News

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

The Governor of Borno State, Babagana Umara Zulum, said he was not desperate to be the running mate of anyone who emerges as the ruling party’s presidential flag bearer. 

Zulum disclosed this on Saturday, May 21, while playing host to former Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, who was in Borno to meet party delegates and canvass for their votes ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary election. 

This is sequel to permutations that Zulum will be a likely running mate if the APC’s presidential flag bearer emerges from the Southern region of  Nigeria. However, in refuting the rumour, Zulum said his primary concern at the moment was to see Borno regain her lost glory. 

“I want everyone here and the people of Borno State to know that I have only one ambition which is to see that Borno state regains its lost glory. I am not begging anybody for the position of the Vice President of the federation. God gives power to whom he wants, and when it comes, nobody can say no,” he said.

Zulum applauded the impressive credentials of Amaechi but stated it is against his principle to endorse anyone, as God is the ultimate decider of who will emerge as the president and who will not.

“Many aspirants have come to us, and many more would come, but my prayers and wish are that Nigeria should always get a new president. I can’t mention the name of any particular or preferred person.” He added. 

On the other hand, Amaechi made mouthwatering promises to delegates and the people of Borno State. He said he would secure lives and properties and improve and grow and grow agriculture, amongst other things, if they elect him.

By Muhammad Sabiu

Professor Wole Soyinka, a Nobel laureate, has demanded that the Imam of the National Mosque, Professor Ibrahim Maqari, be fired for his remarks on Deborah Samuel, a 200-level student at Sokoto’s Shehu Shagari College of Education, who was lynched for blaspheming Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

Soyinka made this appeal in Abuja, Saturday, during the one-year commemoration of the late former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, and the launch of Niran Adedokun’s biography of the late general.

Prof Soyinka claimed that the Islamic preacher directed his followers to take the law into their own hands.

Recall that the Imam of the National mosque Professor Maqari spoke strongly against the insulting comment made by the late college student, stressing that making such a comment was taboo.

The Nobel Laureate condemned religious lynching and demanded that the Imam be removed from office as an apostate of humanity’s credo

He was quoted as saying, “It is no longer sufficient for all to declaim that Islam is this and that, that the Sharia is thus and thus, that Prophet Mohammed set this or that example and made this or that humanistic pronouncement.

“We have gone beyond theocratic rhetoric that merely pays lip service to civilized norms. Let all pietistic denunciations be backed by affirmative action.”Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is the most beloved person to the

Sokoto blasphemy: Soyinka demands sack of Abuja National Mosque imam

Prof. Wole Soyinka, a Nobel laureate, has demanded that the Imam of the National Mosque, Professor Ibrahim Maqari, be fired for his remarks on Deborah Samuel, a 200-level student at Sokoto’s Shehu Shagari College of Education, who was lynched for blaspheming Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

Recall that the imam spoke strongly against the insulting comment made by the Shehu Shagari student, stressing that making such a comment was taboo.

Mr. Soyinka claimed that the Islamic preacher directed his followers to take the law into their own hands.

On Saturday, he spoke in Abuja during the one-year commemoration of the late former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, and the launch of Niran Adedokun’s biography of Attahiru.

The Nobel Laureate condemned religious lynching and demanded that Professor Maqari be removed from office as an apostate of humanity’s credo.

He was quoted as saying, “It is no longer sufficient for all to declaim that Islam is this and that, that the Sharia is thus and thus, that Prophet Mohammed set this or that example and made this or that humanistic pronouncement.

“We have gone beyond theocratic rhetoric that merely pays lip service to civilized norms. Let all pietistic denunciations be backed by affirmative action.”

Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is the most beloved person to the Muslim faithful, who have the view that on no account should anybody make a derogatory or disrespectful remark against him.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

A former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Michael Aondoakaa, has blamed Nigeria’s security crises on the death of former Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi. 

Aondoakaa, who is among the Benue governorship aspirants set to contest for the ruling party’s ticket, disclosed this at the International Conference Centre in Abuja on Friday, May 20, 2022. 

According to him, the security situation bedevilling the country started during President Yar’adua’s time and aftermath of the death of Gaddafi.

“After Gaddafi was overthrown, there was no strong government in Libya, and there was a kind of persecution, and most of the soldiers ran away with light weapons and came in.” He said

He added that the problem would go away with time. 

“The insecurity is an external aggression that is spreading within the country, but it is something that will go after some years. We also had the great Wild Wild West in America that was so frightening that we thought America will break. But what happened? It evolved,” he stated.

By Muhammad Sabiu

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has stated that an unidentified corpse was on Thursday discovered on the runway of Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed Airport.

FAAN stated the remains were discovered in the night by a motorized cleaner cleared to clean the runway, according to Faithful Hope-Ivbaze, FAAN’s interim corporate relations general manager.

“The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria wishes to inform the general public of an incident in which an unidentified human remains were found on Runway 18R/36L on Thursday, May 19, 2022,” the statement said.

FAAN, therefore, announced that the runway was temporarily shut between 1:10 am and 3:43 am to allow for the immediate evacuation of the remains.

“Flight operations resumed at 0343 hours,” it added.

Investigations are ongoing as the outcome will be made public accordingly.

By Ibrahim Nasidi Saal

Troops of 34 Brigade, Nigerian Army(NA) have captured a cache of arms and ammunition belonging to elements of the dissident group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliate, Eastern Security Network(ESN), after a gun battle at Amaifeke-Akkatta Road in Orlu Local Government Area of Imo state.

The fire arms and ammunition were recovered during troops’ operations to clear separatists’ hideouts in the general area of Amaifeke – Akkatta road.

Troops uncovered the weapons concealed in a black Toyota Camry, after they successfully surmounted ambushes staged by members of the outlawed dissident group, who, having been overpowered by the gallant troops, abandoned their vehicle and weapons in the heat of the combat and fled the scene.

After a thorough search, the troops recovered ten Pump Action Shotguns, seven locally fabricated guns, one locally made Revolver Pistol, eighty Live Cartridges, one Baofeng Radio and substance suspected to be gun powder.Others include Satchet of Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and a Toyota Camry Saloon car.

This information was release through the verified Facebook page of the Nigerian Army Headquarter by the Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu on Thursday, 19th May, 2022.

The Nigerian Army commends members of the public for their continued support to the military and security agencies, as they protect the citizens from attrocious activities of the outlawed dissident groups, who in defiance of law and good order have annihilated innocent Ndigbo and other Nigerians, in their enforcement of an illegal sit at home order, foisted on the good people of the South East.

The NA urges all to continue to provide timely and credible information in support of ongoing operations to restore peace and security in the South East and other troubled parts of the country.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Kano State Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Shehu Na’Allah Kura, has resigned to join the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).

A statement signed Thursday, March 19, 2022, by the state commissioner for Information, Malam Muhammadu Garba, disclosed.

The NNPP has continued to record success as other party members, particularly APC, who felt slighted, flooded to join the party (NNPP).

The statement reads, “One of the commissioners nominated for appointment by Senator Ibrahim Shekarau into the administration of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje in the lucrative ministry of finance and economic development, Shehu Na’Allah Kura, has resigned and joined his boss.”

Although Kura has yet to publicly announce his defection from the APC to NNPP, he is believed to have joined his boss, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau.

Senator Ibrahim Shekarau officially joined NNPP on March 18, 2022.

By Uzair Adam Imam

President Muhammadu Buhari will depart Abuja Thursday for United Arab Emirates (UAE) to commiserate with the new UAE President, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, over the death of Sheikh Kalifa bin Zayed.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed is the former president of the UAE and died on Friday at the age of 73. Until his death, he was the UAE president for 18 good years.

A statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, disclosed.

The statesmen added that President Buhari will also extend his congratulations to the new President as a way to renew bonds of the longstanding friendship between Nigeria and the UAE.

According to the statement, President Buhari will be accompanied by the Minister of State Foreign Affairs, Amb. Zubairu Dada, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Pantami, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Bello, and the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika.

“The President, in an earlier congratulatory message to the new UAE leader, had reaffirmed Nigeria’s cordial relationship with the country, noting that the cooperation between both governments have helped Nigeria in tracking down illegal assets and tracing terrorist funds.

“Under the new leadership, President Buhari looks forward to a bigger and stronger partnership for peace, stability and prosperity of both countries.

“The President is expected back in the country on Saturday,” the statement added.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Police in Ogun State have confirmed the arrest of a 36-year-old man, Kingsley Essien, for allegedly trafficking his wife to Mali for prostitution.

Consequently, Essien reportedly went ahead to sell his 2-year-old son for N600,000 to the yet to be identified person.

The Police spokesman, Abimbola Oyeyemi, made the disclosure to journalists in the state.

He said the suspect was arrested following the report lodged at Agbara divisional headquarters by the suspect’s wife, Bright Essien.

The Daily Reality gathered that the wife was lured into prostitution by her husband by saying he had secured a job for her in Bamako Mali, last year’s October.

But to her utmost dismay, the discovered that she had been sold to a human trafficking cartel headed by a woman at the rate of N1.4 million.

“While in Mali, she was forced into prostitution, but later find her way to Nigeria embassy in Bamako where she was assisted back to Nigeria.

“On getting to Nigeria, she discovered that her two years old son in care of her husband is nowhere to be found,” the Oyeyemi quoted her saying.

Oyeyemi said, “On interrogation, the suspect confessed to the commission of the crime, he confessed further that he sold the two years old son to somebody at the rate of six hundred thousand naira.”

Investigation by police to trace the boy’s whereabouts and save him is on top gear.

By Uzair Adam Imam 

Another political crisis is rocking the Kano chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) as the endorsed deputy governorship candidate, Murtala Sule Garo, is reportedly mulling over defection to the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).

Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje endorsed Garo to pair with the current deputy governor, Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, as governor in the 2023 gubernatorial election.

However, Garo was said to have felt slighted following a peace parley between Governor Ganduje and his political arch-enemy, Senator Barau Jibrin.

Recall that Ganduje had reconciled with Barau and agreed to step down for him for the Kano North senatorial ticket after the senator abandoned his gubernatorial ambition. 

According to a source who preferred not to be named, Garo plans to discuss the issue with his associates for a final decision.

He said, “he is planning to meet with his associates and make [a] concrete decision, but he is still very sad about the development (Barau back in the fold), but he has not defected or abandoned the ticket,” one source, who asked not to be named, said.

By Uzair Adam Imam 

The Federal Government has suspended the Accountant General of the Federation, Mr Ahmed Idris, over the allegations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for laundering over N80 billion.

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, disclosed this in a statement signed Wednesday, May 18th, 2022.

The statement read in part, “following your recent arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of allegations of diversion of funds and money laundering, I write to convey your suspension from work without pay effective 18th May 2022.

“This is to allow proper and unhindered investigation into the serious allegations in line with Public Service Rules 030406.”

The Daily Reality reported that Idris was arrested by the EFCC over N80billion fraud Monday, May 16th 2022.