News

By Uzair Adam Imam  

Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State and his former boss, Dr Rabi`u Musa Kwankwaso, the Presidential Candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), have continued to trade words over Kano votes in the forthcoming general elections of 2023.

Ganduje, while addressing his party`s supporters, said Kano people would vote for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Presidential Candidate of All Progressive Congress (APC), against Kwankwaso, who is a citizen of the state.

He added that Kano would repeat what happened in the 1993 presidential election when the state supported a Southern candidate, the late MKO Abiola, against its citizen, the late Bashir Tofa.

However, responding to what Ganduje had said in a statement, Kwankwaso stated that whoever works against him in Kano in the forthcoming election would regret it.

Kwankwaso said, “I had a rally not long ago, which was one of the best rallies. I had one in Wudil, the southern senatorial district. I had one in Bichi, northern senatorial district. I opened my office in Kano Central, and one of the best rallies because you can’t compare it with the ones by some of the candidates who had crowds that came to Kano from neighbouring states and so on.

“Now, you see, I don’t want to talk about that man. I don’t know whether he said it or not. But the reality is that anybody who works against NNPP or Kwankwaso in 2023 one day will regret it, that he made a mistake.

“Anybody who knows me, who knows my antecedents, believes that, if I win this presidential election, Kano will have maximum benefit. Of course, northern Nigeria will benefit and, of course, the country.

“So, I am surprised if you go and say I should hold a rally. I have done many rallies in Kano. In just recent months, January and December in Kano, in all three senatorial districts. So, what is the problem with holding a rally in Kano?”

By Uzair Adam Imam

People in Tumburkai, a community in Katsina state, have decried the rising level of insecurity ravaging the community in recent times.

Several attacks by bandits on the community have displaced many people and widowed an unidentified number of women.

The community members expressed worries on Thursday when a Kaduna-based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Victims of Banditry Support Initiative, visited the area.

The Daily Reality gathered that, during the visit, the NGO distributed bags of rice, foodstuff and cash to women in the community and the neighbouring villages.

Speaking at the event, the National Coordinator of Victims of Banditry Support Initiative, Malam. Abdullahi Usman said there is a need for society to support the needy, especially widows.

He was quoted as saying, “Although we don’t have much, we are not happy seeing those affected by bandit activities cannot feed. So out of the little God has given us, we intend to ensure the needy are also fed.”

He added that the NGO would continue to supply food items and cash to the widows.

“The NGO intends to continue giving food items and cash to the widows and others for the foreseeable future, and we are calling on the state and federal governments and wealthy individuals to pool their resources together in helping the widows,” he added.

By Muhammadu Sabiu 

A trailer transporting ginger skidded off the road, crashed, and spilt its contents on the road.

The incident occurred Thursday morning at Nahuta in the Darazo Local Government Area of Bauchi State. 

It was learned that the truck swerved off when the driver dozed off while operating, which led to a loss of control.

The trailer left Kafanchan in Kaduna State and was travelling to Maiduguri in Borno State.

According to a source, no fatalities or significant injuries were reported in the accident.

By Muhammadu Sabiu 

The 10-megawatt Tiga Dam hydroelectric project has been completed.

 This was announced by the Kano State Government through Hadiza Tukur, managing director of Kano Hydro and Energy Development Company (KHEDCO).

The power plant, according to Mrs Tukur, will supply power to the city’s street lights as well as the state’s water treatment facility in Tamburawa.

She said the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency has not yet certified the power facility (NEMSA).

“In the power plant, we have two generators, one is vertical, which will generate 8 megawatts of power capacity, and the other one is horizontal, which will generate two megawatts of power making ten megawatts. That is why it’s called Tiga ten megawatt power generation station.

“Everything is being completed pre-commission test is ongoing. What remains is the certification of the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA).

“Another thing waiting for is also automation when it’s completed, we are going to open the water and allow it to rotate the turbine. We have gotten permission from the Hadejia Jama’are River Basin Development Authority.

“The Eight megawatts are being tested without a load, but in the next two weeks, we are going to test them with a load. The same applied to the two megawatts,” she was quoted as saying.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

Doctors, under the auspices of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), have threatened to embark on a nationwide strike if the Federal Government refuses to meet their demands. 

This was disclosed in a letter signed by NARD president, Dr Emeka Innocent Orji, on Monday. The letter, which was addressed to the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Enahire, gave the Federal Government an ultimatum of two weeks to meet the demands of the union. 

Dr Orji said the strike would commence if the issues are not resolved before the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting slated for January 24th to 28th. 

The letter read in part, “Sir, our January 2023 National Executive Council meeting has been scheduled for January 24th to 28th, 2023, and we can confirm very clearly feelers that if these issues are not sorted out before that meeting, our members will likely give us a mandate to immediately kick-start processes that will lead to a nationwide industrial disharmony in the health sector.”

The Daily Reality has observed that Nigeria is witnessing its worst brain drain among doctors recently; the poor working condition is mainly responsible for the situation.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

Masterminders of the attack and abduction of not fewer than 31 people from the Tom Ikimi Train Station in Igbueben in Edo State have reached out to some families of the abductees and made demands.

The Executive Director of Esan Youth for Good Governance on Social Justice, Benson Odia, on Monday, disclosed that the kidnappers demanded the sum of 20 million naira from each of the victims.

Odia described the demand as absurd and called on the government to intensify efforts in securing the release of the abductees.

He also disclosed that the Minister of Transportation and the Nigeria Railway Corporation boss visited Igueben to personally assess the situation.

He said, “I can tell you that the kidnappers have demanded N20 million, totalling N620 million. This is absurd and I don’t know where poor people will be able to raise that amount of money.”

 By Muhammadu Sabiu 
 
Ibrahim Shehu, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for governor of Zamfara State, was expelled from the party for allegedly engaging in anti-PDP conduct.
 
Shehu was expelled due to anti-party activities that violated Article 58(1)(a), (b), and (c) of the PDP’s 2017 amended constitution, according to the expulsion letter signed by Hon. Aliyu Hassan, the party’s secretary in Mayana Ward.
 
According to the letter, the party’s Mayana Ward Working Committee made the decision, which would take effect in January 2023.
 
Recall that Ibrahim Shehu was twice in charge of having the party’s governorship primary election annulled.
 
Ibrahim Shehu, who served as a representative in the Federal House from 2011 to 2015, didn’t comment about it yet.
 
The state chapter of the party, meanwhile, claimed to be unaware of the development, noting that it had not been officially alerted by the ward and that any complaints made against Shehu would be thoroughly probed before any action was taken.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

Scores of people have been abducted in Edo train station and many were left with bullet wounds on Saturday evening.

Gunmen widely reported to be herdsmen invaded the Egbueben train station in Egbueben Local Government Area of Edo State and kidnapped passengers waiting to board the train to Warri in Delta State.

Many of the travellers reportedly sustained bullet wounds and the police disclosed that an uncertain number of passengers have been kidnapped.

The Edo Police Public Relations Officer, Chidi Nwabuzor, confirmed the incident in a statement.

The statement reads, “This is to inform the gentlemen of the press that today, 7th of January, 2023 at about 1600hrs, unspecified number of herdsmen armed with AK 47 riffles attacked the train station at Igueben, Edo State and kidnapped unspecified number of passengers who were waiting to board the train to Warri.

“The kidnappers who shot sporadically into the air before kidnapping some passengers left some persons with bullet wounds. The Area Commander Irrua, DPO Igueben Division, and men have visited the scene of crime with members of the Edo State Security Network, local vigilantes, and hunters with a view to protecting the lives and property of the remaining passengers.

“Bush combing operations have commenced in order to rescue the victims and arrest the fleeing kidnappers. Further developments will be communicated”, Nwabuzor disclosed.

Train attacks have become prevalent in Nigeria. On March 28, 2022, Abuja-Kaduna train attack led to the death of about 14 passengers and 63 people were declared to be kidnapped after the incident.

By Muhammadu Sabiu 

Bishop David Oyedepo has warned young people about the “japa syndrome” (vacating Nigeria for greener pastures).

To rebuild the nation’s lost respect, Oyedepo encouraged the government to invest heavily in its people.

The cleric highlighted that investing more in education is necessary since it is the cornerstone of sustained national development, adding that a conducive atmosphere for youngsters will lessen the rate of Japa.

He was quoted as saying, “Parents need to reorientate their children. We all need to stay in Nigeria to rebuild.

“Everyone has a part to play in the recovery of his nation.”

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Kano State Ministry of Education has announced Sunday, January 8th, 2023, as a resumption day for all boarding public and private primary schools for the commencement of the 2nd term academic session.

A statement by the Director Public Enlightenment Ministry of Education of the state, Aliyu Yusuf, disclosed this on Saturday.

The statement added, “While expressing appreciation for the cooperation and support been [sic] accorded to the ministry, Commissioner Rt. Hon. Ya’u Abdullahi Yan’shana urged Parents/Guardians of Pupils and Students of the schools to ensure compliance with the approved resumption dates.

“The Commissioner who also wished the students and pupils successful commencement of the 2nd term Academic session, however, warned that appropriate disciplinary action would be taken against defaulting students,” the statement added.