Politics

By Uzair Adam Imam

Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, has lambasted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over alleged false academic records.

Our reporters gathered that Tinubu’s credentials show that he graduated from Chicago State University (CSU) in 1979 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, accounting and management.

However, Abubakar, who was the former Vice President of Nigeria, challenged Tinubu for not attending primary and secondary schools.

The Daily Reality learned that Abubakar had recently approached a U.S. court for an order compelling CSU to release the academic records of Tinubu.

Taking to his Twitter account on Sunday, Abubakar wondered how President Tinubu attended Chicago State University without primary and secondary education.

Atiku wrote, “I woke up this morning wondering how we got to this cul de sac. In 1999, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu claimed he attended St. John’s Primary School, Aroloya, Lagos, before proceeding to Children Home School in Ibadan.

“According to him, his next port of call in his educational journey was Government College Ibadan and, Richard Daley College and Chicago State University in the United States.

“Curiously, in 2023, Tinubu settled with attending only Chicago State University. I am scratching my head. How is that possible?

“Methinks that all well-meaning Nigerians should be as confused as I am with Tinubu’s declaration that he had no primary and secondary education, yet he has a university degree.

“You may wish to #AskTinubu how he attained this feat so that we can learn from his ingenuity,” he added.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Senator Olamilekan Adeola, the Chairman Senate Committee on Appropriations, raised alarm and demanded justice over the alleged atrocious killing of his senior aide, Adeniyi Oluwatosin Sanni, by the Nigerian Army on Saturday.

Senator Adeola alleged that the soldiers operating at checkpoints around Ikeja axis of Lagos State robbed and killed Mr. Sanni in the early hours of Saturday.

In a statement he personally signed yesterday, Adeola stated that information available to him on the circumstances indicates that Mr. Sanni was stopped at a checking point around Ojodu- Berger Area of Lagos on his way to his home at Isheri by ‘security agents’ who asked him to provide the documents of the car he was driving, which he did through a call to his wife who sent all the documents to his phone WhatsApp.

He added, ”It was gathered that the wife called a while later and the late Mr. Sanni told him that soldiers are still checking the vehicle’s paper. That was the last she heard from her husband and the body of Mr. Sanni, ridden with bullets, was later discovered at Toyota Bus Stop area of Oshodi, close to a military barrack.

“In an update about the investigation of the murder and armed robbery by the Nigerian Police Force, through a statement issued in Abuja, Senator Adeola stated that he is of the firm believe, based on available facts at the disposal of the Police, that his aide was killed by a syndicate of soldiers operating under the newly deployed Commander of 9 Brigade, Ikeja Cantonment of the Nigeria Army, Brigadier General Nsikan John Edet, through mounting of checkpoints and robbing of lone occupants of cars.”

Senator Adeola called on the Chief of Army Staff, Major General Taoreed Lagbaja, to direct the fishing out of the killers of his aide for further investigation, prosecution and justice for the deceased as a pattern of killings and armed robbery has been established against soldiers mounting late night checkpoints around Ikeja with similar unreported incidences in recent times.

“Till date, the black Toyota Camry of Mr. Sanni, his phones and other valuables are yet to be recovered,” he added.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

The Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, has reduced the school fees of higher institutions in the state.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Muhammad Shehu Molash, made the development known in a press release on Monday.

According to the CPS, the governor has announced the downward review of the current fees in state-owned tertiary institutions .

The spokesperson cited welfarism and the interest of the populace as the reason for the governor’s decision.

The administration of the former Governor of the State, Mal. Nasir El-rufai, had hiked school feels of state-owned institutions.

The new administration of Governor Uba Sani has decreased the school feels by 30%.

Below is the new school fees of higher institutions in the state:

a) Kaduna State University – Current Fee: N150,000 – Reduction (%): 30% – New Fee: N105,000

b) Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic – Current Fee: N100,000 – Reduction (%): 50% – New Fee: N50,000

c) College of Education, Gidan Waya – Current Fee: N75,000 – Reduction (%): 50% – New Fee: N37,500

d) Shehu Idris College of Health Sciences & Technology, Makarfi •HND Courses – Current Fee: N100,000 – Reduction (%): 30% -New Fee: N70.000 •ND Courses – Current Fee: N75,000 – Reduction (%): 30% – New Fee: N52,000

e) Kaduna State College of Nursing – Current Fee: N100,000 – Reduction (%): 30% – New Fee: N70,000

By Zayyad I. Muhammad

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has assigned portfolios to his Ministers-designate, bringing an end to weeks-long speculation but also bringing to the fore new discussions and analyses on the ministers’ portfolios and the new ministries created. A journalist and an editor, Jaafar Jaafar, said, ‘The Northwest has many ministers but no weight’.

While a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Adamu Garba, said, “It is one of the most balanced ministerial portfolio allocations of recent history. Adamu also pointed out that “President Tinubu – dedicated Infrastructure and Finance to the South. While Agriculture and security are to the North. Soft infrastructure like health and education to the North, and Humanitarian and Innovation to the South. Productivity and Job creation in the North- The North needs more security and agricultural productivity to grow and industrialise, while the South is good with services and infrastructure.”

 In Tinubu’s ministerial portfolios, there were surprises, and there were no surprises, so to speak.

In most democracies, ministers are selected from politicians who contributed to victory at the polls and from technocrats with strong professional track records. Cabinet ministers are not just a team but a collection of great thinkers—silicon valley-thinkers—men and women who can move the government with the speed of the imagination of most Nigerians, and their sense of judgment must be centred on the challenges of unlocking the future for ordinary Nigerians. and also bring new thinking and synergy to the public sector’s role in providing for the needs of all Nigerians.

Most Nigerians expect Tinubu’s ministers to be not just members of the cabinet but to add value to governance; they must be propellers for greater equality of opportunity for all Nigerians. They must be able to build a system that will swing the government away from the traditional methodology of concentrating on only the ‘off-the-shelf way of improving society. 

Some Nigerians are complaining that Tinubu’s cabinet has too many politicians. However, the truth is a right-thinking President brings on board top-notch grassroots politicians to hold the political front for him when the need arises. President Tinubu and the Dr Abdullahi Ganduje-led APC should, as a matter of ‘need’ maintain and ‘oil’ that area. This is where the synergy between the Executive and party supremacy comes into play.

President Tinubu and the APC, as a matter of policy and politics, should make sure that those appointed as ministers know what is expected of them. A ministerial appointment is a call for a national assignment. Nigerians expect ministers not only to saddle themselves with the responsibilities within their respective portfolios but also to be team players that will bring feasible ideas and be at par with local and global realities. Nigeria will be keen to see new ideas for fighting poverty, tackling the skyrocketing prices of food commodities, improving electricity supply, and finding new ways to fight insecurity in the north and southeast, etc.

On the political side, apart from supporting the president, ministers should see themselves as the ‘faces’ of the APC in their respective communities; their political presence and contact with locals are very important. For example, during the 2019 presidential elections, most of Buhari’s first-term appointees, especially from the north, became mere spectators in their states due to their weak link with the grassroots. Tinubu’s ministers may find themselves in such situations if they operate with weak links with the grassroots and poor rapport with the public. In this regard, in the weeks to come, many eyes will be on Nyesom Wike, FCT, and Ministers, whether he will remain ‘a PDP’ or crossover to the APC.

On the other hand, there are some young people in Tinubu’s cabinet, so many eyes will be on them. Their performance or underperformance will greatly impact youths’ participation in governance and politics, as well as give the Tinubu government the ‘strength’ to boast that youths are adequately represented in the government. This will also create a strong link between the government and the youth, who form more than half of Nigerian voters. This would also serve as an impetus for a good image and a sound political strategy for the All Progressive Congress (APC) because young people’s political participation and engagement in governance are essential at this moment.

Lastly, President Tinubu should, as a matter of importance, be firm in assessing every member of his cabinet. Non-performing ministers should be replaced quickly so as not to lose time and also keep others on their toes.

Zayyad I. Muhammad writes from Abuja via zaymohd@yahoo.com.

By Malam MB

On May 25th, 1997, the democratically elected of Sierra Leon, President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, was toppled by Major Johnny Paul Koroma. The development in Sierra Leone disrupted the plans of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) under the leadership of Nigerian Head of State, General Sani Abacha.

ECOWAS pleaded with the Koroma junta to step down but it didn’t budge. General Abacha didn’t shilly-shally, he directed the Nigerian troops under the Economic Community of West African States’ Ceasefire Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) to station themselves in and around Freetown (the Sierra Leone’s capital).

Major Johnny Koroma instantly became scared and sought dialogue which gave birth to Conakry Peace Accord on October 23rd, 1997. This Accord called for reinstatement of the legitimate government of President Tejan Kabbah within a period of 6 months.

Major Koroma who expressed his commitment to the Conakry Peace Accord dilly-dallied and that prompted General Abacha to oust him on February 6th, 1998 and reinstate President Tejan Kabbah.

When General Sani Abacha ousted Major Koroma, Nigeria didn’t experience collateral damage or negative implication because it doesn’t share any border with Sierra Leone and it didn’t have Boko Haram and Banditry then.

Today, Nigeria shares border with Niger Republic and our Nigeria that grapples with Boko Haram, Banditry and so much corruption, wants to militarily oust the Nigerien Dictator Abdurramane Omar Tchiani and reinstate the democratically elected President Mohammed Bazoum. Yes! Nigeria has the military strength to defeat Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso but how can President Tinubu contend with collateral damages and proliferation of Boko Haram and Bandits’ activities? I advise that Niger Republic should be sanctioned until the Nigerien people ask Dictator Tchiani to step down. Ah! I ought to ask again, can Tinubu do it like Abacha did?

Malam MB is a Senior Advocate of the Commoners (SAC) and can be reached via: malammb16@gmail.com

By Muhammadu Sabiu
 
General Abdourahmane Tchiani, the head of the Niger Junta, has consented to look into diplomatic dialogue to break the country’s political deadlock.
 
Tchiani addressed the Nigerian intervention team comprising Nigerian Islamic scholars, which was led by Bala Lau, the national leader of Jamatul Izalatu Bida Waikamatu Sunnah.
 
In a statement signed by Lau on Sunday, he told Tchiani that “the visit to Niger was to engage in constructive dialogue to encourage him and other military leaders behind the coup to embrace dialogue instead of war to resolve the crisis.”
 
Responding, Tchiani said, “Their doors were open to explore diplomacy and peace in resolving the matter.”
 
Tchiani voiced concern about the Economic Community of West African States’ ultimatums being given without the junta’s point of view being heard.
 
According to the Prime Minister of the Niger Republic, Ali Zeine, it was learned that Tchiani was prepared for a conversation and expressed the hope that the discussions with ECOWAS would happen soon.
 
Zeine noted, ‘’We have agreed and the leader of our country has given the green light for dialogue. They will now go back and inform the Nigerian President what they have heard from us. We hope in the coming days, they (ECOWAS) will come here to meet us to discuss how the sanctions imposed against us will be lifted.”
 
West African leaders ratcheted up their criticism of the coup leaders in Niger on Thursday, ordering the deployment of a regional standby army to reestablish democracy there.
 
Since late last month, when the presidential guard overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum in a coup d’état, the Niger Republic has been mired in political upheaval.
 
Days later, ECOWAS responded by imposing sanctions and giving the military junta in power one week to disband or risk military intervention.
 
On Sunday, August 6, that deadline passed without causing the political climate to change. The leaders of ECOWAS have stated that they will only send soldiers in a last-ditch effort to resolve the problem diplomatically.

By Dr. Aliyu U. Tilde

FOR STUDENTS, two days ago I learned about the tragic death of a mother who developed sudden BP after failing to gather enough funds for the last minute registration of her orphan daughter at a federal university in the northwest.

Within a day of illness, the mother died. This got me thinking of means to reduce difficulties for hundreds of thousands of students facing similar challenges on all our campuses. They are well into their courses when the fees were tripled. The students’ loan promised has not taken off and institutions have set deadlines for online registration. Do we sit back as a nation to see the students abandon their studies? No. We must do something. Here are my humble suggestions:

1. Installment payments. Higher institutions should allow old students to spread payments over the remaining sessions of their courses, with the caveat that no student shall sit for a semester exams or be issued his certificate without completing his payment. However, an initial deposit, say 30% of the fee, can be required at the beginning of the session or semester.
2. Students loan: The Special Committee under the CBN which is statutorily empowered to administer the loan should double its effort to enable a quick take off. Remember that the President once said he would like to meet the first set of beneficiaries of the loan in September.
3. Remove Family Earning Cap: The Committee can remove the family earning cap to allow any student to access the loan as the President has ordered.
4. Guarantors: State governments can serve as guarantors for their indigenes instead of individuals.
5. Online application: The Committee can explore digitizing all or part of the application process to reduce stampede at banks and check corrupt practices like extortion of students by officials of institutions and banks.
6. Legislation: To effect these changes, some sections of the Student Loans Act, 2023, need to be amended. This can be expressly done with the cooperation of the National Assembly and the Presidency.

Dr. Aliyu U. Tilde can be reached on Twitter: @Dr_AliyuTilde

By Uzair Adam Imam

Senator Rufa’i Sani Hanga, the senator representing Kano Central, was commended by the Management of Bayero University, Kano (BUK), for sponsoring the registeration of 200 BUK students.

Senator Hanga was applauded for rescuing Kano students who initially thought their academic journey at BUK was over as a result of the increment in the registration fees by the school management.

This was contained in the BUK weekly Bulletin made available on Friday by the Deputy Registrar Public Affairs, Malam Lamara Garba.

Other persons commended by the university were Honourable Abubakar Kabiru Abubakar, member of the House of Representatives, Bichi Federal Constituency, who sponsored 100 students and the Rep of Doguwa who is thinking of doing something similar.

Similarly, the national body of the Nigerian Universities Engineering Students Association (NUESA) was also commended for sponsoring 39 BUk students as part of its support to the less privilege.

The Daily Reality recalls that in July, the management of BUK, in its Special Bulletin, announced the increment of school fees, a development that came as a shock to many students.

The decision by the university management generated a pandemonium considering the economic hardship in the country.

However, Senator Hanga, and his likes, who felt the student’s pain, responded and instructed his scholarship committee to screen the indigent students for the fully-funded scholarship.

Hanga said, “This is in response to the outcry caused by the registration fee increment in Bayero University, Kano which threatens the progress of many students in the university.

While I consider this a quick intervention, I want to stress that more programmes that target the upliftment and empowerment of our people are on the pipeline, in shaa Allah,” he added.

Our reporter learnt that the list of the 200 successful applicants has been compiled and submitted to the management of Bayero University, Kano.

While commending his scholarship committee, Hanga said, “I wish to advise the beneficiaries to make the good use of the opportunity.”

By Muhammad Idris

The attention of the Association of Fulbe Youths Development Association, Plateau State, under the leadership of AY Umar has been drawn to an unfortunate incident that took place at Heipang Village (located at Plateau State Airport) Barikin Ladi Local Government Area on Sunday 06/08/2023 between the hours of 7pm and 8pm.

Facts at our disposal reveals that some criminals gangs strongly believed to be from Birom Armed Militias groups attacked and killed the innocent FULANI Citizens while they were returning home from the popular cattle market in Bukuru, Jos South, LGA, Plateau state.

Victims of the incident were Umar (adult ‘m’ from Barikin ladi) who was killed and Yakubu (adult ‘m’) from Bokkos sustained gun shot injury and currently receiving treatment in hospital.

Moreso, Yusuf Bibbi (20yrs) and Abdulrahman Bibbi were also ambushed around KwallDistrict of Bassa LGA, when they were going to fetch water for domestic use about 7:00Pm, on Monday 7th August 2023. Both of them sustained enjury and they are receiving medical treatment.

Similarly, another attack was carried out on innocent fulani commuters while returning from the same cattle sometimes in June 2023, involved in the incident were Muazu Aliyu (adult from Barkin), Aminu Goma from Barkin were wounded and one other killed.

Few days later another Fulani commuters were attacked in the same area while coming back from the same market.

Furthermore, one Alhaji Auwalu Shanono of Barkin Ladi was murdered on his way to inspect his herds on Sunday 16th April 2023 by the same armed men suspected to be Berom militias in between Plateau State Polytechnic and Airport, Barkin Ladi, Plateau state. His dead body was recovered with about 10 bullets wounds on it and his bike stolen away. All these were reported to security agencies including the Police and Operation Safe Heaven and all promised were make to take serious action but nothing was done to date while the trend continued not mitigated.

This Association has noticed that, this unprovoked act of criminality has been in practiced for decades although was tackled by former Commader Sector Seven Barkin Ladi when he took necessary security measures around the area sometimes in 2018.

While drawing the attention of all stakeholders, The President Federal Republic of Nigeria, Plateau state Government, the media, international organisations and observers, civil society organisations, religious leaders, Christians Association of Nigeria,(CAN) Jamaatul Nasrul Islam (JNI), Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Miyetti Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), TABITAL PULAAKU International, FUDECO, that this incident has resurged and is going on unabated in a time when state Government and security agencies have told the world that all necessary measures have been taken to bring lasting peace on the Plateau state.

It is in view of the above we urged the above mentioned stakeholders and any other interested party to note this developments and further requests as a matter of urgency fetch out the killers in Hipang.

To share more light on the trend is that these Birom Militias gangs do used to pin down on the Federal road Junction of Hipang community fully armed and thereby shut on citing any car carrying Fulani men on the road.

We therefore called on the plateau state Government to act on the issues of security, so that peace shall return to the Plateau state.

We wish to reaffirm that pastoralists are bonafide citizens of Nigeria and Plateau state and hence deserve the protection of their lives and properties as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and International convention and treaties, United Nations and African Union and ECOWAS treaties for the protection of rights of persons and their properties.

We also wish to call on the Fulani youths to show calmness, resilience and eschew all forms of taking the law into their hands and as well have faith that the government will take necessary action in curtailing this trend.

We further wish to state that the enemies of peace should be aware that Fulanis are Nigerians and citizens of Plateau state and therefore, no amount of blackmail and intimidation will make them leave their homes. The ethnic cleansing and profiling that had been ongoing against the Fulanis in the cover story of terrorists to derail the truth in the Plateau must be stopped as a matter of urgency to forestall further breakdown of law and order across the state.

As an association, we reaffirm our unalloyed loyalty to the federal Republic of Nigeria.

Muhammad Idris
FOYUDA Publicity Secretary
08/08/2023.

By Dr Aliyu U. Tilde

How many times have I restrained my fingers from writing on this topic? It first came to mind when I heard His Excellency, Malam Nasiru El-Rufai, hinting that he would not be part of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration. I watched the clip and laughed. I said does not Malam know that he is now a Plc and no longer an individual enterprise? Can Aliko Dangote one day dream of returning to his quiet personal status of 50 years ago?

Once you are a Plc, forget it. You no longer own your life. We own it. You are our property. Our slave. Period. That is the liability you become to yourself when you prove to the public your competence in serving it. The prize of hard work is more work, they say.

I knew the positions of SSG and COS did not fit people of his personality even if he eyed them. Malam is at his best either as an executive or a project person tasked with a very difficult task, like Ministry of Power.

After missing him on campus, I came to know him through many of his intimate friends in Kaduna since 1986. But I knew him from a distance the more when he started public service in BPE, then as Minister of FCT and lastly as Governor of Kaduna State. In summary, he is one Nigerian that has proven his competence beyond a reasonable doubt.

That is not to say Malam, 63, is not human. Nobody can come straight in these positions without stepping on many toes, especially in a country that is as tortuous as Charles H. Robinson described the African footpath in 1892. Those adversely affected by his policies, which were necessary to straighten up things, will understandably complain and write petitions against him.

Then Malam is also a politician, a fierce one for that matter. We have seen that much during the build-up to the last presidential election. To complicate matters, he is vocal, unrelenting, open and many times politically incorrect; yet, calculating enough to yield result. These are enough to court him for many troubles.

One of those troubles is with the legislature. He had a problem in 2003 when the Senate refused to clear him. Finally, he got cleared by the intervention of President Olusegun Obasanjo and went ahead to prove his worth as FCT minister. This time the media is saying it is not about money or even the legislature per se but about some petitions or security issues.

Today President Tinubu needs to play the role that Obasanjo played in getting the Senate clearance in 2003. He campaigned for Godwill Akpabio, the President of the Senate. Some say he also intervened for Festus Keyamo. He stood for two other competent people before: Vice President Kashim Shettima and NSA Nuhu Ribadu.

The President has promised to choose for the country the best talents to serve under his government. Though he had difficulties keeping this promise on some of his nominees, the nation may not forgive him for missing the target on Malam. He should defy Malam’s opponents just as he did for many others.

Both the security apparatus and APC owe Malam a debt. His doggedness on power shift to the South and in fighting to neutralize the effect of last-minute anti-people’s policy of the Buhari administration that would have cost the APC the Presidency are moral debts that both the President and the party owe Malam; otherwise, both will suffer a trust deficit in the eyes of the public. I have told many—and I may be wrong—that even from a strategic point of view, not having a cerebral and politically hyperactive El-Rufai on board will be a grave political miscalculation for the administration.

The security apparatus has no moral locus to abandon Malam either. He stood by it and acted on its reports to literally go on the ethnic cleansing of Shi’ites in his State—his one act that I strongly abhor and wrote against.

The President now has three major contentious issues at hand: Removal of fuel subsidy, dollar deregulation and the coup in Niger Republic. He must make El-Rufai Plc become the fourth.

Dr Tilde tweets via @Dr_AliyuTilde.