News

By Uzair Adam Imam

Reports coming from Gombe State Monday have disclosed how hoodlums attack the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign office in the state.

The Gombe State Commissioner of Police, Mr Oqua Etim, confirmed the attack to journalists and said it occurred last night.

He said the campaign office belongs to the state’s governorship candidate, Jibrin Barde.

Etim confirmed that, “Yes the attack happened and we will get full details before going public.

“We have started investigation because the attack happened in the night and it is too early to give details now.

“So just give me a little more time and we will get you the details,” he told journalists.

He also called on the political stakeholders to avoid chaos while carrying out their political activities.

Etim urged the youths to stay away from engaging in any acts that could breach peace, law and order.

“As you are aware we recently arrested and paraded some hoodlums causing disturbance in the metropolis,” he added.

By Sumayyah Auwal Ishaq

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Owerri, Imo State, came under heavy bombardment by gunmen in the early hours of Monday.

According to reports, the gunmen threw grenades through the commission’s fence, destroying several offices and vehicles parked in the premises.

However, the police stationed at the INEC office engaged the gunmen in a heavy shootout, leaving three of the gunmen wearing charms and Biafra camouflages dead.

The Imo State Police Command through its spokesperson, Michael Abattam, confirmed that attack at the command headquarters in Owerri, where the lifeless bodies of the hoodlums were paraded. He said five rifles, two vehicles, charms, locally made bombs, phones and money were recovered from the slain gunmen.

By Uzair Adam Imam

A former Central Bank (CBN) governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi ll, said the new cashless policy by the Central Bank of Nigeria will help mitigate the lingering issue of corruption by some politicians during elections.

Sunusi also urged the general public to ignore the rain of complaints against the policy, reiterating that the policy would discourage rigging.

He disclosed this Sunday in a short video that went viral, adding that the policy dates back to 2012 when he was the CBN governor.

He said: “The cashless policy started in 2012 when I was governor of the CBN with Lagos and later spread to five states.

“The explanation we gave that time is that the world is evolving and people shouldn’t be carrying cash around, as such the introduction of cashless policy to ease transactions.

“At first people protested against it but they later accepted the policy and started using the different payment channels at restaurants, shops and other places.

“I want to advise people to be careful with what politicians are saying about the cashless policy because it does not favour them.

“They spend four years without delivering on their mandates and later return with huge sums of money thinking they can bribe the security agencies and the electoral body.

“What the policy entails now is that a politician who wants to bribe the security agencies or the electoral body, he/she must pay it in the persons’ bank account where the transaction can be traced.

“Therefore I urge people to embrace the policy as part of efforts to entrench democracy and also make rigging difficult for politicians,” he added.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Centre for Promotion of Shari’ah (CPS) expressed worries over the utterances of some prominent Christian political and religious leaders concerning the Muslim-Muslim ticket.

The centre was also dismayed by the numerous social, political and economic challenges bedevilling the Muslim Ummah in the country.

This was contained in a communiqué signed by Aminu Inuwa Muhammad, the centre National Coodinator, at the end of a one-day stakeholders meeting in Abuja.

It said, “Current developments in the political landscape of Nigeria have become a source of serious concern to CPS and the general Muslim Ummah in the country.

“The decision of some parties in the choice of presidential candidates and their respective running mates has attracted unguarded statements from some religious and political leaders, a development that has worsened the already tense political situation,” it added.

The centre also called on the Muslims to vote for the political parties and candidates who will ensure justice and protection of their rights and interests.

“Muslims in Nigeria need to properly organise themselves in order to take full advantage of their obvious demographic strength during the 2023 elections.

“Muslims need to pursue proactive measures towards countering the negative profiling in the media as well as the moral drift and mischief prevalent in the social media.”

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

Women miners in Nigeria under the auspices of Women in Mining in Nigeria (WIMIN), decry molestation and abuse by male colleagues at mining sites in the country.

The Founder and National president of WIMIN, Janet Adeyemi made the disclosure at Lokoja on Sunday, December 11, 2022 and sought the intervention of the federal government to tackle the menace.

Ms Adeyemi while speaking at a capacity building workshop for artisans and small-scale miners in Lokoja, said the abuse of women at mining sites have become rampant.

She noted that women in mining have become subjects of constant molestation, are often cheated, over-laboured, underpaid, and even raped by male colleagues and staff of the mining industries.

Adeyemi who was represented by the Programme Coordinator of WIMIN, Ms Dolaraine Dennis, said that the opportunities for women in mining are enormous and they include: operators, engineers and quarry fields etc.

Adeyemi claimed that research findings have shown that 73 per cent of assault against women are verbal.

“73 per cent of assaults against women are verbal.”she said

In the remark of the Kogi State Commissioner For Women Affairs, Hajia Fatima Buba, she applauded the organisers for their support in building the capacity of women in the mining sector in the state.

By Muhammadu Sabiu

President Muhammadu Buhari has asked other higher educational institutions to emulate the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, in combating the problem of sexual harassment of female students by academics.

At the 46th convocation of the university in Ile-Ife on Saturday, Buhari warned that the future of bright young females in higher education institutions across the nation must not be left in the hands of sexually irresponsible people who were disguising themselves as academics.

He also praised OAU management for its aggressive approach to combating sexual harassment and other forms of harassment without considering the victims.

The president was represented by the Director of Academic Planning, National Universities Commission, Dr Abiodun Saliu.

He was quoted as saying, “I will be failing in my duty as Visitor if I do not commend the Council and Management of this great citadel of learning for dealing, very decisively, with cases of sexual harassment.

“In fact, this university deserves commendation on the way and manner it is tackling sexual and other related harassments headlong without minding whose ox is gored.

“I want other institutions of higher learning to emulate OAU in summarily terminating the appointment or dismissing any lecturer who uses or is using his advantageous position to sexually harass our young, unassuming, innocent and impressionable girls.”

He also warns that the lives of female students must not be entrusted to the so-called lecturers.

“We cannot continue to entrust the lives of our promising young girls into the hands of some sexually reckless individuals who are masquerading as lecturers on our campuses,” he said.

By Muhammadu Sabiu

Reports reaching The Daily Reality show that gunmen stormed certain towns in Gombe State on Friday night, leaving three people dead.

Unknown armed individuals assaulted the villages of Amtawalam and Pobaure in the state’s Billiri Local Government Area on Friday night, according to Adamu Kupto Dishi, the commissioner of homeland security for Gombe State.

Dishi confirmed the incident on Saturday following an emergency State Executive Council meeting chaired by Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya of the state.

“We responded immediately to calls about the attack by mobilising security operatives, including the police, the military and our local vigilantes, to the area. So far, the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has carried out assessment for immediate deployment of relief materials,” he said.

Security agents are presently conducting an investigation to identify individuals responsible for the heinous act, the commissioner assured.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has required citizens to take their current naira notes to the banks as quickly as possible.

The CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, made this disclosure while fielding questions from State House reporters on Thursday.

He said that the banks had already started dispensing the new cash, which reached their various offices on Wednesday to their customers.

The redesigned notes presented to the public are the N1000, N500 and N200, respectively.

The governor added, “I can only assure you that it will go around. Let us just be calm. Luckily, the old currency continued to be legal tender till January 31, 2023. 

“So, I want to crack a joke, both the painted (new notes) and unpainted (old notes) will operate concurrently as legal tender. 

“But by January 31, the unpainted one will not be useful to you again, so please take it to your bank as quickly as possible,” he said.

By Ibrahim Hamisu

Following the cheerful welcome received by the presidential candidate of All Progressive Congress, APC, candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, when he visited Kano State, and the considerable role played by many members of Kannywood in his acceptance in the state, names of many members of the industry appeared in the list of the members of Tinubu/Shatima campaign committee. 

The list was a part of an announcement made by the Director General of the APC presidential campaign committee, Governor Simon Bako Lalong. He confirmed the selection of Kannywood members among the Presidential Campaign Council, PCC, with producer Abdul Amart Maikwashewa, as its leader. 

The announcement was signed by the Director of Press and Public Affairs to Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State, Dr Makut Simon Macham, on 8th November 2022. 

The PCC chairman, Governor Simon Lalong, beseeched the members of Kannywood to call all their fans, supporters, and every Nigerian to support their candidate and promote his good political agenda. 

The members include Abdul Mohd Amart (Maikwashewa) as Director, Isma’il Na’abba Afakallah as Deputy Director, Jadda Garko as Deputy Director II, and Sani Mu’azu as secretary. 

Other members include Malam Khalid Musa, an advisor to the Kano State Governor on the Kannywood industry, as an advisor of the committee; Bala Ahmad and Shu’aibu Yawale, also as advisors. 

Others include a veteran actor in the industry, Ali Nuhu, as a director of actors’ affairs; Jamila Umar Nagudu as his Deputy I and a comedy actor, Sulaiman Yahaya (Bosho), as Deputy Director II. 

A famous singer, Fati Nijar, was appointed as Deputy Director I, singer’s affairs; Ado Gwanja is her Deputy Director II; Dan Isa Mai Kaho is Deputy Director III. 

A comedy actor, Mustapha Badamasi Nabraska, an advisor to Kano State Governor on propaganda, was appointed as director of Works, while Alasan Kwalle was appointed as his deputy. 

Ahmad Salihu Alkanawy will be the operation director; Emmanuel will be his assistant. Tahir I. Tahir will be the program secretary; Adam A. Zango will be his Deputy I; Dailo Pam Lojok will be Deputy II. 

Nasir S. Gwangwazo, a writer, film producer, and editor of Manhaja Newspaper of the Blueprint Media company, will be the News and Publicity Secretary. Hafsat Sulaiman from Kaduna State will be his assistant. 

Hassan Shehu Kano will be the news coordinator on newspapers, radio, and television. Ibrahim Adamu will work as a social media news coordinator, where they will assist Gwangwazo. 

Malam Ado Ahmad Gidan Dabino (MON) will be the director of technical works; Hamza Baban Muri as his Deputy I, and Ibrahim Maishunku as his Deputy II.

Ɗan Musa Gombe will be the studio’s matters, while Sulaiman Albankudi will be the coordinator. Auwal Big Time will be the assistant coordinator. 

Mansura Isa will be the welfare officer; Nuhu Abdullahi will be her first assistant, while Abubakar Ndako Kutugi will be her second assistant. 

Director Sadiq N. Mafia will be the program manager, Audi Sitin will be the first assistant, and Audi Boda will be the second assistant. Asma’u Sani will be the women’s coordinator I, while Maijidda Minna will be coordinator II. 

Sadiq Sani Sadiq, transportation coordinator; Bello Muhammad Bello will be his assistant. Falalu A. Dorayi is the finance director, while Shatima Mansoor will be his assistant. Amina Adamu will be the chief coordinator, while  Ibrahim A.I.T will be her assistant. 

There is also the list of elders of the committee, which include: Sani Idris Moɗa, Magaji Ibrahim Mijinyawa, Muhammad B. Uwar Hankaka, Hajara Usman, Sa’idu Isa Gwaja, and Ɗan Azumi Baba which is also known as Kamaye. 

List of general members of the committee includes Maryam Yahya, Husaini Sule Koki, Nura Ɗan Dolo (Yaya Dankwambo), Aminu Ari Baba, Fati Abubakar Das, Nazifi Shariff, Abubakar Sulaiman (Ɗan Auta), Umma Shehu, Yahanasu Sani, Hauwa Abubakar (Waraka), Aminu Mirror, Waziri Dabo, Anas Sulaiman Nasir, Sani Ɗangwari, Bala Kufaina Abuja, Hamza Badamasi, Hadiza Abdullahi Kabara, Aminu Dumbulum, Maimuna Abubakar (Momi Gombe), Hauwa Garba (‘Yar Auta), Aisha Mahuta, Musa Mai Sana’a, Binta Ola, Abdulrahman Alfazazee, Nasir Adam Salih, Adamu A.D Bauchi, Mudassir Kassim, and Tijjani Abdullahi Asase.

Kannywood Elders Forum, through its public relation officer, Kabiru Maikaba, has already congratulated Abdul Amat Maikwashewa and other members of Kannywood for the well-deserved appointments.

By Muhammadu Sabiu

Senator Rabiu Kwakwanso, the presidential candidate for the New Nigeria Peoples Party, labelled the proponents of his rumoured merger with another party as failed politicians on Thursday.

Just moments after addressing NNPP members at the party office in the state capital, Kwankwaso made this statement while responding to reporters in Abeokuta.

Kwakwanso was quoted saying, “That’s absolute nonsense. You see we believe that we are not above the three or four parties in this country, but by 2023, next year, by the grace of God, the NNPP will win the election at national and all other levels.

“So, these are people who are failed politicians who have nothing to tell Nigerians other than to spread unnecessary rumour of a merger.

“Merger is already gone. We have our candidates. In all the parties, everybody is campaigning. So, disregard that nonsense.”