News

By Sumayyah Auwal Usman

The Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, has been named as the vice presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the 2023 presidential election.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar who emerged the presidential flag-bearer of the main opposition party made the announcement on Thursday at the party’s national secretariat.

Born 8th July, 1959, Okowa attended Edo College, Benin City (1970–1976), and later proceeded to the University of Ibadan where he studied Medicine and Surgery, graduating in 1981 with an MBBS degree. 

He served as a Commissioner in the Delta State government for Agriculture and Natural Resources (July 1999 – April 2001), Water Resources Development (April 2001 – May 2003) and Health (September 2003 – October 2006).

He resigned to contest in the 2007 Delta State PDP governorship primaries, but did not win the governorship primaries. In June 2007, Ifeanyi was appointed Secretary to the Delta state Government.

He was elected Delta North Senatorial candidate in the January 2011 PDP primaries and won the election. He clinched the ticket for the gubernatorial election in 2015, and won the Delta State Gubernatorial elections.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Governor Bello Mohammed of Zamfara state has raised concerns over the rising banditry activities and criminal informants in the state.

The governor said his government has noted the rise of informants’ activities leading to many unfortunate banditry attacks on soft targets.

This was disclosed in a statement signed Wednesday, June 15th, 2022, by Zailani Bappa, Special Adviser Public Enlightenment, Media and Communications.

The governor said they should take more stringent steps in addressing the current situation, including possible communication shutdown once again.

He, however, also commiserated with the families and loved ones of the recent unfortunate abduction of promising young entrepreneurs of Bebeji Plaza.

He reiterated that his administration is not oblivious to the situation at hand and has since taken more security steps in arresting its escalation.

The statement reads, “this singular incident marks another sad moment in the fight against the security challenges we are facing in our dear state. I appeal to the families of all abducted persons to have confidence in our ability to do all that is needed to be done in rescuing their dear ones.

“I have directed all security agencies for the speedy location of the abducted persons and will, in sha Allah, be rescued”, Governor Matawalle announced.

“Of very important concern is our determination to ensure that rural areas are free to go about their activities this farming season”, Governor Matawalle added.

The Governor also warned that his administration will not tolerate any act of indiscipline from unscrupulous persons who want to manipulate the present situation to score cheap political goals.

The Government, he said, will no longer fold its arms and allow heartless people to go on manipulating the misfortune of innocent citizens for their selfish political ends.

“We are a responsible Government and we shall not relent in ensuring the safety of all our citizens at all times. However, we shall not condone calculated political sabotage or vagaries and indiscriminate abuse of privileges to jeopardize our fragile security situation in the state” Governor Matawalle warned.

Governor Matawalle further advised all stakeholders to be alert and counter the activities of informants in their midst by assisting security operatives with intelligence in order to effectively address the security challenges threatening our communities at the moment.

By Muhammad Aminu

The Kano State House of Assembly has approved a loan request of ten billion naira (N10,000,000,000.00) by Governor Abdullahi Ganduje. The request was contained in a letter forwarded to the Assembly by Governor Ganduje and read by the Speaker, Hamisu Chidari.

According to the letter, the loan will be used for security infrastructure development in Kano. The Daily Reality gathered that part of the security infrastructure to be developed includes an installation of CCTV cameras in Kano to improve the security architecture.

In the letter, Gov. Ganduje said the development became necessary considering the recent security challenges facing the State.

In another development, the Kano State House of Assembly has appointed Magaji Zarewa as its deputy majority leader, following the resignation of Alhaji Abdullahi Iliyasu Yaryasa.

Yaryasa resigned his appointment after dumping the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).

The speaker, Hamisu Chidari, who read Yaryasa’s resignation letter at a plenary, wished him well in his new party and thanked him for his numerous contributions to the house.

Zarewa, who represents the Rogo constituency, appreciated the house for finding him worthy of the new appointment.

By Sumayyah Auwal Ishaq

Nigeria seems to be plunging into a new dimension of economic crisis as food inflation reached a new high in most of the northern region, hitherto considered the country’s food basket.

The prices of essential food items are rising astronomically, preventing many Nigerians from feeding adequately. The rising cost affects domestic and imported foods like rice, beans, tomatoes, pepper, onion, flour, egg, oils, bread, plantain, fruits, frozen foods, and yam. These staple foods that Nigerians consume daily. This coincides with a season of national economic downturn, high inflation, and depreciation of the national currency. 

A random survey conducted across major markets in Kaduna and other parts of the country by The Daily Reality this week has shown that a 50 kilogram (kg) of foreign rice sold for N27, 000 earlier in the year, sells for N34000 today. The same size of local rice sold for N19, 000 between January and April now sells between N25,000 and 28,000, depending on the brand.

The cost of beans, regarded as a meal for the lower class, is anything but disheartening. Presently, a bag of 50kg beans that previously sold for N27,000 rose to N37,000 and now sells for N47,000.

In the Bakin Dogo market, the prices of tomatoes, sweet potato, Irish potato, and onions have all doubled, making it difficult for many Nigerians. In February this year, one litre (or bottle) of palm oil was N400, while five litters was N2,000. But now, 1 litre of palm oil went up to N900; 5ltrs was N2,000. And as of September, 1ltr and five litres of palm oil had gone up to N700 and N3,500. A bottle of palm oil sold for between N250 and N300 is N800. A bag of onions is N24, 000, as against N12, 500 it sold in March this year.

Items whose prices have shot up are endless. Beyond food items, groceries, transport fare, school fees, house rent, cooking gas, and everything that concerns a man’s livelihood has seen their prices skyrocket, much to the chagrin of Nigerians, particularly low- and fixed-income earners.

By Muhammadu Sabiu

Nigerian soldiers operating in the northeastern part of Nigeria have rescued a lady believed to be one of the secondary school students abducted by Boko Haram in 2014 in Chibok, Borno State.

In a short statement posted on its Facebook page, the Army said, “Troops of 26 Task Force Brigade on patrol around Ngoshe in Borno State on 14 June 2022 intercepted one Mrs Mary Ngoshe and her son. 

“She is believed to be one of the abducted girls from GGSS Chibok in 2014,” the statement added.

 It also reiterated that “further exploitation [was]ongoing” as of the time of filing this report.

Though they are currently not in their heyday, the Boko Haram insurgents have wreaked havoc on the Northeast, inflicting hardship on residents, abducting travellers, and killing innocent individuals.

By MMuhammad Sabiu

The Nigerian Army has released the dates for the 83 Regular Intake 2022 screening process for non-tradesmen and women applicants.

“The state recruitment screening exercise is scheduled to commence from 28 June – 11 July 2022 in all the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory Abuja,” the Army says in a tweeted public statement on Tuesday.

“A high standard of discipline is expected from all candidates. Candidates who violate any instruction during the Recruitment Screening Exercise would be disqualified,” the tweet added.

Applicants have also been advised to visit the recruitment portal at https://recruitment.army.mil.ng for the online application form.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

Aisha Wakil, popularly known as Mama Boko Haram, has been convicted for fraud alongside two others.

The Economic Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, disclosed this on their verified Facebook page on Tuesday, June 14, 2022.

According to the EFCC, Wakil and her co-defendants, Tahiru Saidu Daura and Prince Lawal Shoyode, were standing trial on a two count charge of conspiracy and obtaining by false pretense to the tune of 71, 400, 000 (Seventy-One Million, Four Hundred Thousand Naira)

The judgement, which was delivered by Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court, marks the end of the trial commenced in September, 2020.

“The Maiduguri Zonal Command of the EFCC on Tuesday, June 14, 2022 secured the conviction and sentencing of Aisha Alkali Wakil, (aka Mama Boko Haram) alongside Tahiru Saidu Daura and Prince Lawal Shoyode before Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri. The defendants were sentenced to five years imprisonment without option of fine,” the EFCC statement reads in part.

By Sumayyah Auwal Ishaq

Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufa’i has approved the appointment of Professor Abdullahi Musa Ashafa as the new acting Vice-Chancellor, Kaduna State University.

Ashafa, a professor of diplomatic history and the immediate past Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), was announced by the Kaduna State Commissioner for Education, Halima Lawal.

Before his appointment, Prof. Ashafa was Head of History Department, Dean, Faculty of Arts, Dean of the School of Postgraduate Studies and the immediate past Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Kaduna State University.

Ashafa served as Vice President, Historical Society of Nigeria, North West Zone. He is also a Research Fellow at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA).

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, has announced that 256 new people have been diagnosed with the deadly Coronavirus in the country.

The NCDC disclosed 52 new cases of the virus on their verified Facebook page on Tuesday, June 14, 2022. This brought the total number of confirmed cases within one week to 256. 

The 52 new cases were reported in Lagos, Rivers, FCT and Delta State. While Lagos tops the chart of states with most cases, others like Imo and Kano featured prominently in the reported diagnosis.

According to the NCDC report, the 52 new patients made the total number of people confirmed to be affected with the virus to 256 404, while the total number of discharged patients was put at 250,137. The number of people who were confirmed to have died due to the virus was put at 3,144. This made the fatality rate about 3% of the total confirmed cases. 

However, many Nigerians do not believe in the existence of Coronavirus, and this poses a significant challenge to the administration of vaccines. Many others believe in its existence but are sceptical of the situation being used as a conduit pipe for government officials to divert public funds.

By Muhammad Sabiu

Reports reaching The Daily Reality have indicated an angry mob in Chinade town, Bauchi State’s Katagum Local Government Area, set fire to a suspected motorcycle thief.

According to a source in Chinade, the crime occurred on Sunday, and the suspect took the motorcycle from Hardawa Market in the state’s Misau LGA.

He said the suspect fled with the motorcycle but was apprehended and beaten to a pulp before being set ablaze in Chinade town.

Ahmed Wakil, a Superintendent of Police for the state police, confirmed the homicide in a statement and stated the investigation was still on.

“The Commissioner of Police, Bauchi State Command, Umar Mamman Sanda, has ordered a thorough investigation into the barbaric and dehumanising act of jungle justice meted out to the suspect by some irate youths in Chinade.

“While reacting to the ugly incident, the CP frowned on the action of the irate youths, who, instead of taking the suspect to the police for proper investigation and prosecution, mobbed him to death for allegedly stealing a motorcycle without any recourse to the law,” the statement of the police commissioner read.

Communities in Bauchi State State have for over a long time been badly affected by the activities of motorcycle thieves, who, in many cases, would gruesomely murder the owner of the bike before snatching it.

Considering what reports have indicated, the Bauchi metropolis could be the most affected place in the state with respect to such criminal acts.