News

By Muhammad Aminu

The Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Kano Hon. Shehu Wada Sagagi has called on the National Chairman of PDP Dr. Iorchia Ayu to quit his position in the interest of the party.

Hon. Sagagi made the call today during a press briefing in Kano.

Hon. Sagagi said for peace, unity and giving a sense of belonging to PDP members from the southern part of the country, the national chairman should pave way for a southerner to replace him.

“In the interest of unity and success of our party, I would like to call on the national chairman of our party Dr. Iorchia Ayu to please honour his promise that he earlier did, that in case a Northerner emerged as a flagbearer of the party, he promised to resign.

“So I will like him to toe the path of honour so that unity returns to the party, so that Atiku Abubakar will be successful in the 2023 election because the Southerners in our party need to be given sense of belonging,” he said.

The PDP Chairman further said: “A situation where the national Chairman is from the North, Chairman of Board of Trustees is from the North, the Chairman PDP Governors Forum is from the North and the presidential candidate is also from the North, I think there is no sense of fairness.”

Hon. Sagagi emphasised that unity and success of the party should be the priority while the Chairman should consider his resignation as a necessary sacrifice for the PDP.

“I call on Dr. Ayu, as a statesman, to honour his promise and consider it as a sacrifice he should make for the party to move forward. And So, his resignation will go a long way in forging unity in the party so that at least a southerner should emerge as a National Chairman of the party for unity to prevail and peace will return to the party.

“And we promise to be law-abiding members of the party and we will heavily campaign for our presidential candidate Alh Atiku Abubakar to win the forthcoming 2023 general election,” he added.

The Chairman further dispelled the rumour that they are hobnobbing with other political parties and candidates other than PDP.

He added: “On behalf of the Kano State Executive Committee (SEC), I dispel the rumour that we have any association with any political party or candidate. Our party still remains people’s Democratic Party PDP and we are committed to its success at all levels.

“We call on the party SEC in the State and our governorship candidate to engage in aggressive Party membership drive in all the wards and 44 local governments in the Kano State for the success of the party in 2023.”

Hon. Sagagi also appealed to aggrieved members of the party to sheath their swords and join hands with them for the success of the PDP.

“We would like to use this medium to call on all aggrieved members of the party to sheath their sword to come and let’s join hands to work together as a party so that victory is ours in 2023.”

He commended SEC and party members in the State on the successful primaries. He congratulate all candidates who emerged successful after the primaries at the state and national levels.

“I congratulate the national leadership of the PDP for the successful national convention. I applauded the Election committee together with all our party men and women in Kano State for their dedication and commitment.”

By Muhammad Aminu

The Kano State Police Command has arrested 5 armed robbery suspects terrorising some parts of the State.

The suspects were said to have specialised in breaking into people’s residences in Tishama Hotoro Quarters where they operated as a syndicate.

Kano State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abdullahi Kiyawa, in a statement sent to The Daily Reality said the suspects were arrested after an investigation following complaints by the residents.

According to Kiyawa, four suspects were arrested while another suspect who received stolen items was also apprehended.

The statement read: “Between June and July 2022, there was public outcry at Tishama Hotoro Quarters Kano on the activities of a syndicate of hoodlums that specialized in House Breaking and Armed Robbery. One Kabiru Tukur, ‘m’, of Tishama Hotoro Quarters Kano, further complained that the syndicate of four went to his residence twice and robbed him of his Plasma TV and Four Mobile Phones. Four-Armed Robbery cases were recorded in the area with the same “modus operandi”.

“On receipt of the reports, the Commissioner of Police, Kano State Command, CP Sama’ila Shu’aibu Dikko, fsi raised and instructed a team of Operation Puff Adder led by CSP Mansur Idris, Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Hotoro Division to arrest the culprits. The team immediately swung into action.”

“Sustained efforts coupled with intelligence-led surveillance patrol led to the arrest of all the syndicate members as follows:-

i. Idris Mohammed, ‘m’, 19 years old,

ii. Nasiru Abdulhamid, ‘m’, 24 years old,

iii. Sunusi Ibrahim, ‘m’, 27 years old,

iv. Bashir Yunusa, ‘m’, 25 years old, All of Tishama, Hotoro Quarters Kano.

“On investigation, the suspects confessed to all the Armed Robberies committed in the area. A discreet Investigation conducted by a team of Detectives at the Command’s Criminal Investigation Department led by CSP Ahmed Abdullahi resulted in the arrest of the receiver, Rabi’u Sani, ‘m’, 32 years old of Tishama, Hotoro Quarters Kano. Four Plasma TV and Eleven Mobile Phones were recovered from them.”

The Police would charge the suspects to Court and thorough investigation.

He called on the general public to continue to support the Nigeria Police in trying to protect the lives and properties of residents of the State.

By Uzair Adam Imam 

Over 3.1 million children would receive supplements against malaria, while 2.8 million children would be dewormed, the Kano state commissioner for Health, Dr Aminu Ibrahim Tsanyawa, said.

The Commissioner disclosed that there would be childhood immunization for about 68,135 children, adding that antenatal services would also be provided.

Tsanyawa stated this during a media briefing ahead of the exercise, which begins on Tuesday, July 5, 2022.

He noted that the Kano State Government had identified about 12 million children to receive the seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention for July to October 2022 in the 44 government areas of the state.

The Daily Reality learned that the previous exercise conducted in January 2022 recorded huge success with Vitamin A coverage of more than 88 per cent.

In his words, Tsanyawa added, “the aim was to prevent uncomplicated and similar proportion of severe malaria incidences amongst the age group.”

“We are integrating the two exercises, although the MNCHW is a week-long event conducted twice every year.”

“It has a high impact on low-cost interventions offered to pregnant women and children below the age of five to increase coverage level of preventive and curative health indicators,” Tsanyawa stated.

By Muhammad Sabiu

A group of 50 thugs on Monday attacked Bauchi State House of Assembly members who gathered in a guest house on Sir Kashim Ibrahim Road, just a few meters from the Bauchi State Government House.

Six people were reportedly hurt, and the thugs caused pandemonium at the scene by smashing windows and cars at about 4:00 pm.

This occurred just after unidentified arsonists attempted to burn down the House of Assembly complex but were stopped by quick-acting security forces.

After the incident, a combined team of security agents from the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the DSS, and the Nigerian Army were immediately dispatched to the House and took control of the complex.

Following the incident, security was beefed up in the area by stationing a combined team of security agents comprising men of the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the DSS and the Nigerian Army.

Reports have indicated that a lawmaker, Ado Wakili, representing Burra Constituency in Ningi Local Government Area of the state who was one of those injured, alleged that the hoodlums were armed with guns and other dangerous weapons.

He was quoted as narrating, “We were inside having a meeting when we suddenly heard noises and banging at the gate, as we rushed out to see what was happening, the hoodlums rushed in holding guns, cutlasses and other dangerous weapons.

“All of us scampered for safety, and in the process, many of us, including me, got injured, as you can see on my face just below my eyes.

“They really turned everything upside down. By the time we came out, they had smashed all our cars and the windows of the house.”

By Sumayyah Auwal Usman

Kaduna State APC Gubernatorial candidate, Senator Uba Sani, has picked the incumbent Deputy Governor of Kaduna, Her Excellency, Dr Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe as his running mate in the 2023 governorship election in Kaduna State. 

Details later…

By Aliyu Idris

Anyone aware of the lingering strike in Nigeria’s public universities nationwide will sympathise with us students. Now it’s clear that students understand the government’s negligence and I-don’t-care-attitude towards the education sector because none of their sons and daughters goes to public universities.

The government that is supposed to take the necessary actions regarding the strike is showing a lackadaisical attitude towards it as if the education system is normal. Thus, the ASUU strike is not the topic of discussion today.

The government is hellbent on political affairs more than returning the students to their classes. Unfortunately, the issue of the ASUU strike has become a secondary matter to the government in national affairs, sad.

The strike has shattered the dreams of public university students. As a result, The graduation period of million students has been extended to another subsequent year(s) (I do not pray for that occurrence).

It’s an arduous task for public university students to graduate within the stipulated period allocated for their studies. Hence, almost every student’s ID card expires before they graduate.

The victims (students) of the ASUU strike have lost hope in learning and scholarship. Thus, since the government has failed to save their future, they have shifted their focus from education to other life activities such as businesses and learning skills to build their lives.

The statistics of students called up for NYSC in the camps nationwide is low compared to when public universities are not on strike.

The NYSC camps are filled with HND students, students from universities abroad, students from private universities in Nigeria and students from affiliated universities (FCE/CEO/Polytechnic graduates).

There may be the hope of fulfilling the ASUU demands soon (I pray) because I know the Nigerian politicians and INEC will need serving corps members to work for them in the 2023 general elections. However, until the strike is called off, the current corps members are insufficient for the election’s tasks.

The (our) striking lectures are not the problem but the government. May Allah put an end to this strike menace, amin.

Aliyu Idris is an undergraduate at Bayero University, Kano. He can be reached via aliyuidris063@gmail.com.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

The Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, has called on the National Examinations Council, NECO, to adjust its examination timetable to accommodate Muslims who would be celebrating Eid-el-Adha, aka Sallah.  

NECO has scheduled Data Processing (Practical) from 10 am to 1 pm on July 9, which clashes with the first day of Eid.

MURIC Director and Founder, Professor Ishaq Akintola, made the call on Sunday, July 3, 2022, in a statement.

“We are fully aware that the clash was not deliberate as NECO had actually demonstrated goodwill by setting aside a whole week for Sallah celebrations (Monday, 11th July to Friday 15th July), and this reflected in its timetable.

“We, therefore, appeal to the NECO authorities to kindly shift the examination of that day alone (Saturday 9th July 2022) to another date in order to enable its teeming Muslim candidates [to] sit for their examinations.” Part of the statement reads.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

The Nigerian Police Force, NPF, have rescued scores of children from an underground church apartment in the Valentino Area of Ondo town. 

According to a Twitter user with the username DejiAdesogan, among other multiple sources, a pastor and some church members have been arrested in connection with the incident. 

“DISTURBING NEWS: Scores of kidnapped children were allegedly found and rescued from an underground apartment of a church in the Valentino Area of Ondo town, Ondo State, on Friday evening. A pastor and church members already arrested in connection with the case.” DejiAdesogan tweeted 

The Twitter user also accompanied his claim of the rescue with a video and picture of the scenario.

He also berated religious leaders who perpetuate criminal activities in the name of religion.

“The allegedly kidnapped scores of children rescued from an underground of a church in Ondo town is a clear proof that some Clerics hide under the religion to perpetrate evil. Inhumane, Wickedness & Condemnable,” He tweeted. 

At the time of writing this report, the NPF have yet to comment on the development.

By Aisar Fagge

African countries have received over 90 million donations of doses of Covid-19 vaccines to ensure Africans are adequately vaccinated, but inadequate information and lack of transparency and accountability caused a serious problem.

The Vaccine and Essential Drugs Associate of Africa Health Budget Network (AHBN), Khadija Hamid Bobboyi, disclosed this in a webinar organised by AHBN on Thursday, June 30, 2022, to acquaint Media and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) with necessary information on procurement, delivery and distribution of the vaccine in Africa.

Mrs Bobboyi noted that developed countries, multilateral organisations and corporations have supported Africa at different phases in terms of the supply of the vaccine that ravaged the world.

She revealed that COVAX and African Vaccines Acquisition Trust, alongside other partners, have made vaccines available to African countries.

She stated: “Africa is getting free donations of vaccines and support from the international community; availability of multiple sources of COVID-19 vaccine and at a subsidised rate.

“African Union and Partners have established AVAT to augment donations from the international donor community.”

“African Civil Society Organizations and the populace hardly know or understand the procurement and delivery mechanisms. There is a paucity of information, weak transparent processes which make it difficult to hold governments and their donors to account.”

The AHBN officer, however, decried that there is an uneven distribution of the vaccines among African countries while many donors donate near-expired vaccines with short notice that African countries may not be prepared for its safe keeping.

“Multiple mechanisms may pose a problem because some countries may receive more and others less without proper analysis of which country is in more need of the vaccines. The majority of the donations to date have been ad hoc, provided with little notice and short shelf lives and become expired,” she added.

She described the webinar as “an attempt to begin to change the narrative and empower African Civil Society Organizations, media and the populace with information and promote greater and meaningful participation in the affairs of Africa and COVID-19.”

She finally called on the donors and partners to key in countries’ priorities in their donations, saying, “donations from COVAX and AVAT to African countries must be made in a way that allows countries to effectively mobilise domestic resources in support of rollout vaccination and enables long-term planning to increase coverage rates.”

The convener of the webinar, Dr Aminu Magashi, who is the founder of several NGOs such as AHBN, CHR, and YOSPIS, assured that this kind of webinar would continuously be organised regularly to sensitise media practitioners and Civil Society Organizations on their roles in holding governments accountable on the procurement, delivery and distribution of Covid-19 vaccines.

The participants of the webinar who came from different countries were drawn from media organisations, CSOs and the general public, who were educated on the processes of vaccine acquisition and distribution.

By Muhammad Sabiu

A 28-year-old Shu’aibu Adamu, who was found guilty of killing his wife, has been sentenced to death by hanging by the Jigawa State High Court in Dutse.

According to Section 221(b) of the Penal Code, the crime of culpable homicide is punishable, said the presiding judge, Hon. Justice Ahmed Muhammad Abubakar.

Justice Ahmed stated in his ruling that the prosecution’s case was proven beyond a reasonable doubt by the testimony of four witnesses.

The court determined the accused to have committed the crime, which carries the death penalty.

Justice Ahmad sentenced him to death by hanging.

The prosecution’s attorney had informed the court that the event occurred on June 24, 2018, in Warwade Town, Dutse Local Government Area of Jigawa State, when the convict and his wife, Sahura Umar, 20, of the same locality, quarrelled.