News

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

The family of late Nigerian artiste, Olanrewaju Fasasi, popularly known as Sound Sultan, has released an album of the late artiste posthumously.

According to the family, he was working on the album before he passed away.

“We are having the one-year remembrance of Sound Sultan, iconic Nigerian singer and we are having his official listening party for the album, Reality CHQ. This was the album Sound Sultan was working on before he answered the call of the Almighty. This is a very special project.” The late artiste’s brother, Baba Dee, said in a video he posted.

Sound Sultan reportedly died of throat cancer in the United States of America on Sunday, July 11, 2021, and was buried there in line with Islamic teachings.

By Muhammad Sabiu

The Borno State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), under the leadership of Bishop Mohammed Naga, has expressed its joy over the emergence of a former governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, as Bola Tinubu’s running mate in the 2023 presidential election.

Recall that Mr Tinubu announced Kashim yesterday as his prospective vice president if the All Progressives Congress (APC) emerges victorious in the next year’s election.

Reacting to the development in a statement, Bishop Naga described Kashim as an unbigoted person, stressing that “those who are not from Borno State may not know, but you and I know better.”

His statement reads, “Gov. Shettima, in the history of Borno State, is the only Governor that has sponsored the highest number of Christian Pilgrims every year since 2011.

“I am speaking boldly without fear or favour because as CAN Chairman, I don’t receive salary or kobo from the Government or any institution, but the facts need to be told.

“For example, when Gwoza people were driven from their ancestral homes, they fled to Maiduguri, and the Governor personally came to CAN Centre in Jerusalem ward two times in June and July 2014. He gave N10 million for their upkeep at first instance, but the victims weren’t many. By the end of October 2014, the IDPs from Gwoza increased to 42,000 in that camp alone. Governor Shettima came again and gave another N10 million.

“He also gave an additional N5 million to Christians from Borno who fled to Cameroon to be returned home.

“Sincerely speaking, as a Christian and a preacher, absolutely, I have nothing to fear about Asiwaju’s picking a Muslim as his running mate because he is not a religious bigot, and I am happy he has made his mind known to the public in the person of his preferred running mate.

“Seeing another presidential candidate applauding him is a plus for him and supporters of Asiwaju. Congratulations to the awaiting president and vice president.”

However, the coming of a Muslim-Muslim ticket from the APC has caused a lot of reactions, with several social media-based activists vigorously kicking against it, citing the sensitive religious atmosphere of the Nigerian society as their reason for resistance.

By Muhammad Sabiu

The presidential candidate in the 2023 election under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has given his reason behind picking a former Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima, as his running mate.

Mr Tinubu who was the governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007 described Mr Kashim as a competent and credible person.

“I chose him because he is competent, capable and reliable,” the APC candidate said.

He made the disclosure on Sunday in Daura, the hometown of President Muhammadu Buhari, when he paid a Sallah homage to the president.

Stating why the homage was paid, Mr Tinubu said, “We came to pay homage to him (Buhari) and to share part of his holiday and lunch. And to discuss the question of my substantive running mate.

“The one we put in as placement has withdrawn today. There has been an announcement to replace him fully with a substantive candidate, Kashim Shettima.”

Recall that it took Mr. Tinubu a while before finally declaring his running mate unequivocally despite the pressure and outcry from Nigerians, especially on social media.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has identified Senator Kashim Shettima as his running mate for the 2023 general election.

Tinubu disclosed this Sunday in an interactive session with journalists during a visit to President Buhari in Daura, Katsina State.

Reports had earlier hinted that The vice-presidential nominee may most likely be a former governor and senator from the Northeast part of Nigeria.

Recall that Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State had on Saturday disclosed that Tinubu had settled for a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

Kashim Shettima was a Barno State former governor who served the state from 2011 to 2019.

By Uzair Adam Imam 

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is not recruiting, the General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr Garbadeen Muhammad, said.

The General Manager made the declaration public in a statement issued in Abuja by the management. 

In the statement, Muhammad urged the general public to discard the rumour in the air that the company was recruiting. 

He reiterated that the information suggesting that NNPC Ltd. was recruiting was false and baseless. 

He stated, “the general public should please take note that NNPC Ltd. is not recruiting.

The statement noted that the NNPC has an official website to make announcements whenever the company intends to recruit. 

The official websites were identified as “(www.nnpcgroup.com); verified Twitter handle (@nnpcgroup); verified Facebook page (@nnpcgroup) and other credible media channels,” he stated.

By Muhammad Sabiu

The families of the seven captives released by the terrorists who attacked the AK-9 Abuja-Kaduna train have been reunited.

On Saturday, the terrorists freed a further group of seven captives after more than a hundred days in captivity.

According to reports, the terrorists released 11 of the remaining 50 hostages from the 61 victims of the kidnapped train passengers three weeks ago, leaving 43 hostages in their hideout.

The release of the hostages and their reunion with their families was announced on Sunday by Mallam Tukur Mamu, one of the negotiators and the media advisor to Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi.

The hostages include Bosede Olurotimi, Abubakar Zubairu, Alhassan Sule and Sadiq Ango Abdullahi, Muhammad Daiyabu Paki, Aliyu Usman as well as only foreign national of Pakistani origin, Dr Muhammad Abuzar Afzal.

By Uzair Adam Imam 

Alhaji Muhammed Jamiu Idris, the Chief Executive Officer of Always Petroleum Energy Services, has been abducted by unknown gunmen. 

Our reporters gathered that Idris was abducted at his residence in Idare in Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State.

However, he was said to have been beaten mercilessly before being whisked to an unknown destination.

A family source disclosed that the men disguised as Sallah visitors before they eventually brought out sophisticated weapons and instructed Idris to follow them.

The source added that the kidnappers shot sporadically to scare people who attempted to resist the kidnapping of Idris.

The Kogi State Police Command has confirmed the incident to journalists. He stated that the abductors went to the house shortly after the Eid prayers.

The kidnappers had not made any contact with his family as at the time of this report.

By Uzair Adam Imam 

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged Nigerians to pray for President Muhammadu Buhari as insecurity exacerbates in the country. 

Barr Felix Morka, the APC National Publicity Secretary, disclosed in a Sallah message to Muslims on Saturday. 

Morka said Nigerians should put the interest of the nation first, adding that Nigerians should pray for Buhari to end the security challenges bedevilling the country.

The party said, “We urge Nigerians to continue to support and pray for the government of President Muhammadu Buhari as it tackles our national security challenges just as we continue to reject insensitive and unpatriotic attempts by some partisans to politicise security breaches by enemies of our land.

“On this occasion of Eid-El-Kabir, we urge all Muslims to pray for sustained peace, security and prosperity of the country as the APC-led government continues to prioritise the wellbeing and safety of all Nigerians.

“On this occasion of Eid-El-Kabir, we urge all Nigerians to place national interest first in all dealings. We must not yield to retrogressive elements who seek to divide us through terror and hate.”

By Muhammad Sabiu

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) publicly apologized on Friday for its inability to transport 1,500 pilgrims for the 2022 Hajj.

Mrs Fatima Usara, the commission’s Assistant Director, Public Affairs Division, issued a statement on the unfortunate drama on Friday in Abuja.

She stated that there would be nine pilgrims from Bauchi, 91 from Plateau, and 700 from Kano State, who were supposedly travelling to the holy country.

Usara also expressed regret for the commission’s inability to transport an estimated 750 intending pilgrims from the Private Tour Operators sector.

She stated that the commission accepted responsibility for the hardships and disappointments experienced during outbound airlift operations to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by intending pilgrims for the 2022 Hajj.

Usara was quoted in the statement as saying, “Sadly, in spite of all efforts to transport all Nigerian intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the 2022 Hajj, NAHCON was incapacitated in discharging this responsibility.

“Majorly due to last-minute setbacks that frustrated its plan to conclude transportation of pilgrims by June 27.

“Unfortunately, the chartered flights option that gave so much hope to NAHCON and the Private Tour Operators’ leadership also became a failure as their IBAN accounts failed accreditation by the respective authorities in Saudi Arabia.”

Meanwhile, a video of some aggrieved intending pilgrims who also didn’t make it to the 2022 Hajj has gone viral on social media, airing their grievances and cursing anyone who has a hand in their ordeal.

By Uzair Adam Imam 

The Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has joined millions of music fans to partake in the ‘Buga Challenge’, the development that took many by surprise. 

Bello was seen displaying several dance moves to the trending song of Nigerian Act, Kizz Daniel, after he alighted from a vehicle.

This was in a video he posted on his Twitter handle with the caption, “after a hard day’s work…. we buga,”

His dance had thrown his followers into wild jubilation as he danced in excitement.

The trending song is said to have been one of the most popular songs in Africa that continues to enjoy massive streaming from fans/followers at the moment.