News

By Uzair Adam Imam

Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, has described Nigerian leaders as greedy who lack the intellectual capacity and vision in terms of how to usher in developmental projects.

Jega stated this on Monday, 15th November 2021, at the Maitama Sule Leadership Lecture Series, organised by the Students Wing of Coalition of Northern Groups (SW-CNG), in Katsina.

He also added that the insecurity and economic challenges that have been bedeviling the country for a long time are as a result of the country’s bad leadership.

Jega said: “The major indices of these crises manifested themselves from the Northern part of this country, whether it is poverty, youth unemployment, security challenges, maternal mortality, out-of-school children, lack of girl-child education and early marriage as well as the challenge of reproduction of our females.

“Anything you can think of, the terrible statistics come from the Northern part of this country. And why is it so? That is the key question. Today, we remember the Maitama Sule, the Amadu Bellos, Isa Katais and many others.

“These were people who led and protected the North and ensured that the North developed in accordance with its ability and their own abilities as leaders. While we cherish the memories of what had happened in the past, what kind of leadership have we got from the Northern part of this country?

“We have so-called leaders who are selfish, who are not selfless, greedy, who have a narrow vision in terms of how this country can develop not to talk about the region where they come from. They really lack intellectual capacity to be classified as leaders,” he said.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano state has commiserated with the President Dangote Group of Companies, Aliko Dangote over the death of his brother Sani Dangote, who was the Vice President Dangote Group of Companies.

A statement signed Monday 15th November, 2021, by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Kano State, Malam Abba Anwar disclosed.

Mr Dangote died at a US hospital on Sunday evening after a protracted illness, and until his death he sat on the board of several companies and was the deputy chairman of African Gum Arabic Producers Association.

The governor said that we received the information about the passing away of this gentleman, Alhaji Sani Dangote, with shock. Kano state, our dear country Nigeria and the business community lost and illustrious son” he mourned.

However, he also lamented that the death was not only shocking to the immediate families of the deceased “…but to all of us particularly those from Kano state. We lost a rare gem in the business community.”

“It is therefore on behalf of the government and good people of Kano state, that I, the governor of Kano state, am sending our heartfelt condolence to the immediate families of Alhaji Sani Dangote, to his brother, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, over his death,” he stated.

He prayed for Forgiveness from the Almighty Allah for the reposed soul of the deceased. Adding that, “May Allah forgive all his shortcomings and reward his good deeds with Jannatul Fiddaus, ameen,” the statement added.

By Muhammad Sabiu

By Muhammad Sabiu

By Hussaina Sufyan Ahmad

By Hussaina Sufyan Ahmad

By Muhammad Sabiu

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Bauchi has disclosed that five persons have been confirmed dead in a deadly auto crash on Wednesday along Bauchi-Jos road.

Commander of the road safety corps in Bauchi, Mr Yusuf Abdullahi, told journalists Thursday that nine other people sustained severe injuries when the vehicles involved collided.

The vehicles were identified to belong to Adamawa Sunshine and Gombe Line transport companies.

He was quoted as saying, “Fifteen people, 13 males and two females, were involved in the crash.

“Five died on the spot, and they were all males. Nine others sustained injuries, among them were eight males and one female; the only person that escaped unhurt is a female.”

He added that the remains of the deceased had been deposited at the Toro Local Government General Hospital mortuary.

By Aisar Fagge and Uzair Adam Imam

Comrade Ibrahim A. Waiya, President, Kano Civil Society Forum (KCSF), made the observation while presenting a paper at a one-day review workshop organized by Mambayya House, Kano, for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Northwest Zone with support from MacArthur Foundation.

The workshop held at Mambayya House, Kano, on Wednesday, November 10, 2021, was themed “Towards Improving Internal Accountability for sustainable Anti-Corruption Efforts.”

Comrade Waiya said, “With the proliferation of many political civil society organizations masquerading as activists, there is the need for a national regulatory body that will be monitoring the activities of CSOs. The only thing most CSOs are doing now is self-regulatory, while Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has the record of board of trustees.”

Waiya added that another factor slowing down CSOs’ efforts to mitigate corruption in the country is the lack of proper knowledge.

He said, “It is a known fact that some civil society organizations have the zeal and commitment to fight corruption in the system, however many of such organizations lack the basic knowledge to appreciate the provisions of certain protocols, which need to be applied under certain circumstances to effectively, achieve the desired results.”

He further added that “Some of these protocols may include the use of the FOI [Freedom of Information] Act.

It is basically significant for CSOs to have basic information required to be used as a tool in the fight against corrupt practices. And the absence of such vital information may lead a person into committing a certain crime such as deformation of character and the rest, and may as well jeopardize one’s mission,” he stated.

“It is high time for CSOs to start looking for local donors such as Dangote, BUA and A. A Rano to fund their activities,” Waiya concluded.

The event had in attendance Prof. Ismaila M. Zango, the Director, Aminu Kano Centre for Democratic Studies, Bayero University, Kano, Mabayya House; Aqibu Hamisu Garko, CEO, African Center for Transparency and Advocacy; Dr Bello Ibrahim, Deputy Director, Training, Mambayya House; Abdullahi Usman K/Na’isa, M & E Officer, MacArthur Project, Mambayya House; Dr Samaila Suleiman, Program Officer, MacArthur Project, Mambayya House and many more important personalities within the country.

By Muhammad Sabiu