Opinion

By Aisar Salihu Musa

Dr Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso clearly stated that, if elected as the president of Nigeria in the forthcoming 2023 presidential elections, the Local Government funding (LG Funds) will come directly from the Federal Government’s treasury without passing through the hands of the state governors. However, some people are now making noise about it, maintaining that Kwankwaso was the one in Kano who initiated that LG funds must pass through his hand before going to LG chairmen.

My worry now is; what is wrong in having a second thought? What’s wrong? We do have second thoughts on many things but that’s not a problem. To some, the problem is for Kwankwaso to have it. This your obsession or rather hatred with anything Kwankwaso will cause you serious problem. Adjust, please.

Politician decamp with you from one party to another, that’s not a problem. They come with their trial and error policy, it is not a problem. Clerics change fatwas, it is not a problem. You run from one girl to another, it is not an issue. The problem is for Kwankwaso to change a stand. Guys, what’s your problem? You should know that, Kwankwaso is still the best among all the contenders by whichever form of parameter you choose to judge and assess. He is just the best of all of them in terms of everything.

In the beginning, Kwankwaso saw how LG administrators were recklessly embezzling LG funds without any meaningful projects that will better the lives of their people. In order to solve that problem, he said LG funds will remain in the account of the state government, not his personal account. Any LG administrator with a project should write to the state government and request funding for its execution. I think at that time it was a good decision from him and it was purely out of good intention. Now that things have changed and he thinks giving them their money directly is better than entrusting it in the hands of the state governments, I think is something we should commend him about.

By Hamza Wankari

Meaning, which technically translates as semantics, plays a fundamental role in communication between a speaker and a listener. Without meaning, human activities would have been on a great decline, or worst, come to a halt, for at the heart of civilisation lies in language and meaning.

No doubt, some English words have a few prepositions with which they collocate in different contexts to convey different meanings with ease. If this is the case, then there is a need to study all the various prepositions associated with the words in our vocabulary for effective communication.

Prepositions indicate time, location, direction, etc., in relation to words. More precisely, in English language contexts, determine the prepositions to be used alongside words. In default on using apt prepositions, there may be adverse consequences. 

In light of this, this treatise attempts to shed some light on the different meanings as produced by the different prepositions germane to the word “market”.

According to Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary 10th Edition, “market” is an occasion when people buy and sell goods; the open area or building where they meet to do this.

How, then, can the word (market) be deployed with different prepositions to make effective meanings?

IN the market

AT the market

ON the market

Examples

I am in the market. (Non-standard)

I am AT the market. (Standard)

Meaning:

I’m physically present AT the market.

I am IN the market for a new English dictionary. (Standard)

Meaning:

I’m interested in buying a new English dictionary. However, I may not be physically present AT the market.

My phone is IN the market. (Nonstandard)

My phone is ON the market. (Standard)

Meaning: My phone is up for sale to anyone interested.

Summary of the treatise

IN the market (to be interested in buying something).

AT the market  (to be physically present at the market).

ON the market ( to be up for sale).

Hamza Wankari wrote via ibrahimhamzawankari@gmail.com.

By AbduIlslam, Abdulsalam, Rukaiyah, & Rabiatu

This year, Sentient Media reveals that every 60 seconds, one animal suffers abuse. One afternoon, I counted 483 drops of blood on the ground and lost counting to empathy of, what blood is it? But what really transpired?

A wounded cow (with blood flowclose to the eye) was being paraded to the slaughtering ground which is about a mile and half (sometimes farther) from the livestock’s market of ‘Yanshanu in Jos. Added to the feeble state of this animal was respiratory mucosa effect, yet a reckless herder (sometimes a guy/boy) hit the cow with a goad on the eye wound because at some point, the cow didn’t move or moved slowly (its front legs were tied together) –immediately the cow fell to the ground due to the brutal and merciless hitting. This was repeated until the destination was reached. Such oppression is irrefutably done daily. This is simply because it is an animal! What a pity.

This scenario conforms to the argument of Peter Singer, author of Animal Liberation that “it would first be necessary to transform people’s attitude towards animal” Over 40 years ago, animal abuse was referred to as intentional act which causes pain to the animals. It sometimes brings too much suffering and even death. It comes in behaviors like beating, starving, choking etc., however, these maltreatments are rationalized in the ill and senseless feeling of ‘they’re animals’. But those acts beat conscience.

Yanshanu Livestock Market is a place where buying/selling of livestock are made daily. However due to its commercial string, most of the activities of dealers inflict severe suffering on the animals. Malam Suleiman Ahmad, Chairman Conflict Resolution ‘Yanshanu Market defended tucking livestock in a crevice space all in the name of transportation from villages to the market or from market to some destinations “we’re here for profits, [so] creating such fantasized comfort for animals will cost much [and] I know people don’t want meat costly.”

And on the issue of market herders inflicting unnecessary pain on the livestock while parading them out to eat or when marching them to the slaughtering ground, Malam Suleiman agreed that the herders sometimes overdo-it “let me be clear on something, due to unrest in our villages, they [Fulanis] protect their animals with several traditional methods and these sometimes remain even after sale – that’s why we use leather [plastic] to choke them when they refuse to stand up. However, we caution our boys on mishandling the animals as it is even un-Islamic and we put them in check with sanctions, but don’t forget, animals don’t understand you, to the good ones, it is the only language they understand, plus there are stubborn ones amongst them.”   

Admittedly, the African methods of animal husbandry values the goad, but the question here is, is it the most effective means of communication to animals? The answer is a capital No! This powerful oppression surely affects the health conditions of the livestock, so Malam Alkasim Ishaq, a vetinary outside the ‘Yanshanu Market condemned the recklessness reflecting that those keeping pets starve, let them stray and the cruel soul even beat, not to even mention some of the heartless dealers. He opined; “these people [dealers] are just here for business and time is money for them. Often, we vets around condemn their cruelty towards animals but you know our society [you become a black sheep for trying to better the system]. However, those hard beating and unreasonable tying affect the overall psyche and health of the animals.”

Whilst the vet expressing his concern, an individual who identified himself as member of Nigeria Livestock Association, Plateau State branch, lamented about his plight on unreasonable tying of animals and torture, because it stops the blood flow which explains the animals’ awkward behaviors sometimes.

It’s expected that such vast cruelty by humans should’ve been curbed by the government, but Malam Suleiman lamented that bad practices should’ve checked with government and Non-governmental organizations’ intervention. “We have written letters to the government but no response, so we can only do what is within our reach. In serious nations, they have abattiors and pay workers, no reckless beating and rush to make much money as we do.” He lamented.

However, going by the global animal husbandry, the vet and his friend pointed out that reforms need to start from the ordinary (not learned) members that made up of the animals’ bodies and organizations. And Mustapha Suleiman, a Vetinary Medicine student of Usman Danfodio University said; denial to understand the psychological condition of these guys [as he preferred to call animals] is what brought about abuses in our localities. He believed that if we pay good attention, we wouldn’t need to inflict pain on the animals with our traditional techniques.

But, it’s worrisome what the harshness of the herders on the animals is costing the host community – ‘Yanshanu. The livestock market is located in full residential area. Often, the maltreatment gets the animals wild – they end up going chaotic for about for over half an hour, smashing and aiming at everyone.

This discriminating treatment persists because humans fail to realize other living things’ response to stimuli – sometimes they’re feeble, they like, dislike; they feel hunger, anger, sick, even want to rest, but only when all these are understood. We should know that it is wrong to inflict suffering on other beings, even if not our own species. But attractive legislation on the subject matter is a priority.

AbduIlslam Kamaldeen Muhammad writes from Bayero University, Kano, together with

Abdulsalam Zikirullahi (SS3 Class) Alhaqq Comprehensive Private School Jos,

Rukaiyah Muhammad (SS2 Class) Alhaqq Comprehensive Private School Jos,Rabiatu Abubakar (SS2 Class) Alhaqq Comprehensive Private School Jos.

By Lawan Bukar Maigana 

Truth be told, Aminu Adamu’s post is not libellous if we look at it from a legal perspective because it is true that all leaders (including their families) feed on the sweat of the masses. And that is not a crime because the nature of their offices gives them the privilege. 

A political officeholder must feed just like every other person. The only difference is that the poor don’t have a budget for food, unlike those leading us. So, it is proper for a poor man to say that he feeds his leader, although not directly. 

Recently, N7.20 billion was earmarked for the maintenance of Villa facilities out of its N21.137 billion total budgetary proposal for the 2023 fiscal year, and it planned to spend N1. 96 billion for the purchase of vehicles (all in the money paid in tax by the masses.) 

The details of the 2023 budget show that President Muhammadu Buhari and the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, planned to spend the sum of N3.57 billion on feeding and travelling expenses. N2. 6 billion of the vast amount was for the President’s office, while N77. Eight million was for the office of Osinbajo. Is it a lie that leaders feed on the money of the poor? 

I believe these and others are the figures Aminu saw, which provoked the tweet that landed him in trouble. But the seemingly intolerant Aisha Buhari saw it and deemed it hurtful. Many see her decision to order the arrest, torture, and arraignment of Adamu, a final-year student of the Federal University, Dutse, as unconscionable because it has caused incalculable damage to her reputation. Everyone has been insulting her due to what many see as her overreaction. 

Her decision has further angered thousands of young Nigerians who are already angry with her husband’s administration which consequently metamorphosed into insults that were way more grievous than Aminu’s post. 

Nigerian youths have enough reasons to be angry with Aisha’s husband. There is much hunger in the land. Security and the economy are not in good shape. To make matters worse, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the federal government have, in the last year, conspired to frustrate the lives and future of undergraduates. 

Mrs Buhari got the context all wrong. Aminu may be right after all. 

After all, it is true that they feed on the country’s resources which can easily be translated into “masses money.” She took his post personally because she is a professional beautician, and it is embarrassing for her to gain weight because weight hides beauty (according to some ladies). 

Generally, women don’t like body shaming. They take offence when told they are getting fatter because they fear that they may become unattractive to their husbands or men in general. Perhaps, that was why she overreacted. Again, her size increase may not have been due to any enjoyment but to an undisclosed illness, which will naturally make the tweet pain her even more. But she should have ignored him as a mother and fighter for women’s rights and youth inclusion. 

I have never justified immorality on social media platforms. Still, the overbearing action taken against him by the Mother of the Nation is unjustifiable and condemnable, even though he hurt her feelings.

The Aisha Buhari-Aminu Adamu situation is a lesson for all and sundry. We can say many things that we believe have no legal implications but can still get us in trouble. Therefore, we need to caution ourselves. 

Lawan Bukar Maigana writes from Abuja and can be reached via lawanbukarmaigana@gmail.com.

By Lawi Auwal Yusuf

An upsurge in food loss this year in some states, specifically those devastated by disastrous series of flooding that destroyed farmlands and carried away the produce, has raised some concerns about food insecurity in Nigeria. Several media reports actually talked about the widespread flooding damaging dwellings, large swathes of farmland, and infrastructure and displacing millions of people, only leaving them struggling to salvage the remains of their harvest. To this end, over 20 million Nigerians were projected to be facing food scarcity. Crops lost to the pandemic flooding coupled with lower yields, exorbitant prices of fertilizer and security challenges are likely to precipitate shortages and make prices costlier.

Indeed, Nigeria cannot afford to battle famine currently as it is facing a myriad of other extreme challenges. We recall that a 2021 UN report revealed that almost half of all food produced would never be consumed. Nigeria loses and wastes roughly 40% of its total food produced annually. Being the highest in Africa, with a total of 37.9 million tons of food that is thrown into the trashcans of households, restaurants, retailers and other food services. It further disclosed that each Nigerian discards almost 189kg of food every 12 months. No doubt, this trend, augmented by this year’s nosedive in the food supply, will famish more Nigerians.

But the big question remains, are Nigerian authorities conscious of this awful threat? Unfortunately, the government’s continued abysmal attention to the problem is evidenced by its lackadaisical disposition in dealing with the issue. The relatively paltry budgetary allocation to agriculture has made us more assured that they don’t give a damn about food security.

To add insult to injury, Nigerians are not yet willing to back away from food squandering, which they see as normal. The problem’s exacerbation implies that this behaviour is deeply entrenched as a lifestyle without visualising its social, economic and environmental repercussions. Wealthy individuals continue to store excess food while impoverished Nigerians remain at the mercy of starvation.  However, cutting food loss and waste is essential as more people continue to die of hunger every day, whereas millions of tonnes of edible food that can save their lives are extravagantly trashed into landfills.

Generally, food loss or waste is the food that is discarded and lost uneaten and occurs at either the production, processing, retailing or consumption stage of the food supply chain. Unlike in the Western metropolis where most food is wasted at the consumption level, contrarily, most food in the third world is lost at the production stage. Though food waste is a component of food loss, the two terms differ, considering the point at which the loss occurs.

Food loss is the decrease in quantity or the quality of food in the production and distribution process. While food waste is the removal of healthy food at the consumption level from the supply chain and usually occurs in shops or at home. Both are mostly caused by poor stock management, expiration, negligence or the indifferent act of throwing away half-eaten food.  

Consequently, food loss and waste undermine the sustainability of our food systems; hence, they cannot be resilient if they are not sustainable. When food is disposed of, all those resources used to produce it are wasted equally. This includes water, land, labour, energy, capital and precious time. Similarly, they have negative impacts on national food security as well as its availability. Nonetheless, they also help in pushing prices up while depleting farmers’ and retailers’ incomes.

It is gratifying to note that the disposal of food in junkyards leads to greenhouse gas emissions that exacerbate climate change. Studies have shown that more than 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions are a result of uneaten food. In addition, food disposal also produces methane, which is 23 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Bacteria produce methane as they decompose sludge in waste treatment facilities and other decaying matter in garbage lots.

Actions are necessary to check this exponential growth in food loss and waste that threaten national security in order to ensure self-sufficiency, maximize the use of the food we produce, increase profits and be thrifty with our natural resources. This will go a long way towards enhancing the efficient use of these scarce resources, mitigating climate change, increasing exports and reducing imports, and above all, supporting food security and nutrition.

 In view of the foregoing, it is necessary to combat the underlying causes like poor transport and storage facilities, unstable power supply, lack of preservation knowledge and techniques, and unplanned buying and excess cooking. Moreover, behavioural change will undoubtedly make a difference too.

Instructively, Nigeria must do all its best, come what may, to steady this monumental failure in food production as the demand for more food increases year on year due to its acutely growing population. Equally important is the need for the government to fill up the broader supply gap created by this year’s immense loss so as to meet up the national demand to forestall dearth in this already ailing country.

Lawi Auwal Yusuf wrote from Kano, Nigeria

By Aishat M. Abisola

A few weeks ago, I read that the federal government ordered the Nigerian Education Research and Development Council (NERDC) to remove sex education from the basic school curriculum. This decision was made by the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu.

This followed the call by experts that sex education should be placed in the hands of parents and religious institutions so that it would not be taught in schools in ways that would not further “corrupt” young children with phones and access to technology.

Adamu stated that since Nigeria is a religious country, morals and values should be taught in Mosques and Churches, adding that it would bring up children with strong morals and reduce the rate of out-of-school children.

When I read this, I was shocked for many reasons. First of all, the introduction of sex education into the basic education curriculum is still recent, and most schools are not even implementing it.

When I was in secondary school, my classmates and I were mainly taught about the biological and chemical aspects of reproduction, not the elements concerning sex and sexuality.

Secondly, how are they sure that sex education has not benefited the youths who are barely taught about it in schools?

Sex education can be defined as teaching and learning about a myriad of topics related to sex and sexuality. It dives into the values and beliefs regarding these topics. It helps people gain skills they will need to navigate their relationships with themselves, their partners, and their community and helps them manage their sexual health.

Sex education can be taught anywhere, in one’s house, school, community setting with trusted individuals, or online. As I stated earlier, I was not taught much about sex education in secondary school.

Luckily, my parents were there to answer my questions on sexual education and even imparted helpful knowledge that has helped me a lot in many ways.

When I learnt more about sex education and focused on what my parents taught me, I learned more about myself, my body, and how I could improve in terms of mental and physical health.

Despite common misconceptions that sex education corrupts children when taught about it at school, sex education can be more beneficial than you might expect. The full description of what sex education entails is as follows:

Human Development

This involves human anatomy, puberty and how it will affect them both physically and mentally, sexual orientation (the different types of sexual orientations), and gender identity (what it means to be male or female).

Relationships

Relationships consist of Interpersonal relationships such as family, friendships, romantic relationships, and relationships with healthcare practitioners.

Personal Skills

This involves areas surrounding communication, boundaries, negotiations, and decision-making.

Sexual Health

Sexual education covers the areas that deal with sexual health, like sexually transmitted diseases, Birth Control, and pregnancy.

Society and Culture

This involves Media Literacy, Shame, and stigmatisation associated with sex and sexual education, the way that power, identity, and oppression can affect sexual wellness and reproductive freedom.

But besides all this, my main concern is how sex education is so callously put in the hands of religious leaders and institutions.

Most parents can be trusted to impart their knowledge about sex education to their children so they are more aware and careful.

On the other hand, religious leaders and institutions cannot be trusted in the same way.

Historically and in recent times, both religious leaders and religious institutions have been known to use children’s lack of sexual knowledge against them in ways most foul.

Priests, pastors, and Imams have preyed on young children entrusted to them by unsuspecting parents.

The more commonly known religious institution to do so are the Catholics, but other religious institutions and their leaders have done the same.

In some Islamiyah (Islamic religious learning academies), Imams have inappropriately touched young children they were supposed to care for.

Some examples would be a French Catholic church that was reported after discovering that its clergy and lay members had sexually abused at least 330,000 children over the past 70 years.

Another example would be a young girl from Lagos whom a Friar sexually abused at her parish church. In 2020, an Imam had taped himself raping a five-year-old girl, and earlier this year, in July, another Imam was arrested for the sexual abuse of seven children.

In October this year, another Imam was arrested for sexually assaulting an 11-year-old. Men (Women as well) who are placed into positions of power are more often than not predators who seek to prey on those weaker than them.

These days, anyone can become an Imam or a pastor. Because of the relaxed nature in discerning whether someone is an actual man/woman of god or whether they can be trustworthy in a position of power, many people get hurt.

Young children should not be placed in their care, nor should they be allowed to discuss sex education with them.
For all we know, they could teach these young and highly impressionable children wrong things and could hurt them badly in the long run.

Statistics have shown that when children have been sexually abused, there is a high likelihood that they will go on to commit the same injustices that were performed on them.

Ultimately, it will perpetuate a cycle of pain and torment.

Appropriately trained sexual education professionals should be tasked with training children on what they need to know about sex education from a young age. This way, they will learn more about their bodies and the best way to know if what is being done to them is right or wrong.

Along with this, their community should also take care of children.

If more than one eye is trained on a child, then any odd behaviour will be noted and told to their parents so that they can take the proper actions necessary.

With these two in hand, parents won’t need to rely on religious leaders or religious institutions to teach children about sex education when children are more likely to be abused by them.

Perhaps then, the government will have more trust in the education system instead of leaving such a delicate and complicated matter in the hands of people who would instead make matters worse than fix anything.

Children are blank canvasses, and teaching them the right things will make lovely and ethereal colours glow on their canvas, but teaching them in the wrong manner will damage it.

Children are the hopes and future of their parents and forefathers; It is with them that a legacy of peace, faith, and kindness is ensured.

I hope whoever reads this takes my words to heart and acts righteously for these children who might be led astray due to improperly placed trust.

Aishat M. Abisola is a member of the Society for Health Communication, Wuye District, Abuja, via Aishatmohd02@gmail.com.

By Abubakar Suleiman

“There is freedom of speech, but I cannot guarantee freedom after speech.” – Idi Amin

The advent and tremendous upsurge of social media platforms have really enabled and deepened freedom of expression as guaranteed by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It has interestingly also destroyed barriers erected by politicians to insulate them from public criticism or scrutiny. However, this freedom has come with some blowbacks. The platforms aren’t the sources of the blowbacks, but the abuse of their usage is.

An issue on the front burner is the arrest and alleged torture or physical assault of one Aminu Adamu, a student of Federal University, Dutse, who was accused of posting a tweet suggesting the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, to be corrupt for squandering the poor man’s money and her body size is a sign of this alleged thievery. The arrest was allegedly carried out on the instruction or directive of the First Lady.

Surprisingly, as at the time of writing this piece, Mrs Buhari or her spokesperson is yet to give a public statement distancing her from this allegation which is a classic case of impunity or abuse of privileges or government institutions. Sketchy reports have it that it is the handiwork of an overzealous security detail attached to her. 

Warts and all, a Nigerian citizen has gone missing, and the Department of State Services (DSS), the Police and other security agencies have a duty to reunite him with his family or take him to a court of competent jurisdiction for whatever offence he must have committed. And, of course, whoever enabled this forced disappearance of Aminu Adamu should also be charged within the ambit of the law.

That said, it is worth noting that politicians or people in power are not alone in the abuse of privileges. What Aminu allegedly did was also a clear case of abusing the freedom of expression and the privilege conferred on him by the Nigerian constitution and social media, respectively. Some people are so engulfed by tendentiousness in partisanships sometimes that they miss the opportunity to network or create value for their business products or brands using social media platforms. 

One of the disadvantages of the freedom that comes with social media is the ability to break barriers unconditionally. It is devoid of a vetting process. Hence it sometimes makes ill-mannered people feel empowered to impugn the integrity or character of people they ordinarily would not dare or attempt doing that too. Plus, others will share this character assassination with glee and without verification.

Tellingly, that politicians or public officers should be subjected to scrutiny or held accountable as humanly possible does not mean they can be maligned, slandered or outrightly and falsely accused with no scintilla of evidence. Politicians or people in power have blood running in their bodies. They have emotions. And bad as they might seem, they also have some integrities to protect.

Bridges have been burnt in exchange for likes or savages on media platforms. Oftentimes effused hatred or unintelligent zingers have replaced verification and validation. In the comfort of basements, unscrupulous people have willingly or unknowingly plunged people into fierce physical or fight online, or even a country into chaos with uncouth written words borne out of unstable emotions. 

Some people just find it difficult to make a point without using insulting or derogatory words, while others will just classically defame or cast aspersions uncontrollably and even unintelligently. 

Interestingly, these people who enjoy and propagate this kind of bashing find it difficult to stomach the slightest of criticisms whenever they are subjected to one. I especially blame no politician or a person in power who approaches a court for this purpose. That they are politicians doesn’t mean their characters or integrities don’t matter.

Therefore, we really need to tread carefully with our engagements on social media platforms. If we derive pleasure in unfettered access to such platforms, then our usage of them should come with a high sense of responsibility.

Let me conclude with a few lines from Kalev Leetaru’s article published on Forbes with the title, “A Reminder That ‘Fake News’ Is An Information Literacy Problem – Not A Technology Problem,” he wrote, “schools no longer teach source triangulation, conflict arbitration, separating fact from opinion, citation chaining, conducting research or even the basic concept of verification and validation. In short, we’ve stopped teaching society how to think about information, leaving our citizenry adrift in the digital wilderness, increasingly saturated with falsehoods without so much as a compass or map to help them find their way to safety. The solution is to teach the world’s citizenry the basics of information literacy.”

Abubakar Suleiman writes from Kaduna and can be reached via abusuleiman06@yahoo.com.

By Mubarak Shu’aib Hardawa

With the 2023 general election underway in a matter of weeks, it turns out that William Shakespeare was right about sound and fury, signifying nothing: All the ObiDient social media noise and online activism will ultimately amount to zilch, zero, and zip. And here’s why!

The ObiDient online movement is still ongoing but packed significantly less of a punch, especially in the Northern part of the country where Obi needed to do a lot of backbreaking work to sell his candidacy. The fan base alone cannot push a candidate to the glory. Suppose there’s one general rule about winning Presidential Election in Nigeria. In that case, the candidate must have the luxury of time, money and a bare-knuckled brawler, which Mr Obi is trying to midwife at the moment. 

Remember in 2015, when President Muhammadu Buhari was contesting against then-President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan? Despite commanding the respect of the masses, he had to make an alliance with some political parties and run to the support of Atiku Abubakar et al. to make it to the finish line. That’s the trick Mr Obi wants to get up his sleeve by romancing Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State. But, unfortunately, it is a  move many ObiDient find uncanny, as some reactions suggest in the aftermath of his meeting with the Rivers State Governor. 

In a piece titled “I think this romance is dangerous”, Princewill ODIDI, a staunch ObiDient and a public figure, wrote: “Obi’s romance with Wike and the likes is gradually killing the ObiDient message of change.” He added, “I strongly feel as a leader of Labor party, Obi is playing a dangerous game. When the chips are down in February next year, all these guys will abandon Obi and return to their parties.”

I have never been one to jump on the ObiDient-hate bandwagon, but the fact is that Obi has to form allies with the people you, again and again, castigate if he means business. That’s politics for you. I’m saying this with neither glee nor sorrow, merely as an absolute political fact. The Obi’s goose is cooked.

But whether romancing with those whom ObiDient consider ‘corrupt’ affects his popularity among the fan base is another thing altogether. After all, the former PDP  vice-presidential aspirant has reshaped the Labor party in his image and still commands the loyalty of a deeply devoted core of die-hard fans, for whom he can do no wrong. 

Money, mo what? Money. Money plays a significant role in Nigerian politics. The last gubernatorial election held in Osun State was mainly seen as a repudiation of the claims that money isn’t a factor. ‘You no dey give shi-shi? Nigerian politics is not for you! You have to spend, spend and spend. Downplaying this fact is defined as “perilousness.” 

Although I understand criticism such as this one pointed at Obi’s way, among the ObiDient is like criticising Jesus in a rural evangelical church. I guarantee you; it would change no views. 

But these are hard pills which Mr Obi should make his supporters swallow. And that’s what real politics is. Breaking the duopoly of APC & PDP will cost not only Shi-Shi but also Bullion vans. I hope that didn’t ring a bell, Lol.

So rest in peace, ObiDients, it’s been a wild ride, but it looks like the world will finally return to normality again. And as much as it’s been fun, sooner or later, Mr Obi will be out of the closet by choosing between you or the power brokers.

Mubarak Shu’aib Hardawa wrote from Misau LGA, Bauchi State, Nigeria, via naisabur83@gmail.com.

By Safiyanu Ladan

The henious activities of bloodthirsty and marauding bandits is taking a new toll in some communities in Giwa LGA, Kaduna state, despite the fact that military has orchestrated a new strategies aimed at mopping them up.

The remnant of these bandits are still lurking in some rural communities unleashing mayhem to the helpless and hopeless villagers.

A joint military and police operation carried out on 18th November, 2022 has foiled kidnap attempt along Funtua-Zaria road and led to the rescue of over 70 people.

In addition to that on 17th November, 2022 the Kaduna state police command has, acting on intelligence report that some armed bandits were sighted on motorcycle along Galadimawa-Tumburku Road in Giwa LGA, deployed its personnel and after an ensued engagement between the bandits and the police, one bandit was apprehended and five of their operational motorcycles were recovered.

The untiring efforts of military and police in checkmating the criminal activities of bandits is glaring as it brings back sanity to some communities. However, much need to be done in order to rid other communities of the clutches of armed bandits.

Some news reports coming out from other communities are disturbing because they indicated that residents in those communities live at the mercy of the dreaded bandits.The horrendous killing of eleven community members and the abduction of 24 others in Sarkin Rafi in Giwa local government area last Friday is a major setback in the security’s ongoing war with bandits.

I was enraged by the news that about ₦10 million ransom was paid to the bandits to secure the release of my cousin who was kidnapped alongside her husband and 7 other couples of just a few months in one of the community at Giwa LGA. They regained their freedom after spending over 40 days in the kidnapper’s dens.

The unreported and underreported incidents like the above-mentioned are going on without interruption in some communities at the detriment of the poor villagers who are always at the receiving end.

It’s on this note that, while we appreciate the efforts of security personnel for deploying the resources to combat the menace of armed bandits, we equally call on them to re- strategize and deal with them ruthlessly.

The life of any Nigerian matters and as such people should be allowed to pursue their legimate goals and ambitions ina peaceful setting as enshrined in the Constitution, without fear of being attacked by the miscreants.

Safiyanu Ladan writes from Zaria. uncledoctor24@gmail.com

By Kabiru Danladi Lawanti, PhD

As the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) lifted the ban on the 2023 elections campaigns, attention has now shifted to analysing candidates’ policies and programmes. In Gombe State, like in many states, the governor seeks a second term. Governor Inuwa Yahaya of the All Progressive Congress (APC) is facing a tough battle with People’s Democratic Party’s Alhaji Jibrin Barde (Danbarde), a former banker turned politician. Danbarde was the first runner-up in the 2018 APC primary and was defeated by the incumbent Governor, Inuwa Yahaya. However, he defected to PDP in 2021, ascribing his action to bad governance in the state.

As the 2023 elections fast approach, the two leading candidates are gearing up to face each other again, not at primaries, but in the murky waters of campaigns and the general election in 2023. Already political permutations and predictions have started flowing from those in support or against the two candidates. With the reconciliation between the Governor and his erstwhile friend turned political enemy – Alhaji Danjuma Goje, many predicted that Inuwa Yahaya would have an easy sail in 2023. Coupled with incumbency and support from a political heavyweight in the state, the Governor seem to have no serious challenge going into the elections.

Things took a new turn some weeks ago when Goje appeared to have scrapped the earlier reconciliation efforts by the APC reconciliation committee weeks before the party’s National Convention. Instead, Goje remains as unpredictable as the weather in recent times. Some political pundits on conventional and social media believe Goje may support Danbarde in 2023. This was very clear when he insisted that all candidates seen as Inuwa’s supporters were to be dropped for his anointed candidates during the primaries. It took the intervention of some party stalwarts at the state and national levels to agree to allow these candidates to participate in the primaries.

However, for politicians, especially those who look to the future of who becomes Governor in 2027 in the state, support for who becomes the Governor in 2023 will be based on the odds for those contesting in 2027. For instance, since the return to democracy in 1999, Gombe state has had four governors, including the incumbent, Inuwa Yahaya. Three of these governors came from the Gombe North Senatorial District. These are Abubakar Habu Hashidu (Dukku LGA), Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo and Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe LGA). Only Danjuma Goje came from Gombe Central (Akko LGA). On the other hand, Gombe South has never produced a governor, though all the deputy governors were from that senatorial district.

Suppose the other Senatorial Districts decided to support the PDP’s Danbarde, and eventually, he becomes the Governor. In that case, it means Gombe Central and Gombe South have to wait for another eight years to have a chance to present a candidate for the number one office. This is also tricky because they may decide to support Inuwa Yahaya, with the understanding that APC may consider zoning the Governorship position to either Gombe Central or Gombe South. Can Gombe South buy this mouthwatering offer and support Inuwa? Others think that Gombe South has nothing to lose on whoever becomes the Governor in 2023, as far as the Governorship position is concerned, because they are assured of the position of Deputy Governor for any election year. It is a tradition maintained by all Governorship candidates in both parties since 1999. 

This may leave only the Gombe Central Senatorial district with a serious dilemma. Already the district’s political heavyweights have started their permutations. Most believe that supporting Danbarde means handing over the number one seat to Gombe North for 18 years. Dankwambo 8 years, Inuwa 8 years and Danbarde 8 years. Therefore, support for Inuwa Yahaya in the forthcoming elections is like a national duty if any of their sons is aiming for the Governorship seat in 2027. The two local governments that made up the senatorial district are crucial and strategic in the state’s political equation. With the state’s highest number and registered voters, they had the highest voter turn-out in the 2019 general elections.

Whatever decision the politicians and the electorates take in the forthcoming elections in 2023, they should remember that it can either make or mar their chances of producing the next Governor in 2027. Therefore, Alhaji Danjuma Goje, Alhaji Usman Bello Kumo, Abubakar Mu’azu, Barrister Idris Umar Abdullahi and other politicians from the district need to look beyond their disagreements and think ahead for the senatorial district. This may sound like another push for regional considerations, but some of these choices usually guide rational choices in politics. While no one can doubt the good performances of Inuwa Yahaya in the last four years, Gombe Central’s support for him goes beyond his perceived performance and anticipation for a more common public good. Therefore, the votes from this senatorial zone should/must be used to negotiate a power shift to the senatorial district.

This is politics.