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By Aliyu Nuhu

Can ₦8000 given over a period of 4 months solve poverty or alleviate the sufferings of people imposed by withdrawal of petrol subsidy?

If 12million people are getting the money, what of the remaining 168 million poor Nigerians? What will be the selection criteria. Sometimes you wonder at the quality of the thinking of our leaders.

Who sold this idea to president Tinubu?

To solve poverty you have to create business opportunities and provide loans. That was how China created wealth among its people. Loans were given with defaults in mind on self recognition only. No penalty for delinquency or business failure. Definitely some businesses will fail but many will succeed. China gave tax holidays to business startups and subsidized electricity and wages.

Brazil reduced poverty by reduction of inequality through equitable wealth redistribution programs. It did not only focus on economic growth, but accompanied this growth with active social policies for redistribution. The end results, economic growth led to better living standards for much of the population, through better wages and social transfers. Brazil gave family scholarship, business loans and huge minimum wages.

Egypt has long had a cash transfer/social assistance programme (maash al-daman al-igtimai), a program of the Ministry of Social Solidarity that reaches approximately 1.5 million households unable to work and uncovered by any other social insurance scheme. This mainly includes widows raising children, the elderly and the disabled.

In addition, two new cash transfer programs were launched in 2015. Karama (dignity) which provides an individual monthly allowance of LE320 for the elderly and those with severe disabilities. Takaful (solidarity), a conditional cash transfer program disbursed quarterly, which offers poor families with children who are younger than 18 a monthly allowance of LE325 and additional sums of LE60, LE80 and LE100 per child in primary, secondary or high school respectively, on condition of regular attendance. These programs, launched in early 2015 in some of the poorest villages in Upper Egypt, now reach almost 160,000 beneficiaries, with plans for geographic and quantitative expansion. Unlike Nigeria, the monies were not diverted and it surely reached the intended targets because of government sincerity of purpose.

It is not just about announcing unimplementable programs with no results in sight. Government must think deep and look at what other countries are doing. We cannot reduce poverty while at the same time imposing 7.5% tax on petrol and increasing price of electricity. We cannot end hunger, the bigger factor in poverty while banning importation of food that we don’t produce enough or closing borders. We cannot address inflation when we unleash extortion gangs on the highways collecting bribes from trucks that distribute goods to our cities.

It is as if Tinubu did not understand Nigeria and did not prefer or intend to govern it.

By Bala G. Abubakar 

Pre-historic people used to live by hunting. Clothes were necessary for protecting the body from cold and rain. It is very likely that for clothing, the pre-historic hunter utilised the skins of the animals he killed by converting them into leather. 

Why LEATHER?

The art of converting hides and skins into leather is called TANNING. Tanning is the art by means of which putrefiable animal hides and skins are preserved from decay and converted into an imputrescible substance known as leather. The main characteristic or attribute of leather is COMFORT. Comfort means the leather ‘breezes’; as such, when it is COLD, the leather keeps the body warm; at the same time, when it is HOT, the body is COOL. The skins of large animals are called hides, and small animals are called skins. Hides are large and thicker in substance and heavier in weight than skins.

Animal skin is composed of water, protein, minerals, fats, and carbohydrates. About 80 per cent of dry skin is made of protein. Collagen is the main structural protein that makes leather. Proteins are made up of organic compounds called Amino acids.

Your body needs about 20 different acids to function properly. While all 20 of these are important, only nine are essential. Collagen protein, the main constituent of hides and skins, has only three (3) essential amino acids out of the 20. Notably, the daily requirement of protein containing all the essential amino acids is 90 grams. As outlined, collagen has only three essential amino acids; the six non-essential amino acids, plus other proteins and carbohydrates in the bloodstream, are all converted into glucose. Thus, spiking blood sugar leads to insulin resistance. Insulin resistance happens when the body does not respond appropriately to insulin, leading to high blood sugar. Consequently, the following diseases or ailments are imminent: 

1. Type 2 Diabetes: This is a debilitating disease everyone is conversant with.
2. Metabolic Syndrome: this is the medical term for a combination of diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity. It puts you at a greater risk of coronary heart disease, stroke and other conditions affecting the blood vessels. 
3. Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a health risk. 
4. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a term for a range of conditions caused by a buildup of fat in the liver.
5. Cardiovascular disease is a general term for conditions affecting the heart or blood vessels.
6. Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a hormone imbalance in women. This included insulin. People with PCOS are almost three times more likely to develop cancer.
7. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common dementia. It involves brain parts that control thought, memory, and language.
8. Insulin resistance has no symptoms but is reversible. 

Professor M.K. Yakubu of the Nigerian Institute of Leather and Science Technology (NILEST) disclosed that Nigeria loses about 855 billion Naira in revenue annually from importing cattle hides. The hides are imported from neighbouring countries, including Mali. Others are the Central African Republic, East Africa, and recently, Saudi Arabia. The estimate is about 3 million pieces of which are consumed by Ponmo eaters. Nigeria produces over 7 million cattle hides yearly; 90 per cent are used as a food delicacy, an alternative to proteins. Statistics show that most of the consumers are from the Southwest states of the country. Therefore, the Consumption of Ponmo ultimately has immense adverse effects on the country because of the following:

1. Healthcare: Insulin Resistance may have been the cause of many killer diseases. 
2. Loss of Revenue to the Nigerian government. 
3. The closure of several tanneries processing hides into Side leather in Kano, Maiduguri, and Sokoto has some impact on the governments due to loss of revenue and to workers job-wise.
4. Owing to Insufficient side leathers, many big shoe Companies have closed their plants and shops to relocate elsewhere. A big example is the Bata shoe company. Lennards has recently imported Completely Knocked Down (CKD) parts to assemble shoes.
5. Shoemakers of Aba, Onitsha, Lagos, and Kano use mostly man-made materials, which has no comfort in making shoes.
6. Only 10 per cent of the population of this country uses leather shoes, while the rest use ones with man-made material imported from  China and India. 

To SUM it up, hides and skins from time in memoriam have been used for making shoes and clothing, but not for EATING! 

Bala G. Abubakar is a livestock and leather consultant. He can be contacted via ibro240@yahoo.com.

By Muhammadu Sabiu
 
Juan Cuadrado prepares to undergo medical tests as the latest addition to the Inter squad.
 
Football journalist Fabrizio Romano made a statement about the transfer this morning via his social media handles.
 
The Colombian star is set to join the Italian giants on a one-year deal, with no option for an extended season.
 
Cuadrado’s decision to make the move to Inter comes with its fair share of intrigue. The talented winger turned down a lucrative €8 million salary per season proposal from a club in Saudi Arabia, opting instead for the allure of playing for Inter.
 
Stay tuned for further updates as we await the official confirmation of Juan Cuadrado’s move to Inter Milan.

By Abdurrazak Muktar Makarfi

Common sense, the practical and intuitive understanding that guides our daily lives, is often regarded as an inherent trait. However, the phrase “common sense is not so common” lingers as a lament, suggesting that this attribute is not as prevalent as expected. In this article, we explore the reasons behind the scarcity of common sense in various situations.

One contributing factor to the scarcity of common sense is the existence of cultural variations. Different cultures have distinct norms, values, and expectations, leading to differing interpretations of what constitutes logical or rational behaviour. Consequently, common sense in one culture may be entirely foreign in another.

A lack of relevant experience or exposure also plays a role in the scarcity of common sense. Common sense is often developed through personal experiences, observation, and learning from mistakes. Individuals with limited exposure to certain situations or lacking diverse life experiences may struggle to apply common sense principles effectively.

Human cognition is prone to various biases that can hinder the application of common sense. Cognitive biases are systematic errors in thinking that deviate individuals from rationality. These biases can distort judgment and decision-making processes, making it challenging to apply common sense consistently. For instance, confirmation bias leads individuals to favour information confirming their beliefs, potentially clouding their judgment.

Emotions can significantly impact decision-making, often overriding common sense. Strong emotions such as fear, anger, or love can impair rational thinking and lead individuals to make choices that defy common sense. In these instances, emotional responses take precedence over logical reasoning, resulting in behaviour that may seem irrational to an outsider.

Critical thinking is a fundamental component of common sense. It involves analysing information, evaluating its validity, and making sound judgments based on evidence and logic. However, many educational systems prioritise rote memorisation over fostering critical thinking skills. As a result, individuals may struggle to apply common sense when faced with complex or unfamiliar situations.

The modern world’s complexity and information overload make it increasingly challenging to discern what constitutes common sense. The abundance of conflicting information, rapid technological advancements, and evolving societal norms can create confusion and dilute the clarity of common sense principles. In such an environment, individuals may need help distinguishing between valid common sense and misleading or erroneous advice.

In conclusion, common sense, often considered a natural and universal trait, can be elusive in certain situations due to cultural variations, lack of experience or exposure, cognitive biases, emotional influence, lack of critical thinking skills, and the complexity of the modern world. Recognising these factors helps individuals develop a more nuanced understanding of common sense and strive to enhance their ability to apply it effectively.

Abdurrazak Muktar Makarfi can be contacted via prof4true1@gmail.com.

By Muhammadu Sabiu 

Reports reaching the Daily Reality have indicated that Senator Abdullahi Adamu has resigned as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC). 

According to reports, he tendered his resignation on Sunday night. As of the time of this publication, neither the APC chairman nor the party had officially confirmed the story, and party officials have declined to confirm or refute it. 

However, according to party sources, a press conference is scheduled for Monday at noon. The resignation is anticipated to be made official at that time, and an interim National Chairman will be selected. 

The briefing is anticipated to follow the present meeting of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC). According to Channels TV, Senator Adamu will be thrown out of office through a vote of no confidence, according to some party insider sources, if he does not quit by himself.

By Uzair Adam Imam 

Bayero University, Kano (BUK), in collaboration with the Civil Society Action Coalition for All (CSACEFA), organised a one-day capacity-building training on education budget tracking and analysis.

The event, titled “Education Budget Tracking and Analysis Tools”, took place at the Centre for Gender Studies, Bayero University, on Sunday.

One of the organisers, the President of the Kano State Accountability Forum on Education, Professor Muhammad Bello Shitu, said the purpose of the event was to enlight people on issues related to the education budget.

Professor Shitu stated that their intention was to help “the practitioners and civil society actors to have knowledge and skills of budget analysis as well as budget tracking.”

Also speaking after the event, Dr Auwal Halilu lamented the rising number of out-of-school children in Kano State in recent times.

He stated that “However, with the coming of the new government, which claims to top education on their priority list, we are hopeful that things will change,” he added.

Dr Halilu added that the issue of the rising number of out-of-school children in Kano state, which reached over 1.4 million, is alarming and should be addressed instantly.

The event had converged many educationalists, social and political analysts, as well as civil society activists who came from all walks of Kano to grace the event.

By Muhammadu Sabiu
 
In an official statement released today, Harry Maguire announced that he will no longer serve as the captain of Manchester United. 
 
The decision comes after discussions with manager Erik ten Hag, who informed Maguire of the change. 
 
While personally disappointed, Maguire expressed his commitment to continue giving his all for the team.
 
Maguire took the opportunity to express his gratitude to the passionate Manchester United fans for their unwavering support throughout his tenure as captain. 
 
According to a football journalist, Fabrizio Romano, the defender expressed his gratitude towards Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the Manchester United manager, for initially entrusting him with the captaincy. 
 
Maguire concluded his statement by extending his well wishes to the individual who will assume the role and offering his full support.

By Muhammad Muhammad Khalil

Since Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje’s dollar video surfaced on the internet, I have been keenly pursuing its happenings, from Ganduje’s fierce denial to the latest court order barring his arrest by the Kano Anti-Corruption Agency. I will highlight some critical lessons from this whole saga in this article.

1. Despite the former governor’s persistent efforts to dismiss the clip as bogus and doctored, many people still believe in its authenticity. In many people’s view, and thanks to the video, he is a greedy politician whose craze for money is beyond comparison.

Although Ganduje is ultra-rich, they say, he does not reject a fifty thousand naira kickback. Several stories are widely circulated demonstrating this. This shows us the importance of doing good and avoiding any act that can soil one’s reputation. Ganduje is Khadimul Islam to some people; to many others, he’s a dreadful, unrepentant bribe-taker.

2. The authentic or fabricated videos keep reminding us that what one holds hidden can be brought into the open and even grab the headlines. The fact that we do some terrible and disgusting things in the secrecy of our rooms shouldn’t make us feel we are wise; instead, we should never forget that nothing escapes the sight of Allah. The truth is that we sometimes fear creatures more than we fear the creator.

3. The same Ganduje who defied and has little or no respect for court orders is now desperately struggling to be shielded by the court orders he used to flout in broad daylight. Power is intoxicating.

4. Journalists who have the itch to blow the whistle on people in power should realise the danger of their boldness and prepare for what might trail their decision to speak out against corruption and corrupt politicians. It can cost one his dear life.

I don’t know if President Muhammad Buhari’s administration did anything to protect journalist Jaafar Jaafar from the threat to his life that forced him to seek asylum in the UK. The Buhari Mai Gaskiya claimed to have placed fighting corruption atop his priority. Wonder shall never end.

Muhammad Muhammad Khalil wrote from Kano. He can be reached via muhdmuhdkhalil@gmail.com.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF), has arrested an Anambra lady maltreating her aged mother in a viral video.

The lady identified as Ukamaka Udeugbo, was captured in a video thrashing her naked aged mother repeatedly and throwing buckets of water on her while she wriggled in pain on the ground.

The NPF Spokeperson in Anambra State, Ikenga Tochukwu, confirmed the arrest of the lady to newsmen on Sunday.

Tochukwu disclosed that the suspect kicked and flogged her 75-year-old mother.

He said: “The suspect who flogged the naked aged woman repeatedly and threw buckets of water on her while lying on the floor has been arrested and detained for prosecution.”

He further disclosed in the statement that the arrest of the woman was at the behest of the state Commissioner of Police, Aderemi Adeoye, who has also directed the transfer of the case to the State CID in the public interest.

Additionally, he said the Police Commissioner, has authorized that the aged woman be handed to the Commissioner for Women Affairs for adequate care by the Anambra State government.

He said the suspect would be arraigned in court at the end of the investigation.

As at the time of filling this report, the motive of the woman assaulting her aged mother is not yet known. However, a villager who spoke on ground of anonymity told the Daily Reality that the woman is accusing her aged mother of witchcraft.

By Isma’il Ahmad Misau

The APC-led administration of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmad has a plan of action (prioritized set of goals/agendum) that it determines to accomplish. It was in broad daylight that the President has blended and marketed his manifestos for the election under the banner of ‘Renewed Hope.’ During his campaign, President Tinubu outlined his strategies for building the finer Nigeria of our aspirations in an effort to win over the Nigerian voters. Yes, Nigerians voted for him massively and he won the election because they were supposedly pleased and convinced with his promises to make Nigeria a better place on earth. What follows is history. One month has passed since the reign of the Renewed Hope. What next? I guest, the formation of cabinet.

Nigerians are anxiously awaiting for President Tinubu’s cabinet one month after his inauguration. Nigerians are making predictions about the Ministers from all sides and aspects while taking various factors into account. Top politicians, including past Governors and Senators who are still in office, are vying for ministerial positions. 

Dr. Ali Pate is not on the list of top candidates for the ministerial position in Bauchi State, and no one is counting him. Unexpectedly, Nigerians learned of his resignation from GAVI, where he had been acting as the organization’s Chief Executive Officer until his resignation. He resigned to accept the ministerial office at President Tinubu’s request, which is an interesting aspect of the event. The occurrence that sparked various responses around the world. 

Dr. Ali Pate is a well-known physician, to those who are familiar with him as a stakeholder of global healthcare, his appointment as a Minister is not deserving of media attention. Even if the World Health Assembly, the top body for the world’s healthcare system, were to announce his appointment as it’s Director General or to be the CEO of the World Health Organization, the news would not come as even the slightest surprise because he is already qualified to hold any position that exist in the health sector due to his capacity, ability, capability, and competence.

It is true that whomever understands the way goes first. Dr. Ali Pate has held a variety of government posts throughout his career as a skilled healthcare professional, including Chief Executive Director of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency and state Minister of Health in Nigeria. Prior to his voyage, the National Population Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) was utterly devoid of leadership and the laughing stock of Nigeria’s health industry. The National Programme on Immunization (NPI), which it amalgamated after being founded by Her Excellency, Haj. Maryam Abacha, was in charge of overseeing vaccination campaigns in Nigeria. Nigeria was alone in endangering billions of dollar worth of global polio eradication efforts. He grabbed the opportunity when President Umaru Musa Ƴar’adua (of blessed memory) named him to lead the agency. 

He invited the traditional rulers and integrated them as stakeholders since he is a versed leader. They are closed to the populace and adept at instructing them in a relaxed manner. That was how polio patients were identified and effectively treated. There was not a single index case of polio in Nigeria prior to his resignation.

He completely reinvigorated NPHCDA. It realigned it’s priorities and focus on the tasks it was truly created to complete. In order to combat the threat of unfathomably high maternal mortality rates in Nigeria, the National Population Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) introduced the innovative Midwifery Service Scheme by recruiting retired midwives from all over the nation to support underperforming antenatal clinics nationwide.

He expanded the system’s horizon past the bounds of preexisting structures. New approaches were created and the polio eradication mission was revived. “Nurturing Nigeria to be a nation of healthy people with equitable and affordable access to primary health care through a system that delivers quality, integrated services with the participation of all stakeholders,” was Dr. Ali Pate’s stated objective at the time.

Then-President Goodluck E. Jonathan appointed him as Minister of Health due to his outstanding abilities as a healthcare administrator, visionary, goal-setter, servant leader, and revivalist. He used his wealth and extensive knowledge to influence the system. 

In his capacity as the Minister of Health at the time, Dr. Ali Pate set the following core goals for himself to pursue: enhancing the provision of essential services at the front lines; focusing on the prevention agenda through immunization; health education; concentrating on clinical governance and raising the standard of care in the Nigerian health sector; and, finally, maximizing the potential of market forces to encourage innovation and advancements in the health sector. He started a new project after establishing the aforementioned goals, which was to save one million Nigerian lives by 2015.

For the second time in Nigerian history, Dr. Ali Pate resigned from his position as Minister with honor because he is a man of real values. The decision was due to some inconsistencies. He took the job of Professor of Public Health at Duke University.

Dr. Ali Pate worked for many international organizations at numerous capacities, including Senior Health Specialist and Human Development Sector Coordinator for the East Asia/Pacific Region, Senior Health Specialist for the African Region. He simultaneously held two distinct Executive Director positions of;  Director for Health, Nutrition, and Population, and Director of the Global Financing Facility for Women, Children, and Adolescents (GFF) at the World Bank Group. He also oversaw the distribution of USD 18 million in financial assistance across the globe to mitigate the effects of Covid-19. 

There were 304 applicants for the position of CEO of GAVI from multifarious and terrestrial breedings. Only three of them advanced to the last round. Fortunately, Dr. Ali Pate prevailed over the two other candidates. He was the only individual in the world who was black, African and from Nigeria, who remained from the start of the exercise to it’s conclusion. All preparations were done for his formal inauguration on 3rd August 2023.

Now that the Nigerian healthcare system has failed as a result of weak governance, lack of coordination, subpar health facilities, lack of human resources, inadequate finance and corruption, the President must appoint someone with foresight and focus who has knowledge of the Nigerian and international healthcare systems in order to reconstruct the system by addressing all these pressing artificial challenges.

Dr. Ali Pate is the only black person with overall features, virtues and reputations that would match the assignment of the Renewed Hope healthcare agenda, which focused on human resources, brain drain, health tourism, infrastructure, universal health care and health financing. This is true not only in Nigeria or Africa, but also globally.

Dr. Ali Pate, an astute visionary administrator and experienced physician who changed the global narratives of healthcare and made his marks as an administrative paterfamilias with uncommon zeal, will be in charge of managing Nigeria’s healthcare. Additionally, Nigeria is governed by President Bola Ahmad Tinubu, a full-fledged democrat whose actions were strategic and always calculated to produce results. Renewed Hope is doable if Dr. Ali Pate’s preferences are shared. 

President Bola Tinubu’s expression of interest to collaborate with individuals like Dr. Ali Pate demonstrated his willingness to address the problems plaguing Nigeria.

In conclusion, Dr. Ali Pate will do us a huge favor if he gives up his next position, the CEO of GAVI where he will bring home the groceries of $700,000, or 525 million Nigerian naira, to take a political seat with a salary of 2m, including allowances and everything, 60 million annually. This singular act demonstrates his patriotism and willingness to die for his nation. Behold, Dr. Ali Pate is among the greatest assets to Nigeria.

May Bola Ahmad Tinubu be successful. May Allah, the Almighty grant us Dr. Ali Pate as the Nigerian Health Minister, may He lead, strengthen, assist and uphold him to effectively implement the Renewed Hope agenda.

Isma’il Ahmad Misau: writes from Misau College of Health Science and Technology (MICOHEST).