Security

By Mohammed Kabir

The title of this piece was adapted from “A Physician’s Diary,” a Daily Trust’s column written by my friend Dr. Fatima Damagum. Titled “First, Do No Harm”, Dr. Damagum counselled her fellow medical practitioners to do no harm to patients with chronic and complicated illness when they are not so sure the prescribed treatments would improve the patients’ conditions. I am myself a victim of harmful decisions taken by medical personnel when I first lost my hearing at the age of 9.

The same principle applies to the newly sworn-in President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. If his predecessor, former President Buhari, had done no harm after carrying out exhaustive analysis of the underlying challenges facing Nigeria when he assumed office in 2015, he would not probably have left the country worse than he met it. I know some people may argue that Buhari had left Nigeria better than he met it. That’s their opinion and they are certainly entitled to it.

Tinubu has achieved his lifelong ambition to become Nigeria’s President. He admitted it is the proudest moment of his life. However, he was quick to add that the proud moment is not for himself but for all the people of Nigeria. I sincerely pray and hope so. Nigerian leaders have penchant for making insincere political statements. Former President Buhari’s (in)famous “I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody” is still vivid in our memories.

President Tinubu must quickly assemble his team and hit the ground running. There is no time to waste. Nigeria is currently in an ICU. It needs urgent diagnosis and quite possibly multiple surgeries. Sectors that need immediate priority attention include security, economy, power and national unity. This is not to say that other sectors like education, health, agriculture and foreign policy are insignificant.

On security, the President should sack the present crop of service chiefs he has inherited from his predecessor and replace them with more competent ones. If he and his team cannot identify qualified high ranking officers in the military and police to fill the top positions and drive his national security agenda, he should just manage with the current ones. The new President should please do no harm. Any thoughtless attempts to replace the service chiefs with indolent or incompetent ones will spell greater disaster for our country and worsen the prevailing security situation.

On the economy, the President needs to rescind his ambiguous statement regarding fuel subsidy removal. I am not sure it was a carefully thought-out policy statement. A first-hand and
more painstaking analysis is necessary to decide whether or not the fuel subsidy should be sustained. Former President Buhari who repeatedly called the fuel subsidy a scam before his ascension to power could not do away with it for eight long years. I am sure there is more to it than what the anti-subsidy elements are telling us.

It may be absolutely true that the fuel subsidy has been benefiting the affluent class. However, the reckless and ill-timed removal has translated to exponential rise in fuel price and caused a general galloping inflation. Nigerians are already fed up with the incoherent policies of the ruling party under former President Buhari and any attempts by President Tinubu to push for policies that will further aggravate the already precarious situation of the masses is likely to trigger nationwide anger and discontent.

President Tinubu should focus on blocking leakages in the oil sector, place a total ban on smuggling of petroleum products through our ever-porous borders and impose severe penalties on smugglers. The new administration should liaise with the Dangote Refinery to ensure availability of petroleum products, support the completion of the ongoing BUA Refinery, encourage the development and operational efficiency of modular refineries, and make concentrated efforts to revive our ailing refineries. Otherwise, President Tinubu should retain the subsidy payments and do no harm.

Still on the national economy, the President’s order for sacking the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and the directives given to the relevant law enforcement agencies to immediately arrest and prosecute him for economic crimes and sabotage is a timely idea. No apex bank governor in the history of Nigeria has done so much harm and caused chaos and suffering to the unsuspecting citizens of Nigeria like Mr. Godwin Emefiele. The President’s statement on the unification of exchange rates is a good move but should be done with caution. His economic management team must come together and help him make informed decisions. Otherwise, he should just maintain the status quo and do no harm.

On power, the new President should declare state of emergency, set up a high-powered committee to review the current arrangements pertaining to the generation and distribution of electricity nationwide. The recent dispute between market operator and distribution companies caused avoidable intermittent blackouts across the country and crippled businesses worth billions of Naira. It is becoming quite obvious that a cabal has hijacked the power sector and it is fraudulently profiting from the present generation and distribution arrangements. The President should maintain status quo and do no harm if he cannot implement urgent reforms needed to guarantee uninterrupted power supply and foster the growth of SMEs.

On national unity, the country has never been so polarized. The Muslim-Muslim ticket generated enormous anger and pitted so many millions of Nigerians against one another. The new President should initiate people-oriented policies and programs that foster harmonious coexistence among Nigerias from diverse backgrounds. President Tinubu should work with the national assembly to enact relevant legislations that will transform the present six geo-political zones into six regional development agencies and foster inter-regional cooperation, as well as healthy inter-regional competition. If the president has no interest in prioritizing national integration and harmony, he should do no harm by allowing his belligerent supporters and overzealous political associates to calumniate and disparage members of the opposition and anyone who criticizes his policies.

On a final note, it appears the president is someone who is so eager to make statements. He should be made aware that the office he now occupies demands the highest level of restraint. His words must be carefully chosen in order not to jeopardize our staggering economy or the already fragile national unity. However, still President Tinubu needs to speak regularly to Nigerians about his policies and programs but also avoid making statements that are open to unnecessary speculations and allusions. Once again, president Tinubu, please do no harm. If you are not so sure about the feasibility, workability and sincerity of any proposed policy or action, just maintain the status quo ante bellum. So many millions of Nigerians, including those who did not vote for you are sincerely rooting for you and praying that you succeed.

Mohammed Kabir sent this article from Kaduna and can be reached via mohammedkabir.ibrahim@gmail.com

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Youths Society for the Prevention of Infectious Deseases and Social Vices (YOSPIS) has urged the relevant stakeholders in Kano state to declare a state of emergency over a lingering issue of phone-snatching that has been taking the lives of people in Kano on a daily basis.

Zainab Nasir Ahamd, The YOSPIS Executive Director, stated this passionate plea on behalf of the Kano state people in a press conference by the organization on Tuesday.

Phone snatching has become a major security threat in the state. The armed thugs involved in the practice have murdered several innocent people and left hundred others with minor or major injuries.

An increase in the number of the cases recorded has continued to strike terror in the mind of the residents as the intoxicated thugs spare no one during their “phone or soul” operation.

Ahmad lamented that, “Phone snatching has become a major security concern among Kano residents of the state as nobody escapes it, over the past few months, the issue has become increasingly prevalent, causing a serious insecurity situation in the state.

“The problem has reached an alarming stage, with reports of armed thugs mostly on Keke Napep especially attacking innocent individuals and snatching their phones daily.

“The phone snatchers are now alleging turning to armed robbers and vampires using dangerous weapons to attack innocent souls inform of robbing and stealing their phones and other valuable items.

“However, countless people were stabbed to death by the phone snatchers. The situation has recently grown to the level that the snatchers operate in the daytime invading houses in various communities. This is said to be alarming and pathetic to the history of the Kano state.

“The youth of Kano State recognizes the critical roles security plays in ensuring peace and stability within our communities. We acknowledge the importance of youth engagement in security matters and commit ourselves to promote security and peaceful coexistence within communities,” she stated.

According to her, an effective communication and coordination between the police, traffic police, and other security agencies are crucial in combating phone snatching in Kano State.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

A man identified as Idris Aminu, has allegedly murdered his 75- years- old stepmother in the Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State.

The incident happened in the afternoon of Monday while the deceased was having her siesta.

According to reports, Aminu clubbed the stepmother, Salamatu Aminu to death with a pestle after failed attempts to poison her.

The accused had accused the deceased of witchcraft and blamed her for his failures in life.

Confirming the incident, the Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer, William Ayah said the suspect has been arrested by the command and will be charged to court as soon as possible.

He further disclosed that the old woman was sleeping when her stepson killed her with a pestle.

By Uzair Adam Imam

A bitter dispute between two neighbours in Kano resulted in a bloodbath when one of the men, Amir Sa’idu, allegedly descended on the other with several stabs.

Sa’idu was said to have stabbed his neighbour, Muktar Abubakar, with a pair of scissors on his forehead.

The Daily Reality gathered that the incident, which happened in Unguwa Uku, Kano, led to Abubakar developing a partial stroke.

Our reporters also learned that a Kano State Sharia Court sitting in Unguwa Uku had remanded Amir for his actions.

The prosecutor, Aliyul Abideen, told the court that the victim developed several illnesses after the incident.

He added that the illness later led to a partial stroke and that he was now receiving treatment in a hospital.

However, the suspect pleaded guilty to the charge.

But the judge, Nura Yusuf Ahmad, ordered the suspect remanded in prison until June 12.

He added that the case would remain pending until the victim’s situation has been reviewed.

By Uzair Adam Imam

A terror struck on Kagarko area of southern Kaduna when bandits reportedly stormed the palace of the Emir of Kagarko and kidnapped nine of his children and his youngest wife.

Several reports from the state indicated that the bandits, who stormed the area around 11:15 pm, also took away the emir`s grand children and three other residents in the area.

An anonymous source revealed that no sooner had the bandits arrived at the area than they headed directly to the Emir`s residence.

He stated that, “They took away his youngest wife, nine children and grandchildren but the wife escaped and returned back home.

”The bandits also went ahead to kidnap a lady, three other young men and subsequently injured one Audu of Ungwan Pah.”

Meanwhile, The Daily Reality gathered that the victim has been taken to the hospital where he is receiving medical treatment.

“The bandits also killed one herdsman in Kuchimi village and looted seven shops in Janjala village (both in Kagarko LG) on their way back,” the source added.

DSP Muhammed Jalige, the Kaduna Police spokesman, could not be reached for a comment at of the time of filing this report.

By Muhammadu Sabiu  

Representatives of the warring factions in Sudan have gathered in Saudi Arabia for face-to-face peace talks for the first time since the war broke out in mid-April. 

There will be talks sponsored by Saudi Arabia and the United States between the country’s military and the RSF security forces. Several previous ceasefire agreements have failed since the start of the war a few weeks ago. 

Both sides said they would agree to a ceasefire to allow civilians to leave the areas where the war is most intense. On Saturday, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia, Faisal bin Farhan, welcomed the representatives of both parties who arrived in the country for the reconciliation talks. 

He said he hoped the talks would end the conflict and restore peace and security to the country. General Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who leads the RSF forces, stated on his Twitter page that the RSF welcomed the decision to cease fire in order to be able to send support into the country. 

He also said that the RSF is ready to return power to the hands of civilians in the country.

Ibrahim Mukhtar and Dubai Ado

The fierce war between the Sudanese soldiers and some rebels has already scattered and shattered the country, and now almost all of the foreigners staying in Sudan have looked for their ways out of the war-torn country.

Many countries, as reported, have already evacuated their citizens, but Nigerians have been stranded for nearly a week. However, an evacuation effort has already started since yesterday, were most of the stranded Nigerian students are now on their way back to Nigeria.

According to Hamid Alhassan, one of the popular Nigerian students in Sudan who kept on calling the attention of the authorities concerned about the situation on the ground, he confirmed that buses were provided for the Nigerian students to be taken out of the war zone. He posted that “We are now in Atbara, 6hrs and 287km away from Khartoum. We still have another 7hrs and 492km to go to Port Sudan, the final extraction point.

TDR confirmed that Hamid has been reporting the development right from the beginning through live streaming and telling the Nigerian authorities and the whole world about the situation. Sometimes heavy gunfire from the anti-aircraft gun was heard while he was explaining the situation on the ground. According to him, the Nigerian students suffered traumatic experiences during their waiting period while all other nationals were evacuated.

Another student who sent viral videos online, Fauziyya, also sent another video praising the Nigerian government and thanking all those who have shared their stories with the world. She said that they are now very happy and are about to return to Nigeria. She also appealed to all to continue for their safe return to Nigeria as they are right now on their way.

initially, there were reports of some corrupt practices and dubious transactions which were said to have crept in between the Nigerian embassy in Sudan, the bus drivers and the neglect by the Nigerian authorities on the evacuation. However, the students are now confirmed to be out of Khartoum, and they will hopefully reach Nigeria on Monday.

By Muhammadu Sabiu  

Professor Onje Gye-Wado, a former deputy governor of Nasarawa State, has been abducted by gunmen who are believed to have entered his town, Gwagi, in the early hours of Friday. 

According to a family member who confirmed the occurrence, the kidnappers entered the property through the fence, broke in through his wife’s window, and then took him to an unidentified location. 

The source said, “His wife came in for Easter celebration and they broke into the house through her widow and took him away to an unknown destination. We are hoping that the security agencies will make efforts towards rescuing him unhurt.” 

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Ramhan Nansel, confirmed the abduction and said the police were making efforts to rescue him unharmed.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Department of State Service (DSS) on Saturday raised the alarm over an evil plan by some people to cause nationwide violence in the country.

Dr Peter Afunanye, the Public Relations Officer of the DSS, disclosed this in a statement he made available to journalists today.

Afunanye said the violence was meant to disrupt peace, law and order in the country. He also warned those behind the plan to abandon their plot.

He added that the service would continue to take necessary measures to checkmate these elements who do not wish the country well.

The statement said: “The Service hereby warns those desperate to cause a breakdown of law and order to desist from that.

“It is evident that some aggrieved politicians are already taking advantage of this legal process. This, without a doubt, is the beauty of democracy. It is strongly believed that this approach enhances peace and security. All and sundry should cherish it.

“Be that as it may, the DSS will not tolerate a situation where persons and/or groups take laws into their hands and champion anarchy.

“Those peddling fake news, hate speech and all forms of false narratives as basis to ignite violence or pit the people against the present or incoming administrations, at the Federal, State and Parliamentary levels, should stop forthwith.

“Those inciting violence have nothing to gain as doing so will consume not only them but also the innocent. It is otherwise disturbing to see respected personalities use their platforms to mislead or incite citizens. This, to say the least, does not augur well for peaceful coexistence and general order.

“Therefore, the Service will continue to take necessary measures to checkmate these elements who do not wish the country well.

“This is to ensure that a conducive environment is provided for citizens and residents to pursue their legitimate businesses. A stitch in time, they say, saves nine. Let all be guided,” Afunanya warned.

By Ibrahym A. El-Caleel

First, I am neither a propagandist nor an apologist of any of the personalities mentioned in this article. I am a Nigerian with keen interest in the Nigeria project.

Gov Nasir El-Rufai is many things. I used to say Governor Hajjaj bn Yusuf Al-Thaqafiy of the Umayyad Dynasty and Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State share some leadership traits. Both of them are efficient leaders who lead with uncommon pragmatism. They set and achieve their goals not minding whose ox is gored in the process. They made stellar achievements that haven’t been recorded by their predecessors. Both Hajjaj and El-Rufai are vicious in handling political rivalry. They fight it with mightiness, or what Robert Greene would say; crush your enemy totally. Juxtapose everything that Hajjaj did in Iraq with El-Rufai’s lockdown during Covid; mass sackings or what he calls right-sizing; demolition of houses. How El-Rufai demolished the house of his political rival and a serving senator, Suleiman Othman Hunkuyi is an example of how extreme he can handle political rivalry. So this is a man who you should ordinarily avoid when selecting a wrestling mate in the political ring. But somehow, the Kaduna Christian South establishment seemed not to have studied the personality close enough.

Their melodrama was so graphical that they presented the region as a sworn political opposition to El-Rufai. From 2015-2019, El-Rufai’s deputy, the Late Arc Barnabas Bala Bantex was from that region and a Christian himself. They have been friends from their university days and worked amicably as leaders of Kaduna State. El-Rufai would travel and give Bantex the acting governor capacity. But that hasn’t fetch El-Rufai any political capital from the region where his deputy hails from. In 2019, Bantex decided to contest for a senatorial seat in the same Kaduna Christian South but he failed the election. Thanks or no thanks to his dining with a man whose politics they are not in good terms with. On his part, El-Rufai felt he has nothing to gain politically from a people who abhor his politics. So, he decided to pick a Muslim running mate from the minority in that region. He was willing to test the depth of the river with both feet. He must be a daring researcher to experiment a Muslim-Muslim ticket in Kaduna State. No one has tried it since the return of democracy in 1999. He took the calculated risk and it eventually worked. Today, anyone can try it knowing that it flies to victory.

Kaduna State looks like Plateau State from the demographics. El-Rufai must have borrowed the template from neighbouring Plateau State, which despite having a significant Muslim population, have always fielded a Christian-Christian ticket which has always succeeded. It has never been a Christian-Muslim ticket in Plateau. We underestimate these politicians, but they are cunning. We waste so much time insulting and criticising them, while they study us carefully. Bravo to them. In this article, let’s review how they successfully study and beat the intellect of the proletariat. When did the choice of a running mate began to matter?

Five Nigerian heads of state have died while in office. Three were killed in bloody coups, while only two died from natural causes to pass the leadership mantle to their deputies. Few civilian governors died in office to give way to their deputies. In conclusion, most elected leaders complete their tenure. However, there is a developing appetite to discuss the possible death of a president or governor. The main aim is to develop some vibrancy around the offices of Deputy Governor and Vice President; to show that it matters.

These two ”assisting” offices are largely inert. When you occupy either of them, then literally, the only freedom you have is the freedom to choose the type of tea you drink in your office. The president/governor is the man who calls the shots. You don’t get to do much “to your people” unless Oga gives you the go ahead. You will be visibly absent in the news. Indigenes of your village will unconsciously forget that they have their brother in government. I explained this better in the long Hausa article I wrote in defence of VP Atiku who is constantly fired that he hasn’t done anything for the north.

If you ask my view, I would say the Vice President and Deputy Governor positions are ceremonial. Unless you have a boss like President Buhari who will gladly give you the “Acting President” for two months to show your muscle; or you have a boss like Gov El-Rufai who will give you “Acting Governor” position to swing the armchair for 3 weeks. Many ogas never give their deputies any chance to do something tangible. If a deputy is quite ambitious, then his Oga’s men (aka cabal) will easily notice it. They will set him at loggerheads with Oga. He is eyeing your seat! This is how Ogas and their deputies usually start their fight. Go and verify!

How was VP Goodluck Jonathan faring under President Yar’Adua? Was he doing anything spectacular in his native Niger-Delta region? Was Deputy Governor Ramalan Yero even in the mass media while Gov Patrick Yakowa was calling the shots in Kaduna? Deputies are not even visible, talk less of executing anything so serious. VP Yemi Osinbajo is only lucky that President Buhari is a nice Oga. Yemi Osinbajo could even use his ad-hoc “Acting President” muscle to dismiss DG SSS, Lawal Daura. He was given the opportunity as an Acting President to swear-in Justice Walter Onnoghen as Chief Justice of Nigeria after Buhari kept the judge in an acting capacity. Buhari is a soft and simple Oga. No Nigerian Vice President in the last 24 years enjoyed this opportunity and audacity. It was on this basis that I made my case saying VP Atiku was being unfairly flogged over something that was beyond his control. In his case, he was not just ambitious, he was fighting with Oga’s third term agenda. How could Oga give him any breathing space to look politically relevant in his region?

Anyway, back to my main discussion:

Today, these deputy posts have only become a discussion topic because politicians are playing to the gullibility of the fairly-conscious electorate. Religion is serious and appeals to the sensibilities of the average electorate. In a state like Plateau with a very large number of Muslim population, it has always been a Christian-Christian leadership. Currently in Kaduna, APC is hosting a Muslim-Muslim ticket, while PDP is hosting a Muslim-Christian ticket. In Plateau State, both APC and PDP are hosting Christian-Christian tickets. The same faith ticket in Plateau has become a culture in such a way that no one is even talking against it any more. Any major political party that dares host a Muslim deputy governor in Plateau State is already wearing a political disadvantage. Ditto Taraba and Benue States.

El-Rufai and Kaduna APC have understood that a Muslim-Muslim ticket in Kaduna appeals to the majority of the voters in the state as well. It worked perfectly in 2019, this is why the template is re-applied in 2023. The only reason why the success is not guaranteed this time around is because of El-Rufai’s excesses in mass layoffs, demolitions, prolonged lockdown of the major cities and markets during the pandemic and other anti-proletariat actions. This is why some voters are thinking they need to punish El-Rufai by not voting his anointed candidate in the APC. But religion is something we place above everything. When the average voter remembers the Plateau and Taraba scenarios, his mind will draw him closer to vote for the Muslim-Muslim ticket in favour of the APC. Especially since this time around, El-Rufai is not the face on the ticket. Uba Sani is largely seen as generous and will not be as socioeconomically toxic as his friend. This is why Uba Sani has better chances of coasting to victory than Isah Ashiru. 



If the APC makes it to the Kashim Ibrahim House another time, then the PDP might have no choice than to also start adopting a Muslim-Muslim ticket effective 2027. I told you that both APC and PDP are fielding Christian-Christian tickets in neighbouring Plateau State. No political party exists to appeal to your personal religious sentiments. What maters to every political party is to win elections by virtue of what majority of the electorate are okay with. This is why it was laughable watching some Islamic scholars on their pulpits explaining how the Tinubu-Shettima ticket is the next best thing to Islam since Salahuddeen Al-Ayyubiy. It is all politics!

Tinubu is a veteran politician. He knows that picking a northern Christian means he wants the PDP to defeat him as early as 8:00 am on the election day. In your right senses, do you think Tinubu believes that Yakubu Dogara or Babachir Lawal as Christian northerner will earn him the huge political capital laden in the populous Muslim North? It is said that Yoruba Muslims are a minority when you look at the entire population of Southern Nigerian. So Tinubu emerged from the so-called minority there, then he will come to the north and pick a running mate from the Christian minority again? Two minorities on a ticket? Isn’t that a recipe for defeat? This was why he picked Shettima; to tap into the political capital in the Muslim North. Not because he will launch Shari’a in Abuja. If he was that type, he wouldn’t be confidently telling you his wife is Christian. Expectedly, the average Nigerian christian electorate ran away from that ticket as if it was sponsored by ISIS; while the average Nigerian muslim electorate welcomed it as if it was formed by Shehu Usman Danfodio 200 years ago. But it was all politics! Apologies to Simon Kolawole. Tells you that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu knows his onions. A long time ago, even Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has testified that Tinubu is a great politician. 



The same faith ticket will still be a key discussion in the 2027 polls especially if Tinubu is able to get it correctly on either security or economy, or both. These two issues are the main troubles affecting the north at this time. Even if he fails every other thing, but gets these two correctly, then the north will still be so passionate about the Muslim-Muslim ticket again. The average northern electorate will only have second thoughts if he sees the same Buhari poor scorecard is what Tinubu is generating. This is when the opposition parties can have a space to gain some votes, just like we are seeing in Kaduna. Uba Sani’s strongest opponent is not Isah Ashiru. It is Gov Nasir El-Rufai. Had people not felt that El-Rufai mercilessly dealth with them, then Isah Ashiru would have been a walk over for Uba Sani. The mere mention of Muslim-Muslim ticket will command a huge voter turnout, and Uba Sani would not have so much to worry about. Especially since Uba Sani appears to be more qualified and ready for the job than Isah Ashiru.

Same-faith tickets give very little room to discuss what matters in a nation like ours. No time to discuss quality of the candidates and what they have to offer for our myriad of problems. In 2023, Nigeria that used to be richer than Singapore does not have a stable electricity; her universities could be closed for a whole academic session because of striking lecturers; her doctors are leaving its underfunded health sector. Many pressing issues. But politicians are using religion to take away the minds of the suffering electorate from all these pressing needs.

It shall be well, someday!

Ibrahiym A. El-Caleel writes from Zaria, and is reachable via caleel2009@gmail.com