News

By Muhammadu Sabiu 
 
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has described as false online reports that the party had zoned some important positions in the upcoming 10th National Assembly.
 
The National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Barr. Felix Morka, debunked the report in a statement released on Friday.
 
He said: “The attention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been drawn to a report circulating on social media on the purported zoning of key positions in the incoming 10th National Assembly.
 
“The report is false and misleading, and should be disregarded in its entirety. The party has not made any decision on zoning of positions or offices of the 10th Assembly.
 
“As soon as a decision is made on zoning, it will be made public through the party’s official communications channel.”
 
Recall that the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, disclosed that he has no favourite candidates for the leadership of both chambers who would make up the 10th National Assembly during the meeting with incoming National Assembly members-elect.
 
Senator Abdulahi Adamu, the party’s national chairman, also stated during the meeting that Tinubu and the party leadership would have the necessary consultations to come up with a plan for sharing the National Assembly’s offices.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

A group of persons from different states in Nigeria, under the auspices of Concerned Citizens for Human Rights and Democracy, have expressed their thoughts on the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Kano State.

In a now viral WhatsApp message, the group said they would vote for Abba Kabir Yusuf, the governorship candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, over Nasir Yusuf Gawuna of the All Progressives Congress.

The group predicated their concerns on the failure of the administration of the incumbent governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

According to them, poverty, non-payment of gratuity and the illegal sales of government properties characterise Ganduje’s administration.

They further opine that Gawuna’s intention to continue with the policies of the incumbent governor is shameless and disastrous.

A paragraph in the article reads:

“Upon all the offences and atrocities committed to the people of Kano State by Mr. Ganduje and his cabinet, still the All Progressive Congress’ candidate in the next coming Saturday Governorship elections in Kano State, Dr. Nasiru Gawuna had without slightest feeling of shame pledges to continue with the unpopular policies and oppressive programmes of the present administration of the state if elected. But no wonder! since, the duo are accomplice in the destruction of the economy and society of Kano.”

The signatories to the article include:

1. Dr. Bolaji Raheem, Sociologist (Lagos)
2. Mr. Oluka Jekky, Medical Doctor (Port Harcourt)
3. Mrs. Nneka Obi, Activist (Anambra)
   Hebert Kingsley, Historian (Akwaibom State)
4. Ali Yabo, Trade Unionist ( Sokoto State)
5. Mallam Babawo Ibrahim, Writer ( Katsina State)
6. Dr. Mvandiga Tor Political Scientist, Benue State
7. Ibrahim Zunkur, Pastor ( Plateau State)
8. Muhammad Wunti, Teacher ( Bauchi State)
9. Babagana Musa, Aid Worker ( Borno)
   Saleh Garba , Islamic Cleric/Imam ( Jigawa)

By Uzair Adam Imam

A former deputy governor of the State, Professor Hafizu Abubakar supports Engineer Abba Kabir Yusuf ahead of Kano gubernatorial elections on Saturday, 18th March, 2023.

Prof. Hafiz, who’s still a member of All Progressives Congress (APC) stated this during an interview on Express Radio on Thursday.

Professor Hafizu also blamed the APC government for imposing numerous unnecessary hardships of cash and fuel scarcity on the citizens over the years.

He called on Kano citizens to vote for Abba Kabir Yusuf, popularly known as Abba Gida-Gida, for a better Kano on Saturday, March 18, 2023.

Professor Hafizu also urged the people Kano State to vote wisely in order to get rid of the APC government in the state.

The Former Deputy Governor also asked the citizens to ensure peaceful election while casting their votes and never allow anyone to rig or disrupt the election process.

He stated, “I ask the Kano state people to come out and vote for NNPP. And, they should not allow anyone to rig the election results because this people (APC) can do whatever to rig this election.”

Furthermore, the former deputy governor explained how he sponsored over 1000 youths into various trainings in order to solve some of their problems.

He said that the trainings were to reduce the number of jobless people and enabled them to be self-reliant due to the incessant job scarcity in the state.

The trainees comprised of 700 females and 300 males. Each of them received a start-up capital of N 5,000.

“We consider the situation people find themselves today of poverty. We therefore decided to come up with this idea of training 1,000 people on various skills acquisition.

We gave N5,000 to each of them. We also have the data of these people and many others and we will consider them if NNPP wins the Saturday’s election,” he said.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

The Commissioner of Police in charge of the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Kano State, Muhammed Usaini Gumel, has pledged to ensure a peaceful election in Nigeria’s Center of Commerce.

CP Gumel, in a press briefing on Thursday in Kano, disclosed the readiness of the Police to ensure that the guber and state parliamentary elections are conducted peacefully.

CP Gummel, in the press briefing, outlined the measures taken by the Police to avoid security breaches during the election.

According to him, the Police have undertaken security analysis and upscale the level of preparation across all the polling units in Kano State.

He said, “We have undertaken security threat analysis and upscale the level of preparation for the elections across all the polling units at the local government areas of the state, and we are fully prepared to emplace the requisite strategies towards managing the identified threats.”

Against the backdrop of Police preparedness, CP Gumel sought the trust and confidence of the people of Kano. He stated that criminals that wish to thwart the electoral process would be decisively dealt with.

“Ladies and Gentleman, please give us confidence so that nobody should be in doubt, I repeat, nobody should be in doubt as to the current capacity and renewed determination of the police to deal decisively with elements that attempt to test the will by engaging in political violence or other electoral manipulations including vote buying or use of threats; direct or indirect which are some of the elements threatening our democratic values.

“A similar warning also goes to any person that intends to offer himself to be used negatively by some ungodly political class in the state and urges him/her to take the advice that it will be better to have a rethink or else be ready to face the harsh consequences. Thank you for listening,” He said.

By Muhammadu Sabiu 

Yakubu Dogara, a former House of Representatives speaker and representative for the Dass/Tafawa Balewa/Bogoro Federal Constituency, has declared that he is not presently a member of any political party.

In addition, he stated that he would only support individuals running for elective offices in the general elections of 2023, regardless of their political affiliation.

Dogara stated this on Wednesday while participating in the Politics Today programme on Channels Television.

Recall that Dogara left the APC for the PDP after vehemently criticising the latter’s Muslim-Muslim ticket and announcing his support for Atiku Abubakar, the PDP’s presidential candidate.

He was quoted as saying, “I am supporting candidates; I am not doing any political party for now, I am supporting candidates.

“Everybody knows that I backed Atiku Abubakar for Presidency for reasons I told the whole world but in Bauchi State before primaries were concluded, I had supported the aspiration of Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar who is the current APC governorship candidate and I have my candidates for House of Assembly in my constituency.

“I have Senatorial and House of Representatives candidates that I helped midwife into those positions, and I can’t abandon them for political stability.”

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

Sheikh Abdulrahman Sudais, the renowned Islamic cleric and revered Imam of the grand mosque in Makkah, has completed forty years as Imam of the mosque. 

According to reports by the Haramain Sharifain on Tuesday, Sheikh Sudais was appointed as Imam of Masjid Al Haram, Makkah, by Royal Decree issued by the Late Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Fahad bin Abdulaziz in 1984/1404 at the young age of 22.

Sheikh Sudais led his first Salah on 22 Sha’ban 1404, corresponding to May 1984. His First Salah in the Haram was the Asr Prayer.

Below is the brief biography of Sheikh Sudais:

Sheikh Sudais was born in the Islamic year 1381 in the City of Qassim, Saudi Arabia. He got his early education in Riyadh, and by the age of 12, he had memorized the whole Quran under the supervision of Sheikh Abdul Rehman Al Firyan.

Sheikh Sudais graduated from the Faculty of Sharia in the year 1402, Completed his final years of Studies at Umm Al Qura University in Makkah and earned a PhD Degree in Sharia in 1416.

He was appointed Imam of Masjid Al Haram in 1404 at the very young age of 22. Since then, Sheikh Sudais has been leading Taraweeh every year, and in 1441, he completed his 40th time of completing the Quran and reading the Khatam ul Quran Dua.

In 1433, he was appointed as the President of General Presidency for the Affairs of the Haramain in a decree ordered by the Late King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia just before the Grand Expansion started in Masjid Al Haram

Sheikh Abdul Rahman As Sudais was appointed by King Salman to deliver the Hajj Khutbah in the year 2016/1437. Later, by Royal Decree issued by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Sheikh Sudais was reappointed as President of the General Presidency for a period of 4 years in 1441.

In 1444, Sheikh Sudais completed 40 years of his appointment as Imam and Khateeb of Masjid Al Haram, Makkah.

By Sumayyah Auwal Ishaq

The Governing Council of Kaduna State University has approved the appointment of Barrister Samira Balarabe as the new Registrar of the institution.

In a statement by the university’s management on Tuesday afternoon, the new Registrar will be the 4th of the institution. She succeeds Mr Samuel Manshop, whose tenure expires this month.

Barr. Samira joined the services of Kaduna State University in 2006 as an Administrative Officer I in the Registry Department (Legal Unit). She rose through the ranks to the position of Deputy Registrar. 

She holds Multidisciplinary Academic Qualifications, which include: LL B. Hons (2002) and LL M (2022) with a specialization in property law, both from ABU, Zaria. She also has a Master’s degree in Conflict Peace and Strategic Studies (MCPSS) (2016), specialising in Conflict Resolution from KASU, Kaduna. 

Barr. Samira also obtained her B.L. from the Nigerian Law School, Bwari, Abuja (2004).

By Muhammadu Sabiu 

Yakubu Shehu, a Member of the House of Representatives from Bauchi, has been labelled wanted by the Nigeria Police Force.

Anyone with information that could result in his arrest is eligible for a ₦1 million bounty, according to the police.

The 45-year-old politician is allegedly wanted by the police for committing criminal conspiracy, causing great bodily harm, disturbing the peace, and culpable homicide.

This is contained in a bulletin, which has the picture and address of the lawmaker on it and is from the State Criminal Investigation Department of the Bauchi State Police Command.

The bulletin reads, “Hon. Yakubu Abdullahi Shehu (Wakilin Birni), ‘m’ 45 years old. Last known address: Off Danjuma Goje street, Makama new extension, Jahun ward, Bauchi Local Government, Bauchi State.

“The above person is hereby declared wanted by the Nigeria Police on CRO Form 5, issued by the Inspector General of Police.

“He is wanted in connection with a case of Criminal Conspiracy, Causing grievous hurt, Inciting Disturbance of Public Peace and Culpable Homicide.

“State Criminal Investigation Department S.C.I.D No.1 refers to this Bulletin and gives details of rewards of one million (1,000,000) naira for the arrest of this person. Issued by the Authority of the Inspector General of Police.

“Anyone with information that could assist in his arrest should please contact; 08151849417 or report at any nearest Police Station.”

By Uzair Adam Imam

A dispute over an electricity bill in Ogun State has led to the murder of a 50-year-old landlord, Monday Surulere, by a female tenant, Ifeoma Ossai, on Monday.

It was reported that the woman had a fight with Surulere over the electricity bill, which led to his death after she grabbed his manhood and dragged him with it.

However, The Daily Reality gathered that the woman was arrested by the Operatives of the Ogun Police Command on Monday.

Her arrest followed a report lodged at Sango Ota divisional headquarters by one Olaleye Taiwo, the landlord’s brother.

According to the Police Spokesman, Abimbola Oyeyemi, following the report, the DPO Ota division, Saleh Dahiru, led his detectives to the scene, where the suspect was arrested and taken into custody for investigation.

He stated, “On interrogation, the suspect claimed that the deceased asked her to pay for the electricity bill, but she insisted that until water is directly connected to her apartment as promised by the landlord before she packed in, she will not pay the electricity or any other utility bill.

“This led to a scuffle between them consequence upon which the suspect grabbed the manhood of the deceased and dragged him with it.

“The deceased subsequently slumped, and he was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead by a doctor on duty,” Oyeyemi said.

Meanwhile, the corpse of the deceased has been deposited at the hospital mortuary for a postmortem, and the suspect has been transferred to the Homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

As Muslims all over the world prepare for fasting in the holy month of Ramadan, Qatar has announced a reduction of prices of 900 consumer goods for citizens of the country.

On Monday, the Qatar Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) made the announcement of the reduction of prices for hundreds of goods during Ramadan.

“Prices of more than 800 commodities have been reduced in coordination with major outlets in Qatar, starting from Wednesday, March 23, until the holy month of Ramadan,” MoCI said.

The Ministry added that the types of discounted goods include the most important food and consumer goods required by a family during Ramadan like:

Honey, flour and its products, cereals and corn flakes, yoghurt and dairy products, powdered and condensed milk, cheeses, juices, sugar, coffee and its products, dates, mineral and bottled water, tin foil (aluminium), paper napkins, washing powder, trash bags, pastries and pasta, legumes, rice, frozen vegetables, poultry and its products, eggs, meat products, tomato paste, tea, ghee, yeast, salt, personal hygiene items and household cleaning detergents and edible and cooking oils.