News

By Uzair Adam Imam

Bayero University, Kano (BUK), has emerged as the first in the north on the Times Higher Education 2023 World University Rankings list. 

Topping the list in the north, BUK is the fourth in Nigeria, with the University of Ibadan emerging as the best in the country.  

The University of Lagos is the second, while Covenant University is the third in the ranking in Nigeria. 

BUK, being the first varsity in Kano, was established in 1975. It currently has over fifty thousand students.

The University of Oxford emerges as the best university in the world, followed by Havard University, the University of Cambridge Standford University. 

BUK students, alums, and some of the university’s lecturers took to their social media spaces to jubilate the success.

By Uzair Adam Imam

There was a growing anxiety in Polaris Bank LTD as Muslim employees were cautioned against attending Friday prayer.

The strong warning by the bank management was via an email sent by one Damilola I. Adebara to the Muslim employees on Tuesday, saying going to the mosque contradicts the policy of the bank.

The development, putting in mind that any citizen is entitled to a right to religion, does not sit well with many of the Muslim employees whose eyes gloated through the email in dismay.

One of the employees who spoke to The Daily Reality through a phone call said the same issue happened just recently with one female employee who was warned against going for the prayer by her Christian supervisor.

The email that goes viral reads: “It has been observed that on Friday, you leave your work desks to attend Juma’at service bearing in mind the impact of your absence on workflow and productivity of Yes Center.

“Kindly note that there is no provision made anywhere in the bank policy for employees to attend any religious activity during work hours.

“Going forward such permissions would not be granted on the Yes Center platform and any infrastructure of this directive would be dealt with accordingly,” the bank instructed.

A legal practitioner in Kano, Barrister Abubakar Saleh, told our reporter that the bank’s directive is against the constitutional provision of the right to religion.

He said, “The constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has entitled any citizen the right to religion. For that, it is wrong for the bank to rob the employees of their rights and freedom of religion.”

Also, Sheikh Abubakar Ayuba Tangimi, lambasted the bank’s directive, saying Jumu’ah prayer is obligatory to any male Muslim.

He quoted, “Ibn Qayyum in his book Zadul Ma’ad said Juma’at prayer is compulsory to any Muslim adult. He was of the opinion that if anyone misses a single Juma’a prayer has wronged his creator.”

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Imo State Police Command arrested five persons for allegedly killing a man whose wife died in a car accident a few days ago. 

The incident took place on Monday, October 11, 2022, and her demise stroke terror and threw the community into deep mourning. 

The man was identified as Apostle Wisdom Mbakwe and hailed from Umuduruchukwu Aboh, Isu, in the Nwangele Local Government Area of the state. 

He was said to have been making the burial arrangements for his wife when he was brutally murdered. 

Speaking to journalists in the state, one of the deceased relatives recounted, “Our brother was observing his morning prayer according to the Jewish religion he professes. 

“Just then, Chidiebere said he heard the shout of ‘Yahweh, Yahweh’ and rushed into the house just in time to see the deceased struggling with some men.

“One of them tried to use a machete on his head, but he dodged, and it landed on his shoulders. He ran out to alert some neighbours and the youth of the area. 

“When they came, they did not see my brother or the assailants. So they started combing the bush, thinking that if they were kidnappers, they wouldn’t have gone far.

“But they combed everywhere without seeing anyone. When they eventually returned to the house, they observed blood all over the sitting room and saw my brother where the killers had pushed his body in between some chairs and covered him up with curtains,” she added. 

Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Mike Abattam, said the Police are still investigating to fully discover the circumstances surrounding the incident.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Ministry of Power on Wednesday disclosed that there is no plan on the ground to sell the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

The ministry disclosed this in a statement signed and issued to journalists today, October 12, 2022.

The statement urged the general public to dismiss the statement making the round regarding a non-existing plan to privatize the TCN. 

The Daily Reality gathered that the ministry stated this a response to media reports and statements claiming that there is a plan to privatize TCN next month. 

The statement read: “These reports are untrue and are only mere misinformation aimed at spreading panic in the power sector, which is making progress towards ensuring that Nigerians enjoy uninterrupted power supply.”

“The Federal Government of Nigeria has no intent to sell or privatize the Transmission Company of Nigeria, and no one in the FGN has made a statement of an intent to sell TCN.

“The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) is a centrepiece in the Federal Government of Nigeria’s efforts to rejuvenate the power sector. Therefore, the Ministry of Power working with key stakeholders is continuing to evaluate, assesses and upgrade TCN to make it more efficient and transparent.

“As part of the repositioning of TCN, job opportunities are being created, as with the recently concluded ramp up of employment, contrary to claims that there is a plan for a mass disengagement of staff at TCN. The organization has also been carrying out sustained capacity building by training and retraining of staff across all cadre for efficiency and service delivery.

“Transmission is a vital segment of the electricity value chain that constantly needs significant investment. As is the best practice across the world, the government of Nigeria maintains the transmission segment of the power value chain even when other segments have been privatized. Currently, the federal government is investing and supporting efforts to make TCN a world-class transmission service provider.

“The federal government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari focuses on upgrading, stabilizing and modernizing Nigeria’s power industry through various interventions, including the Nigeria-Siemens partnership under the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI),” the statement added. 

By Uzair Adam Imam

The former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, has rejected the OON national award by President Muhammadu Bahari.

Professor Attahiru Jega was also the former Vice Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano (BUK).

One of his close associates that preferred anonymity confidentially told the Daily Reality on Wednesday.

He said although many people have carried the news of the Jegas award since it was made public, Jega declined to accept it and did not attend the national event either.

He added, “The professor has informed me that although many people have carried the news of the award since it was made public, he declined to accept it and wasn’t at the ceremony.

“So in principle, Prof Jega did not accept the honor,” the source genuinely broke to the Daily Reality.

However, the reason why Jega declined to accept the national award was unknown and the source did not mention any. Similarly, Prof. Jega was not the first person to reject national award by Nigeria’s presidents. Late Chinua Achebe also rejected the similar award given to him by Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

Recall that President Buhari, in a letter to the awardees dated October 7th, 2022, by Sen. George Akume, fnim, approved the conferment of the national honour on awardees to the rank of OON (Officer of the Order of the Niger).

The investiture ceremony took place at the International Conference Center (ICC), Abuja on Tuesday, 11th October, 2022, at 9:00 am.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Reports from Zamfara State indicate that the police in the state have arrested eight bandits’ informants, gun runners, cattle rustlers and suppliers of hard drugs and foodstuff.

The police operatives also repelled the terrorists’ attacks in Bukkuyum, Shinkafi and Tsafe Local Government Areas of the state. 

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent Mohammed Shehu, disclosed this to journalists in Zamfara. 

Zamfara State is one of the epicentres of banditry and kidnapping in northern Nigeria that suffers from several attacks, leading to the deaths and displacements of a number of its residents. 

 He said the operatives also recovered four sophisticated guns, one cutlass and a bunch of charms after exchanging gunfire with the terrorists, who were forced to retreat into the bush.

Following the distress calls by some community members, this resulted in repelling the terrorists’ planned attacks on some communities. 

The suspects are under the state’s police custody, and a thorough investigation is currently taking place. 

By Uzair Adam Imam

Former Kano State governor, Senator Kabiru Gaya, said the All Progressive Congress (APC) was not worried by the growing strength of the New Nigerian People Party (NNPP).

The senator said NNPP would only strike terror into the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the party would split the votes that belong to the PDP. 

He stated that the APC would sweep the votes in all the electoral positions, predicting that the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) would come second while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would come third.

Gaya disclosed this to journalists in Kano when he was debunking the rumour going around that the vice president, Yemi Osibanjo, was sidelined in the formation of the presidential campaign team of APC. 

He said the information was misleading and fake and that Osinbajo remained committed to the presidential ambition of the APC candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He said, “I am a member of the Tinubu campaign team, so the issue of sidelining anyone does not arise. Even the president has said he wants Osinbajo to be with him in running the affairs of the country to ensure a seamless handover.

“There is nothing like Osinbajo is sidelined because, after the primaries, we were in Osinbajo’s house when Tinubu came and said he needed our support. We had over two hours’ discussion. They are working together. Politics should not divide us,” he stated. 

Dear sir, dear all,

That security of this country is in a coma is no news. That Ogbomoso, the land of the valiant in Oyo State, is under the siege of abductors is also an incontestable fact.

 In the dead of night on Monday, September 19, 2022, along the express, in Gbede, Surulere local government area, a man identified as Alhaji Yisa Agric was reportedly abducted from his house brazenly. This is shocking. 

Several heinous abductions of innocent inhabitants of Ogbomoso were recorded weeks earlier. One of the attacks, which led to the death of a student of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Oyo state and some people, exacerbated the ire of the people the most. 

Consequently, a rally which was graced with an avalanche of people was launched to engage in the public debate on the issue. After the demonstration, no reported kidnapping case was heard, at least in August. This was jubilated, not knowing their ram moved backwards in anger to garner more power.

The attention of the Oyo State government under the leadership of a good governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde is herein called to this menace of insecurity in Ogbomoso, which is bedevilling his good administration, for hasty panacea be preferred before it goes haywire. 

Also, the philanthropists are beseeched to financially sponsor the unconventional security personnel to launch a manhunt to arrest the unscrupulous perpetrators of the dastardly acts. The earlier, the better.

Olayode Inaolaji wrote from Ogbomoso, Oyo State, via inaolajiolayode@yahoo.com.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

Former Chief Security Officer to late General Sani Abacha and the Presidential Candidate of Action Alliance, Hamza Mustapha said that he has never stolen any money in his life.

Al- mustapha made the revelation while speaking on Channels Television on Tuesday. He said he has been thoroughly investigated by the police and international investigative agencies and was not culpable of stealing government funds.

“I don’t have money, I have never stolen N10. I challenged two governments; I challenged Abdulsalam Abubakar’s government, and I challenged (Olusegun) Obasanjo’s government. They searched.

I was ransacked by bigger international investigative agencies (and the) police. My eyes and thumbprint were taken all around the whole world and they saw nothing. But rather than tell the whole world my clean record, they kept it aside,” he disclosed

He also said he has forgiven the persons that did a disservice to the country by falsely accusing him of crimes he did not commit.

Al-mustapha was in prison for fifteen years and was acquitted of the murder of Kudirat Abiola by the Court of Appeal in 2013.

By Uzair Adam Imam

A former governor of Plateau State, Joshua Dariye, gives suggestions on ways to end the menacing issue of corruption in Nigeria.

Dariya disclosed this on Monday while he was featured on Channels Television NewsNight programme.

The Daily Reality recalls that the former governor, alonside former Taraba State governor, Jolly Nyame, were convicted of corruption charges sometime ago.

Dariye was convicted of stealing N1.16 billion while serving as Plateau governor from 1999 to 2007 and was granted a pardon by the Council of State led by President Muhammadu Buhari on April 14, 2022.

While, Nyame, the other convict, arrainged for stealing N1.6 billion and the two were released from Kuje Custodial Centre on August 8, 2022.

However, Dariye said the legal action against curruption by jailing would not in any way ended the graft which is everywhere in the country.

He said, “Dariye and Nyame were jailed. Has it ended corruption? Like I told My Lordship, you can jail me for 200 years, if that will end corruption, I will say glory be to God.”

He added that his imprisonment was politically motivated, arguing that some persons did worse but were spared.

He stated, “If we want to end corruption, it will not be a one-day issue; you will take corruption to cure corruption. And if you start delivering policies, let me just tell you for example: If the railway is working, without these people sabotaging, it will reduce a lot of hardship on our people, it will reduce the prices of commodities and farm produce.

“Things are not working, some people are benefitting from it, they are frustrating government measures,” he noted.