News

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. “

By Muhammadu Sabiu

The presidential candidate in the 2023 election under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has called on the Central Bank of Nigeria to extend the deadline for the exchange of old naira notes.

This was contained in an address posted on his verified Facebook Hausa page.

Recall that a CBN policy says that the old naira notes in circulation will cease to be legal tender on January 31, 2023.

Commenting about the deadline, Atiku Abubakar noted that such a policy is practised worldwide due to its impact on the economy, adding that Nigerians, at this critical moment, need an extension of the deadline.

He was quoted as saying, “There is no doubt that the CBN policy has generated heated debates within and outside Nigeria.

“It should be noted that the change of currency is a normal practice from time to time—it is not something new.

“Looking at the fact that the January 31st deadline is drawing nearer, patriotic Nigerians are expressing their fear of the policy worsening the situation of Nigerians.

“It would be difficult for many people who do not transact online to have their old notes changed before the deadline.

“While we will continue to educate people on the policy, it’s important for the CBN to consider extending the deadline.”

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

The Osun Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Osogbo, Osun State capital has in a judgement delivered in the early hours of Friday ordered that Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke be removed from office and the certificate of returns given to him be withdrawn with immediate effect.

The Presiding Judge of the panel, Justice Tertsea Kume, while reading the judgement of the tribunal said that the conduct of the election flagrantly violates the electoral act.

Justice Kume explained that the election was rigged in six polling units to the detriment of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He further stated that, after the deduction of valid votes vast from the over-voting at these polling units, Adegboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) polled 314,941 and therefore the rightful winner of the election while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Ademola Adeleke polled 290, 266.

By Muhammad Aminu

A Kano-based lawyer, Sanusi Umar Sadiq has dragged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) alongside its governor, Godwin Emefele, to a Federal High Court in Kano over currency swap deadline of 31st January, 2023.

Barr Sadiq is asking the Court of his fundamental human rights in line with sections 44 and 46 of the 1999 Constitution, Article14 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Right Act, Laws of the Feederation of Nigeria 2010 Order Rule 2 and 3 of the Fundamenmtal Rights Rule 2009.

He asked the Court to declare that the cessation of the existing N200, N500 and 1000 from being used as legal tender from 31st January 2023 as unlawful and unconstitutional.

The legal luminary contended that the arbitrary stoppage of the existing notes which are largely in circulation will cripple the econmony and further entrench poverty among Nigerians.

“An order of this Honorable Court enforcing the Fundamental Rights of the Applicant as enshrined under and guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Altered) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act Cap. A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2010.

“…that it is unlawful and unconstitutional for the Respondents to declare the existing N200, N500 and N1, 000 currency notes, which are currently largely in circulation, as no longer the legal tender of Nigeria by 31st January, 2023.

“…that the abrupt and arbitrary policy adopted by the Respondents to make the existing N200, N500 and N1, 000 currency notes that are widely in circulation now is a threat to national security and inimical to national interest as same will cripple the economy and throw many more innocent Nigerians into poverty.

“…this Honorable Court restraining the Respondents from making the existing N200, N500 and N1, 000 currency notes cease to be the legal tender in Nigeria by 31st January, 2023, which currency notes are the ones largely in circulation now, are the ones issued by the various commercial banks in the country, and are the ones dispensed by the various Automated Teller Machines (ATMs),” the originating motion states.

According to him, he wants the Court to compel the CBN and its governor “to follow and comply with the Global Best Standard Practices for changing currency whereby the old ones are gradually withdrawn from circulation by not releasing them to the public once they get deposited in banks within a reasonable time that shall not be less than six months.”

Barr Sadiq argued that the apex bank has not made adequate preparations or put in place appropriate measures to make the redesigned notes available to the public as the commercial banks across the country, both within the banking halls and via the Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) continue issuing and dispensing the currency notes intended to be replaced until few days to the deadline.

He urged the Court to restrain the Bank else “they will throw the country into an economic chaos and anomie.”