News

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed worries over the current incessant fuel scarcity in the country.

The electoral body said that the development could negatively affect its arrangements during the election due to the unavailability of products.

The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this at a consultative meeting with officials of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) on Tuesday.

Fuel scarcity is one of the lingering issues many people have continued to decry in the country.

A recent investigation by the Daily Trust claimed that the menacing issue of fuel scarcity in the country is artificial.

Yakubu said, “The commission shares your concern about the fuel situation in the country and its impact on transportation on election day. 

“The truth is that our arrangements may be negatively affected by the non-availability of products.

“For this reason, the commission will this afternoon (yesterday) meet with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, to look into ways to ameliorate the situation.

“I wish to assure Nigerians that we will continue to engage every national institution for the success of the 2023 general election.

However, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) assured the electoral commission of an adequate supply of fuel during the election.

By Muhammadu Sabiu 

Malam Nasir El-Rufa’i, governor of Kaduna State, alleged that some officials in Nigeria’s Presidential Villa are working against Bola Tinubu, the APC candidate for president.

The governor added that although the populace had a candidate for the APC presidential primary, he or she would not win.

Responding to questions on Wednesday’s episode of Sunrise Daily on Channels Television, he claimed that some individuals conceal themselves behind President Muhammadu Buhari, who has the commitment to do the right thing.

He was quoted as saying, “I believe there are elements in the Villa that want us to lose the election because they didn’t get their way; they had their candidate. Their candidate did not win the primaries.

“They are trying to get us to lose the election, and they are hiding behind the president’s desire to do what he thinks is right. I will give two examples: this petroleum subsidy, which is costing the country trillions of Naira, was something that we all agreed would be removed. 

“In fact, I had a discussion with the president and showed him why it had to go. Because how can you have a capital budget of N200b for federal roads and then spend N2 Trillion on petroleum subsidy? This was a conversation I had with the president in 2021 when the subsidy thing started rising. He was convinced. We left. It changed. Everyone in the government agreed, and it changed.

“The second example I will give is this currency redesign. You have to understand the president. People are blaming the governor of the Central Bank for the currency redesign, but No. 

“You have to go back and look at the first outing of Buhari as president. He did this; the Buhari, Idiagbon regime changed our currency and did it in secrecy with a view to catching those that are stashing away illicit funds. It is a very good intention. The president has his right. But doing it at this time within the allotted time does not make any political or economic sense.”

• News Desk

The Lagos State Chapter of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has bemoaned the death of seven innocent passengers who fell victim to a 20ft container which fell on a commercial minibus at Ojuelegba, Lagos on Sunday, January 29, 2023. The group urged the Lagos State Government (LASG) to formulate a sustainable and enforceable policy that will regulate the operation and movement of tankers and heavy-duty lorries on major roads.

The statement was signed by the chairman of the Lagos Chapter of MURIC, Dr Busari Muhammad Jamiu.

He said: On Sunday, 29th January 2023, a tragedy occurred in Lagos where seven (7) innocent lives were lost. According to the report, a  truck conveying a 20ft container fell on a commercial minibus at Ojuelegba and killed the occupants.

“We are sad that innocent lives are taken by heavy-duty lorries and fuel-laden tankers unabatedly on Lagos roads. The Ojuelegba incident, which happened two days ago, was not the first as Lagosians do witness myriads of tanker explosions and the falling of containers on innocent road users. We are asking the LASG when such calamities would be curtailed.

“It will be recalled that barely two weeks ago, one life was lost when a  diesel-laden tanker fell on a stationary towing van at Otto Wharf, along Apapa – Oshodi Expressway, Mile 2, in Lagos. This incident is just another example of innumerable calamities that Lagosians have experienced.  Are we safe again as road users? What are the authorities doing in curbing and averting the re-occurrence of these avoidable man-made tragedies?

To this end, MURIC urges LASG to formulate a sustainable policy that will regulate the operation and movement of tankers and heavy-duty lorries on our major roads. The enforcement of such policies has become overdue if they already exist.  

“This could be done in conjunction with all relevant authorities such as the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), the Police, Lagos State Ministries of Transportation and  Justice, as well as the tankers’ owners and drivers associations.

“There must be a framework on how, where and when these trucks and lorries are loaded,  parked and moved around in Lagos to avert incessant loss of lives and properties of Lagosians. It is believed that a stitch in time saves nine. Therefore, LASG must not wait until such tragedy is recorded again before taking a proactive step. The time to act is now!”

By Kabiru Isma’il

The renowned Nigerian Professor of Physics, Ibrahim Khalil Umar, aka I.H. Umar, died a few hours ago today.

I.H Umar was a Nigerian scientist of repute, and he had once been a University administrator. Wikipedia sources described that he was a Vice Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria, from 1979 to 1986. He held a B.Sc. in Physics and Mathematics from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria, an M.Sc. in Physics from Northern Illinois University, USA and a PhD in Physics at the University of East Anglia, United Kingdom. In 1976 he became the first Nigerian academic in Physics to teach at Bayero University, Kano. In 1978 he served on the national constitutional assembly that drafted the Constitution of the 2nd Republic.

Between 1994 and 1997, the late I.H. Umar served as a Sole Administrator of the Federal University of Technology, Minna.

He also represented Nigeria at the Executive Assembly of the World Energy Council in 1990. He was a member of the Nigerian delegation to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference from 1989 and was appointed Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria in 1989. He served as Chairman of the Board of Governors of the IAEA from 2000-2001. In 2004 he was the Director of the Centre for Energy Research and Training, where the first Nigerian research nuclear reactor is located.

In 2007, he was on the international advisory committee for the international workshop on Renewable Energy for Sustainable Development in Africa, held at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in Nigeria.

I.H Umar was among the first five Professors in Nigeria to attain the Chair of an Emeritus Professorship from Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria.

May the Almighty Allah have mercy on him, amin.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

A chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Dr AB Baffa , said Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is the most prepared and qualified candidate for the Nigeria’s presidency.

Kwankwaso is the presidential flagbearer of the NNPP.

Dr AB Baffa, who is also the NNPP’s candidate for Kano North Senatorial District in the forthcoming general election, disclosed this in an open letter addressed to Kwankwasiyya members and NNPP supporters on Monday.

According to Dr Baffa, Kwankwaso’s political trajectory and experience as a former parliamentarian, minister, diplomat and governor stood him out amongst the contenders for the presidency.

He further explained that Kwankwaso’s educational qualifications to the level of PhD are verifiable and undisputed.

The letter reads in part :
“Dare I remind you that our Party, the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, is the only party that fielded the most competent and the most experienced patriot with over four decades of hands-on experience in governance and
Leadership at the civil service, the executive, the legislature, the security, as well as the diplomatic levels, as its Presidential Candidate.”

“Dare I remind you that our Party, the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, Presidential candidate has over 17 years of experience in the civil service, was the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, was a member
of the Constitution Conference, is a Class 1999 Governor, was a Minister of Defence, was a Special Envoy to Darfur and Somalia, was a member of the Board of Niger-Delta Development Commission, NDDC, is a Class 2011 Governor, and he was a Senator of the Federal Republic.”

“Dare I remind you that our Party, the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, has fielded the most properly educated Presidential Candidate in the history of our democracy with traceable and verifiable educational qualifications from Primary School, to Boarding Senior Primary School, to Crafts School, to Technical College (where he obtained his City & Guild certificate), to Polytechnics (where he obtained his National Diploma and Higher National Diploma), and up to Universitiesin the UK and India (where he obtained his Masters and PhD in Water Resources Engineering respectively).”

By Aisar Fagge

As part of the preventive measures, the Center for Democratic and Development (CDD) trained journalists and social media influencers on how to combat fake news ahead of the 2023 general elections.

The training Wednesday in Lagos was in collaboration with the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), a nonprofit organisation based in the United States of America.

Participants of the workshop, who are mostly journalists, influencers, media experts and members of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), were drawn from different parts of the country in order to have a wider impact on the objective of the event.

The CDD Director, Idayat Hassan, stated that the participants were trained with vital skills on how to identify and prevent the propagation of fake, misleading and incendiary reports sent to them to share on their channels, handles and timelines.

The participants were also cautioned on the dangers of fake news and the implications of misinformation, and how the duo can terrorise the peace in Nigeria.

It was gathered that the training was given on how to use tools forensically, such as Geolocate, Google image search and Tineye, to detect fake videos, tweets, pictures and news.

Politicians use social media to spread fake news

The director also decried the way some politicians avoid media gatekeeping and use social media to spread fake narratives to the public, thus necessitating measures to address the issue.

She further said, “While the phenomenon of political players intentionally disseminating false information is well-known and discussed, the role of digital media influencers who are meant to be the bearers of truth and factual accuracy and in combating misinformation and disinformation has not received as much attention.”

There are many crises online

The CDD Communications Lead, Armsfree Ajanaku, said there are many crises online as people commit violence without consequence.

He stated, “Online gender-based violence exists within a context similar to what happens in real life, which is just as destructive as offline violence.

“We now live in a virtual society, where offline violence has extended to online, which makes it easier for people to commit violence without consequences.

“Women are the main targets of online violence, especially the ones with voices, like female politicians, service personnel, women’s rights activists, journalists, women leaders, etc. As it is globally, Nigeria faces a worse case due to our culturally sensitive environment,” he added.

In his presentation, Introduction to Fake News Ecosystems and Techniques of Spotting and Countering Fake News, CDD Project Manager, Abiodun Banjoko, noted that the 21st Century had seen the weaponisation of information on an unprecedented scale. According to him, disinformation, misinformation and malinformation are the greatest threats to the Information age, especially in a multi-ethnic and religious country like Nigeria. He, therefore, urged the participants to use the skills and knowledge they acquired in combating fake news in their endeavours.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

A former Director in the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hajiya Naja’atu Muhammad, has declared her support for the Kano gubernatorial candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Abba Kabir Yusuf, alias Abba Gida-Gida. 

On Arise Television’s Morning Show programme, Naja’atu disclosed her reasons for resigning from the PCC-APC and other reasons for supporting other candidates in the forthcoming election. 

She said while she would not be a card-carrying member of any political party, she would support the Kano NNPP’s gubernatorial candidate, Abba Gida-Gida.

She also disclosed that she would support former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for President and Aisha Binani of the APC for governor of Adamawa state. 

Explaining her reason for choosing Atiku over Tinubu, she said Tinubu is the devil and Atiku is the deep sea. 

She also alleged that the APC’s Presidential Candidate, Bola Ahmad Tinubu, is physically and mentally unfit to lead Nigerians.

By Sumayyah Auwal Ishaq

The Bayero University Kano (BUK) set of 1991 has honoured the newly appointed Managing Director and Chief Executive of Jaiz Bank Plc, Dr. Surajo Salisu.  

The graduates, who left BUK over 30 years ago, were excited to celebrate Dr. Salisu being a member of the 1991 set. The leadership of the set commended the board of the bank for choosing Dr. Salisu meritoriously.  

While appreciating the new MD, they equally prayed to Allah Almighty to guide and protect him in the new role. 

Prominent among the 1991 set include Brig. General Sani Usman Kukasheka, Amb. Bello Husseini Kazaure, Prof. Abdullahi Musa Ashafa, Zainab Akanbi, Alh Sanusi Garba Abdullahi, Hajia Hadiza Hamis, Mr. Chukwuyere Amaechi, Mr. Dorathy Sako, Alhaja Jumoke Dunmoye among others.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

A former Director in the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Hajia Naja’atu Muhammad has disclosed that Tinubu told her he has nothing to offer the North if elected Nigerian President.

Mrs Muhammad said that Tinubu told her he had no blueprint for tackling insecurity in the North during a meeting in London.

She disclosed this while giving reasons for her resignation from the APC and partisan politics.

On Arise Television’s programme, Morning Show, Naja’atu said: “I met with Tinubu in London and he told me “I don’t have a blueprint for tackling insecurity in the North; if I have I might be killed.”

“Having a blueprint for tackling insecurity in the North would mean I will be stepping on so many toes “

“He has been urging me to take the appointment and I refused.”

The Daily Reality had reported the resignation of Mrs Muhammad from the APC and Tinubu’s campaign team. She had resigned after claims that the APC lacks political ideology and is not any different from other political parties

However, Tinubu’s campaign team said she is incompetent and was fired for being a spy.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The opposition political parties have urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) not to bow to pressure on the extension of the deadline for phasing out old naira notes in the country.

The CBN Governor, Godwin Emeifele, has identified the 31st of January as the deadline, the decision many people continue to criticize due to the unavailability of the new naira notes.

As the deadline is approaching, the banks in Kano and other states across the country are congested with people who go there to cash out the new naira notes and deposit the old ones.

Several authority figures in the National Hause of Assembly, including the state governors, the likes of Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, have asked the CBN governor to shift the deadline.

However, the opposition political parties urged the CBN governor not to extend the date, adding that the decision would seriously affect the Presidential Candidate of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Labour Party (LP) and the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) said these views Friday in separate interviews in Abuja.

Tinubu is frustrated – PDP

Mr Phrank Shaibu, the spokesperson for the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, said Tinubu is frustrated with the decision.

He stated, “Tinubu is obviously frustrated by his inability to stop the cashless policy and currency redesign of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) that will curb vote buying and enhance the credibility of next month’s election, he has begun crying over his imminent defeat.

“Even though the CBN policy affects all 18 political parties, APC is the only one frustrated because their plan to deploy bullion vans and bribe poor voters and security agents on the day of election has failed woefully.”

Naira redesign is a patriotic decision – ZLP

Speaking in a similar vein, the Presidential Candidate of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Chief Dan Nwanyanwu, described the CBN Naira redesign policy as a patriotic decision which should be supported by all.

He said, “I want to use this opportunity to call on Godwin Emefiele, governor of the central bank, not to succumb or listen to anybody from anywhere suggesting that there should be an extension for the return of the old note back to the bank.

“His name will be written in gold if he gets this thing done. And on the part of the President, his mantra failed Nigerians, and he has come up to tell Nigerians that he will ensure free and fair elections.

“I want to say that the decision taken by the central bank of Nigeria and with the approval by President Buhari is the best for this nation.

“It is a patriotic decision taken by CBN as it relates to the new banknote and the time stipulated for the removal of the old note.”

He further said, “We have been in this country and people given the responsibility to serve to go there to help themselves.

“They steal the money and put it to personal use. They don’t use it to even develop their environment.

“They stack the money at home, in septic tanks, in the farm, and some of these funds have been there for more than ten, fifteen years, idling away. So why do you steal what you do not need?

“So, the CBN had to put on its thinking cap. Those categories of naira notes, if not returned before the date stipulated by CBN, would become toilet paper.

“That is, will be of no use. Now people are afraid to take these notes to the banks for fear of being identified.

“Billions and millions of naira notes are still in the homes of some people. It is either they take the courage to bring it to the banks, or by the end of next week, they become toilet paper. 

“This is one way to ensure free and fair elections by making we politicians not have access to money to buy votes.

“So, whether they are National Assembly members or anybody whatsoever who is opposed to this is very unpatriotic.

“Must you carry cash in all your transaction? Go and do the transfer? Let us not cry, we have been enduring for seven and half years.

“This money will get back into circulation immediately after the election, and I suspect CBN will release a little so that Nigeria will have some money in their hands. Those crying are crying because they want money to go and buy votes.

“Emefiele, don’t succumb, you have the support of most Nigerians. Over 95 per cent of Nigerians are behind you in this regard.”

APC plays cash and carry politics – LP

Also, the National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Dr Yunusa Tanko, said, “We are not surprised that those at the forefront of cash and carry politics, who are used to deploying bullion vans for election purposes, are the ones complaining about this laudable government policy targeted at curbing inflation.

“Look at the inflation figures today, inflation numbers are coming down. The CBN must not back down, the bank should insist on the January 31st date to prevent a situation where those who have stashed billions in their closet with the aim of buying votes will be denied that opportunity. “