National

By Muhammadu Sabiu

Reports coming from the north-central part of Nigeria have indicated that an aircraft belonging to the Nigeria Air Force has crashed in Nigeria State.

The aircraft was confirmed to have crashed on Monday on its way from Kaduna State to Niger State.

The NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, confirmed the incident in a statement.

The statement partly reads, “A Nigerian Air Force MI-171 Helicopter on a casualty evacuation mission crashed today, August 14, 2023, at about 1:00 pm, in Chukuba Village in Niger State. The aircraft had departed Zungeru Primary School en route Kaduna but was later discovered to have crashed near Chukuba Village in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.”

The Daily Reality could not independently reach a Nigerian Air Force official to get more details about the incident as of the time of filing this report.

However, reports suggest that efforts are being made to rescue survivors of the crash.

By Aisar Fagge

There were growing anger and threat between the Niger Republic and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) since the military coup in July that ousted the democratically elected government of Muhammed Bazoum. The ECOWAS, under the chairmanship of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, demanded that the military junta should handover power Bazoum or else face its wrath.

Several media reports indicated that all attempts by the ECOWAS to peacefully restore power to Bazoum had failed, a development that exacerbated the already worse situation. On Saturday, the leaders of the Islamic groups from Nigeria met with the coupists in Niger. In this interview, Professor Salish Shehu, one of the Ulamas, detailed The Daily Reality about the purpose of their visit, how fruitful it was and what they have achieved.

TDR: Prof., can you please detail The Daily Reality about the purpose of your visit to the Niger coupists?

Prof. Salisu Shehu: The purpose of our visit to Niger is very clear. The purpose is for reopening, so to say, the windows of dialogue on AMFAS between ECOWAS, on one hand, and the military junta in Niger. There is an apparent breakdown of communication since the refusal by the junta to receive the former head of state, General Abdussalam Abubakar and his eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto. You know people generally across the two countries are becoming increasingly anxious and are becoming increasingly afraid that violence may breakdown – there is palpable fear, actually. A collection of some Ulama felt that we need to meet the president of Nigeria and discuss this matter with him. And, when we met him, we emphasised the fact that dialogue should be the only thing and dialogue should prevail in this matter and he accepted. We asked him that he should give the chance to the Ulama to play their own role, to contribute to ensuring that dialogue prevails and to ensuring that the crisis is resolved amicably through peaceful means. And, therefore, it was for the purpose of contributing to the promotion of dialogue, contributing towards broadening consultations and engagement, that was actually the reason why we went to Niger and to meet the new military administrators in Niger with the view to engendering a sort of reconciliation process between the two purpose.

TDR: Sir, you said the visit was constituted by the group of some Ulama. Can you please tell us about the members of your entourage?

Prof. Salisu Shehu: The entourage constituted of scholars from different Islamic groups and Islamic sects. That why you can see that all the Islamic groups and organisations were represented in the composition. Beginning from the group of scholars that met with the president, foremost was Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, represented by his eldest son, Ustaz Ibrahim Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau of the Izala group, Sheikh Qarbibullah, the leader of Qadiriyya in the whole of Africa; and then there academics like us and other da’awa wokers, like Professor Mansur Malumfashi, Prof. Mansur Ibrahim Sokoto, Imam Abdurrahman Ahmad; the Chief of Ansaruddin, Sheikh Jalo Jalingo, Sheikh Muhammad Haruna Gombe, Sheikh Yakubu Musa among others. These were also some few government officials that accompanied us.

Sheikh Bala Lau was the one that led us to Niger and he was the leader of team and he was the one that introduced us to the  military leaders. We met the military leaders together with the scholars of the same kind of categories we went in Nigeria. So all the the leaders of the groups – the Tijjaniyya, the Qadiriyya, the Izala groups, we all met in Niger. It was such a successful paternal visit.

TDR: Sir, what have you discussed and was your visit any meaningful?

Prof. Salisu Shehu: I can only tell you about the general discussion we had. But, it is not possible to broadcast the nitty-gritty details of our discussion, especially some of the very very specific issues we discussed with them. But, what we actually generally discussed was about the fact that we came as a group of scholars from Nigeria, having been permitted and approved to come by the president. Therefore, we were in Niger with the consent of the President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is also the Chairman of the ECOWAS, that we could come and discuss with them as a demonstration of acceptance of dialogue and reopening of communication between them. So we emphasised the need for dialogue. We drew their attention to the fact that as long as we don’t reopen the door of dialogue, the animosity will keep increasing. And, hence, it is not going to be good for us. So, we made it very clear to him that we went there in order to avert violence, to avert military intervention and to promote peaceful and amicable resolution to the problem, actually. And, we also emphasised the need for the give and and take in the matter. That it will do no good for both of them and the entire West African sub-regions, that if both of them were not ready to give something and take something, if both of them maintain extremist positions, then it is not going to be good. And, they actually accepted. They were already told to make some concessions on the matters.

TDR: What have you have achieved in your meeting with the coupists?

Prof. Salisu Shehu: The most important achievement in this regard is the fact that that option of dialogue have so much sufficiently be promoted. And it is hopeful that this our visit has led the foundation for peaceful engagement between the two. So, I think this is an achievement. Another tremendous achievement is the fact that across the two countries, the palpable fear, that was so preponderant, has been allied and the people’s hope regarding the fact they will continue to live in peace, they will continue to leave as brothers and sisters, they will continue to live as neighbours, that spirit has really been rekindled even if it was about to die. People have so much been at rest and at ease now because of this visit. People have become more assured that there won’t be violence. And, I believe this is the most important achievement as far as this visit is concerned. Like I said, there is no reason actually to keep on avoiding meeting and discussion. So, we have to intervene in this way. And because we are not supposed to give specific details, there is no any discussion about the terms of agreement we had with them.

By Abdurrahman Muhammad

As the failure of the Senate to confirm the ministerial nomination of the former governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, continues to generate controversy, an Islamic human rights organisation, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has told President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to save the North-West alliance which gave him victory at the polls by ensuring that El-Rufai gets the ministerial appointment.

MURIC made its stand known on Sunday, 13th August 2023, after an emergency meeting of its Central Think Tank (CTT) held in the evening of the previous day. A statement signed by the Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola, after the meeting reads: 

“The Central Think Tank (CTT) of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) met yesterday to consider the circumstances surrounding the failure of the Senate to confirm the nomination of the former governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, as a minister. 

“CTT considered the issue a major setback to the North-West alliance which gave President Bola Ahmed Tinubu victory during the 2023 presidential election. Furthermore, CTT regards the non-confirmation of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai’s ministerial nomination as a big threat to future alliance between the North and the South-West. The North may not hobnob with the South-West again if the champion of the North-South alliance is shabbily treated.  

“CTT also noted the huge contribution of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai who persuaded the Northern political elite, particularly the twelve Northern governors, to allow power to go to the South. It was observed that the monumental power shift of 2023 was a fulfilment of a 2019 agreement. It was therefore an act of honour while El-Rufai is seen as the icon of Northern integrity. 

“CTT affirms clearly, emphatically and unequivocally that it behoves the South as represented by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reciprocate the North’s noble stand by walking his talk, particularly his open offer and public invitation to Mallam El-Rufai to join his cabinet. The story of Tinubu’s invitation to El-Rufai to join his cabinet is already public knowledge.

“It has become necessary to jog the President’s medulla oblongata today because the North has exhibited integrity by keeping its promise on power shift to the South. It therefore behoves the South to reciprocate, to manifest decorum, decency and dignity, particularly with the ‘Omoluabi virtue’ for which the Yoruba are well known.

“Tinubu has a duty to protect the good name of the Yoruba people in particular and the whole South in general. Besides, a promise is a promise in Islam and Tinubu is a Muslim. Allah says in the Glorious Qur’an ‘And fulfill the promise, surely (every) promise shall be questioned about.’ (Qur’an 17:34). Allah also said, ‘O you who believe! Fulfill your pledges.’ (Qur’an 5:1).

“The good relationship and the bond between the North and the South-West must not be allowed to break. 2027 is around the corner. Even 2031 is already knocking and politicians are already doing their calculations. The North supported Tinubu because they found him to be credible. He must not do anything capable of diminishing that credibility.

“El-Rufai is the gem of the collection and everybody knows it. He is a performer. He is cerebral, iconic. If it is true that the president himself already hinted El-Rufai to set the machinery in motion for the energy sector, the president is morally bound to walk his talk regardless of all other encumberances. 

“Records show that there are precedents. Festus Keyamo was cleared in spite of Senate’s earlier objection. Something made Senate change its mind. Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo got this same El-Rufai cleared despite Senate’s opposition in 2004. El-Rufai withdrew having read between the lines. He will still do it for the sake of Nigeria if the president’s body language conforms.

“Criminality, dishonesty, fraud, impunity, lack of patriotism and other Nigerian problems spring from a wrong mindset. They will all disappear or at least be reduced to the barest minimum if the leadership sets the pace. Islamic scholars North and South who nurtured the North-South alliance are watching. All men and women of conscience are keeping vigil. Nigeria holds its breath and shivers. The buck stops at Mr. President’s table.”

By Dr. Aliyu U. Tilde

FOR STUDENTS, two days ago I learned about the tragic death of a mother who developed sudden BP after failing to gather enough funds for the last minute registration of her orphan daughter at a federal university in the northwest.

Within a day of illness, the mother died. This got me thinking of means to reduce difficulties for hundreds of thousands of students facing similar challenges on all our campuses. They are well into their courses when the fees were tripled. The students’ loan promised has not taken off and institutions have set deadlines for online registration. Do we sit back as a nation to see the students abandon their studies? No. We must do something. Here are my humble suggestions:

1. Installment payments. Higher institutions should allow old students to spread payments over the remaining sessions of their courses, with the caveat that no student shall sit for a semester exams or be issued his certificate without completing his payment. However, an initial deposit, say 30% of the fee, can be required at the beginning of the session or semester.
2. Students loan: The Special Committee under the CBN which is statutorily empowered to administer the loan should double its effort to enable a quick take off. Remember that the President once said he would like to meet the first set of beneficiaries of the loan in September.
3. Remove Family Earning Cap: The Committee can remove the family earning cap to allow any student to access the loan as the President has ordered.
4. Guarantors: State governments can serve as guarantors for their indigenes instead of individuals.
5. Online application: The Committee can explore digitizing all or part of the application process to reduce stampede at banks and check corrupt practices like extortion of students by officials of institutions and banks.
6. Legislation: To effect these changes, some sections of the Student Loans Act, 2023, need to be amended. This can be expressly done with the cooperation of the National Assembly and the Presidency.

Dr. Aliyu U. Tilde can be reached on Twitter: @Dr_AliyuTilde

By Lawal Dahiru Mamman,

In a newspaper interview, she narrated how the excruciating pain and cost of cancer treatment drove her to sell her valuables. Rosemary Nnamdi said it’s a miracle that she is still alive today. Nnamdi, 33, was diagnosed with the most common form of cancer, breast cancer, in 2019.

The young lady somehow and eventually took a leap of faith and, according to the report, had a single mastectomy – a surgical procedure that involves removing the entire breast. The process was supposed to be complemented by radiotherapy and chemotherapy, which involved killing cells with radiation from elements like uranium and anti-cancer drugs. This she could not afford.

“I started soliciting funds to cover chemotherapy and radiotherapy sessions, but it was never enough. I sold every single property, but it could not cover the sessions recommended by the doctor,” she said.

A revelation in an interview by Dr Adamu Umar, President of the Nigerian Cancer Society (NCS), came to mind after reading the heart-rending report on Rosemary Nnamdi.

During the interview, Dr Umar lamented that over N1.5bn earmarked for cancer treatment in Nigeria has not been accessed by people with the disease. He disclosed that many cancer patients are unaware of the intervention fund known as Cancer Health Fund (CHF), resulting in the inaccessibility of a larger part of the money.

He identified the lack of data to ascertain the actual number of cancer patients in the country as one of the reasons for frustrating the intervention programme.

His revelation was stunning because the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 10 million people die of cancer (a disease in which cells of the body grow uncontrollably at a spot and spread to other parts) annually worldwide and that 70 per cent of these deaths occur in low-to-middle income countries including Nigeria.

In Africa, Mr Walter Mulombo, WHO country representative to Nigeria, said, “Every year, Africa records around 1.1 million new cases of cancer resulting in up to 700,00 deaths.” According to Globocan statistics, in 2020 alone, a staggering 78 899 cancer deaths were recorded in Nigeria.

Since it costs an arm and leg to treat cancer, the ‘Cancer Health Fund’ was separated from the budget to tackle different types of cancer in the country. Should cancer patients in Nigeria not know about this?

Regrettably, lack of awareness and inaccessible location has contributed to the low participation of cancer patients in accessing the fund set aside to manage their affliction.

The Nigerian CHF is a social service that provides funding and health care services to indigent cancer patients. Before this, the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) was established in 2006 as a fallout from the 58th World Health Assembly Resolution on cancer prevention and control adopted in May 2005. The programme was established to address the escalating cancer incidence in Nigeria.

But the CHF programme is an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Health that commenced in 2021 with six pilot hospitals. Ahmadu Bello University teaching hospital (ABUTH), National Hospital Abuja (NHA), University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin (UBTH), Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe (FTH), University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), University College Hospital (UCH).

It involves partners such as the American Cancer Society, ROCHE, Pfizer, MYLAN, Clinton Health Access Initiative, World Wide Commercial Ventures (WWCV), BICON and EMGE resources, which is mandated to implement the CHF initiative on behalf of the Federation Government.

Since many cancer patients seem to be oblivious to this vital function, there is a need for the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to carry out sensitisation programmes across many towns and villages in the country. The knowledge will then be a driving force for patients to seek treatment.

In addition, the media and non-governmental organisations can also be involved in such campaigns while the government strives to expand beyond the six pilot hospitals. 

By empowering people with the Cancer Health Fund information, we can help save thousands of lives from a killer disease, as we do not all have to be doctors to guarantee the most fundamental human right – the right to live.

Lawal Dahiru Mamman writes from Abuja and can be reached via dahirulawal90@gmail.com.

By Muhammadu Sabiu

President Bola Tinubu is currently having a meeting with Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the WTO’s director general, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

At around 2:50 on Tuesday, Dr Ali Pate, a former minister of state for health, and Okonjo-Iweala arrived at the Presidential Villa.

This medium has not been able to gather the purpose of the meeting as of the time of filing this report.

Recall that Okonjo-Iweala and Tinubu met earlier in June while attending the leadership summit in Paris, France.

Okonjo-Iweala served as finance minister under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

The Nigerian Senate has turned down the request of President Bola Ahmad Tinubu, to send Nigerian troops to Niger Republic.

President Tinubu, who also doubled as the Chairman of the Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS), had sought the approval of the Nigerian Senate for military intervention in Niger Republic.

The Senate condemned the coup d’etat in Niger, but advised the President and ECOWAS to explore other options in bringing peace to the country.

The Senate while condemning the Niger coup in totality, commended President Bola Tinubu and other Heads of State of the other States of ECOWAS for their prompt response and the positions taken on the unfortunate development in Niger Republic.

While turning down the request of the president after the meeting, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, said that.

“The Senate recognises that President Tinubu via his correspondence has not asked for the approval of the parliament of this Senate to go to war as erroneously suggested in some quarters.

“Rather Mr President has expressed a wish to respectfully solicit the support of the National Assembly in the successful implementation of the resolutions of the ECOWAS as outlined in the said communication.

The Senate calls on the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the chairman of ECOWAS to further encourage other leaders of ECOWAS to strengthen political and diplomatic options and other means intending to resolve the political compass in Niger Republic.”

By Muhammad Sabiu

In response to the recent political developments in the Republic of Niger, the National Council of Ulama, comprising Islamic scholars from Nigeria, has issued a crucial statement calling for peace and diplomacy in the region.
 
In a communiqué signed by Aminu Inuwa Muhammad and Engr. Basheer Adamu Aliyu, the council expressed deep concern over the coup d’état in Niger and its potential implications for regional stability.
 
The Ulama emphasised the importance of denouncing such actions and protecting democracy and peace in the Sahel region.
 
They asserted that the restoration of democracy in Niger is the right of its people, and any external interference undermines this democratic process.
 
Furthermore, the Council voiced opposition to the use of military force by ECOWAS in resolving the crisis, fearing that armed conflict could exacerbate existing security challenges and lead to devastating consequences for the people of both nations.
 
They called for a peaceful and civilised approach, urging the Nigerian government and ECOWAS to support Niger in returning to the path of democracy through diplomatic means.
 
The Ulama also called on religious groups to promote peace and respect between Nigeria and Niger, emphasising the importance of maintaining strong neighbourly relations.
 
They urged the Muslim community to seek divine intervention through prayer, seeking guidance for the leaders to heed wise counsel and avoid falling into enemy traps.
 
The Council also applauded diplomatic measures and called for continued dialogue with the military leaders in Niger to find a peaceful solution.
 

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

President Bola Ahmad Tinubu has reportedly withdrawn the nomination of Maryam Ibrahim Shettima as a minister in his government. 

According to reports, the 44 -year-old Kano lady, popularly known as Maryam Shetty, has been yanked off the lists of ministerial nominees. 

Maryam Shetty, a famous political and social activist and social media personality, was nominated the President Tinubu on Wednesday.

Sources confirmed that she was told her name was removed from the list upon her arrival for screening in the Senate. 

The reasons for withdrawing Maryam Shetty’s nomination have not been made public. However, former Nigerian Minister of Labour, Festus Keyamo, was added to the new list sent to the red chamber.

By Muhammadu Sabiu 

In a recent development, President Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has forwarded a second list of 19 ministerial nominees to the Nigerian Senate for confirmation. 

The list, presented by Femi Gbajamiabila, Chief of Staff and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, includes notable candidates such as Adegboyega Oyetola, Bosun Tijani, Bello Mattawale, and Dr. Isiak Salako. 

The chamber’s protocols were momentarily put on hold at 3:15 p.m. to accommodate the Chief of Staff’s entrance into the revered Red Chamber. 

Among the other nominees are Sen. Sabi Abdullahi, Dr. Mariam Shetti, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, and Uba Maigari Ahmadu. 

This comes after the Senate’s reception of the first list earlier this week, which included prominent figures like former Kaduna State governor, Malam Nasiru Ahmad El-Rufai, former Rivers Governor, Nyeson Wike, and health specialist Prof. Ali Pate, among others.