity; her universities could be closed for a whole academic session because of striking lecturers; her doctors are leaving its underfunded health sector. Many pressing issues. But politicians are using religion to take away the minds of the suffering electorate from all these pressing needs.

It shall be well, someday!

Ibrahiym A. El-Caleel writes from Zaria, and is reachable via caleel2009@gmail.com

By Aminah M. Abubakar

Sometimes last year, a Nigerian PhD student at Korean University named Abdulqaadir Yusif Maigoro tweeted about his PhD thesis research work. He talked about his findings on the relationship between gut health and autism spectrum conditions. During a presentation at the International Meeting for the Microbiological Society of Korea, Maigoro discussed how gram-negative bacteria endotoxins could travel from the gut to the brain and cause inflammation in people with an autism spectrum disorder.

The research sparked my interest, so I joined the conversation on his Tweet. I asked; if gastrointestinal issues, such as stomach aches, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, and bloating, are commonly seen in individuals with autism and other neuro conditions. It is possible that these issues may be related to the gut-brain connection and the role that the gut plays in regulating the body’s immune response. How close are experts to getting a cure for the gut disease in Autistic individuals?

Abdulqaadir Maigoro (@Abdul_Y_Maigoro) responded that it’s true individuals with Autism condition have gastrointestinal problems, and further research is needed to fully understand the relationship between gut health and neuro conditions by exploring various mechanisms. But it is clear that the gut plays a significant role in overall physical and mental health.

Maigoro’s findings have prompted my interest in getting more information by exploring the connections between gut health and other neurological conditions, such as Autism, Depression, Anxiety, ADHD, Alzheimer’s disease, and Dementia.

Gut health has long been known to be connected to overall physical health, but recent research has also shown a link between the gut and mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. The gut is home to the enteric nervous system, sometimes referred to as the “second brain,” which has a network of nerves, neurons, and neurotransmitters that extend throughout the digestive tract. The enteric nervous system communicates with the brain through the nervous system, hormones, and the immune system. This communication is especially important in regulating the body’s immune response, as 70% of the immune system is focused on the gut.

The gut, or “second brain”, is vital to overall human health and well-being. It breaks down food, absorbs nutrients, and eliminates waste through chemical and mechanical processes. It also has its own nervous system called the enteric nervous system, which is made up of nerves, neurons, and neurotransmitters and extends throughout the digestive tract – from the oesophagus, through the stomach and intestines, and down to the anus. Because it uses the same types of neurons and neurotransmitters as the central nervous system, some experts refer to the enteric nervous system as the “second brain.”

The enteric nervous system communicates with the brain in the head through the nervous system, hormones, and the immune system, and it plays a key role in certain diseases and mental health.

Researchers are beginning to examine the gut in people with conditions such as depression, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, autism, ALS, multiple sclerosis, pain, anxiety, and other neurological disorders. They are also studying the role of the gut in gastrointestinal conditions like ulcers and constipation and how it affects brain function.

The gut is also home to microorganisms that help regulate the body’s immune response, and around 70% of the immune system is focused on the gut to fight off and eliminate foreign invaders. Research on how the gut, or “second brain,” mediates the body’s immune system is exploring ways to expand the treatment of psychiatric and other neurological conditions, including the gut’s nervous system.

Researchers are now exploring various mechanisms in an attempt to find a potential cure for neuro conditions through the gut. The medical breakthrough will surely transform the world and touch the lives of nearly every person on the planet.

Aminah M. Abubakar sent the article via mbubakar.minah@gmail.com. She can also be contacted via her Twitter handle: @MinahMbubakar11.

By Ukasha Rabiu Magama

In preparation ahead for the 11 March 2023 gubernatorial and state House of Assemblies elections and to show their happiness over the victory of Hon. Shehu Buba Umar, Bauchi South Senator-elect, and Hon. Ismail Haruna Dabo, the Representative-elect, Toro federal constituency, the Magama Political Concern Citizens organized a feast in honour of the emerging candidates.

The feast, which took place at the Magama Gumau Central Primary School, was organised under the leadership of Comrade Ahmad Haruna Bamaiyi to celebrate the emerging candidates on their victory as well as pray for them to deliver on their campaign promises.

Bamaiyi said a cow worth N600,000 to enjoy the moment, and the elected representatives were reminded to deliver on their campaign promises, adding that people from different locations were called to enjoy the moment irrespective of religion, ethnicity and political backgrounds.

Highlighting the significance of the feast, comrade Bamaiyi said the victory is from Allah and the massive support offered by the electorates, and therefore, it is good to gather together to eat, drink and thank God the Almighty for the victory of the candidates.

Bamaiyi also called on the attendants to come out en-mass on 11 march 2023 to complete the remaining task waiting for them by voting massively for Air Vice-Marshal Sadiq Baba Abubakar as Bauchi state governor and Hon. Tukur Ibrahim as the lawmaker representing Toro/Jama’a at the State Hous of Assembly.

The feast had in attendance some special dignitaries, among which include; Bashir Musa, the Sarkin Sudan of Toro, Haruna Gidado Tilde, APC local government women leader, youths and women associations, among many others.

By Muhammad Jameel Yusha’u, PhD

On Friday, March 3rd, 2023, I attended two events at the Divinity School. The first was a lecture convened by Professor Ousmane Kane, and the second was a joint symposium called the Zaytuna-Harvard Symposium. These two events shared similarities in that they both aimed to highlight the intellectual heritage of sub-Saharan Africa in various fields of knowledge and the importance of traditional means of knowledge acquisition.

The former was a presentation by Ustadh Umar Sheikh Tahir, the son of a prominent Nigerian scholar Sheikh Tahir Bauchi and a current PhD candidate at Columbia University. His presentation was titled “Rediscovering 18th Century Knowledge Tradition: Alkashinawi’s (d.1742) Intellectual Networks in Bilad Al-Sudan and Hijaz.” The latter was a presentation by Sheikh Hamza Yusuf, President of Zaytuna College, who spoke on “The Arts of Understanding Prerequisites for Unlocking the Islamic Tradition.” Sheikh Hamza Yusuf studied traditionally with scholars in Mauritania, West Africa.

Ustadh Umar presented the story of Muhammad Alkashinawi, a West African scholar from today’s Katsina province in Northern Nigeria. Alkashinawi developed proficiency in Arabic language, logic, mathematics, and jurisprudence in West Africa. When he moved to Hijaz, his scholarship was acknowledged, and he became a respected scholar from whom society was learning. When he died in Egypt, he was buried in the cemetery of scholars. Alkashinawi’s story highlights the journey of a scholar whose intellectual depth was developed in West Africa and whose scholarship transcended geographical boundaries.

The uniqueness of Alkashinawi’s work was not as prominent as it should have been, and Ustadh Umar’s work is more relevant in that he is translating Alkashinawi’s book into English. Interestingly, some of Alkashinawi’s work is only available at Yale University, and his book was not borrowed from the library at Yale for 120 years until Ustadh Umar asked for it.

Sheikh Hamza Yusuf’s presentation highlighted the importance of traditional means of knowledge acquisition and how it translates into scholarship that transcends geographical boundaries. Both presentations mesmerised the audience, providing evidence that knowledge is a human heritage that belongs to those who work to acquire it. It is neither the monopoly of a region, ethnicity, nor race but a heritage that beautifies a society that values it.

During the symposium, I sat among the students of Zaytuna College. One of the students asked me where I was from, and I responded Nigeria. He then introduced me to one of his schoolmates from Texas, who was a descendant of Sheikh Uthman ibn Fodio. I found it interesting how the family of Uthman Dan Fodio crossed the Atlantic and still keeps the story of their genealogy intact.

Takeaway: Knowledge is a human heritage. It belongs to those who work to acquire it.

Muhammad Jameel Yusha’u, PhD, is a candidate for a Mid-Career Master’s in Public Administration at Harvard University, John F Kennedy School of Government. He can be reached via mjyushau@yahoo.com.