Politics

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 Muhammadu Sabiu

Yakubu Dogara, the former speaker of the House of Representatives, has rejoined the main opposition party a few days after endorsing the Peoples Democratic Party’s Atiku Abubakar for president. The defection is the latest political move by the lawmaker in his consistent opposition to the same-faith ticket of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).

On Monday, the former legislator was welcomed into the party at a rally in Lagos State for the presidential race.

Note that this is coming just 48 hours after Dogara and several irate northern APC officials expressed their support for the former vice president’s presidential candidacy.

This is not the first time the former speaker changed his party, as it’s less than a year since he dumped PDP for APC at the Presidential Villa Abuja.

By Muhammadu Sabiu

Atiku Abubakar, the former vice president and presidential candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), claimed that Nigeria had veered off its path toward unity and prosperity under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari.

In a statement released by his campaign group on Sunday, Atiku said that for Nigeria to be great, it must be inclusive and united.

He continued by saying that a nation needs strong leadership that is willing to carry out the mission if it is to be united.

In the former vice president’s words, the approaching general elections are a rescue operation to save the country’s spirit.

The statement partly reads, “The ruling party, APC, has taken us adrift, and we are far off the course to the purpose of unity and prosperity.

“That is why you and I must work assiduously together to ensure that we recover Nigeria.

“Saving the soul of Nigeria must begin with denying the APC your vote in 2023. They have failed us woefully and must be punished for that.

“But it’s not enough to vote out the APC. We must coalesce into the PDP – the only viable party that has the capacity to dislodge the failed ruling party”.

By Uzair Adam Imam

There have been sharp retorts since the presidency’s claim on Thursday that pronounced the state governors as corrupt.

The governors continue to distance themselves from the laid down accusation, challenging the presidency to identify the governors involved in the process.

Barely 24 hours after governor Nayesom Wike of Rivers and his Benue State counterpart, Samuel Ortom criticised President Buhari over the allegation of corruption against governors, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State also distanced himself from the allegation.

The President, while speaking about the height of corruption in the country at an event hosted for members of the Senior Executive Course 44 (2022) of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, blamed the governors for looting the local governments’ allocation.

Buhari said the ugly behaviour by the governors also encourages corruption at the local government level, thereby inhibiting development at the grassroots.

But reacting to what Buhari said, Okowa, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Olisa Ifeajika, said it was unfortunate for the president to have made such a “blanket statement.”

He said: “I want to say that Mr President, as one who has all the information about issues in the country, knows the governors who fall into that category of the so-called ‘thieves’ he was referring to.

“We all know that our own Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, does not belong there. He was one of the first governors, if not the first, to embrace local government autonomy when it was agreed on just like he did with the judiciary and the legislature.

“He went as far as getting legislation to grant autonomy to the legislature and the judiciary. He allowed them to run autonomously. And, for a man, who allowed these organs of government to have autonomy, he cannot have anything to do with funds belonging to the local governments.

“I repeat that the government of Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, every month, augments the finances of local governments in the state with more than N300 million to make sure they are able to pay their salaries and stay afloat.

“He does that religiously monthly; so, for a man who does that, how can he be among those who steal local government money?

“Our governor is not part of it. You are also aware that the government of Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa recently released N5 billion for pension arrears; N2.5 billion of that was a grant to the local government for payment of pensions.

“It is a grant to the local government; they are not going to pay. The governor did that because the local governments have to fund their activities, pay their teachers and healthcare workers.”

By Uzair Adam Imam

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and his Benue State counterpart, Samuel Ortom, have denied the allegation of corruption and diversion of public funds laid against governors by President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday.

The duo challenged the president to name the governors he accused of stealing and diverting the funds meant for local governments.

The president, at an event hosted for members of the Senior Executive Course 44 (2022), accused the state governors of corruption and diversion of the local government alocations to own personal treasury.

He said the state governors used to collect money on behalf of the council areas in their states and remit just half of such allocation to the council chairman.

He also described the development as one of the major challenges that hinders the country’s development.

However, Wike and Ortom challenged Buhari to name those he claimed were stealing local government funds on Friday at the inauguration of the Mgbuosimini internal road project in Port Harcourt, Rivers capital.

The governors said the president claims could be termed as defamation against the state governors.

By Uzair Adam Imam

President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday accused the state governors of corruption and diversion of the local government allocations to own personal treasury.

President Buhari decried the menace, saying it was one of the major challenges that hindered the country’s development.

He said the state governors used to collect money on behalf of the council areas in their states and remit just half of such allocation to the council chairman.

Buhari disclosed this at the Presidential Villa in Abuja at an event hosted for members of the Senior Executive Course 44 (2022) of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru.

Buhari, who spoke about the height of corruption in the country, said the ugly behaviour of the governors also encourages corruption in the local government system, thereby inhibiting development at the grassroots.

He added, “Speaking from personal experience, a Chief Executive of a state, a qualified lawyer, trained, the treatment of local governments, what they did, this is my personal experience.

“If the monies from the federal government to state governments is N100m, let’s put it at N100m. N50m will be sent to the chairman with a letter that he’ll sign that he received 100 million.

“The governor will pocket the balance and share it with whoever he wants to, and then the chairman of the local government will see how much he must pay in salaries; to hell goes development. Monies for the salaries will be given, and the balance will put in his pocket. This is what is happening.

“This is Nigeria. It’s a terrible thing. You cannot say the person who was doing these was not educated. He was a qualified lawyer, and he was experienced, yet he participated in this type of corruption.

“So, it’s a matter of conscience, whichever level we find ourselves. As a leader, you sit here, with all the sacrifices the country is making by putting you through institutions and getting you ready to lead.

“The fundamental thing is personal integrity. May God help us.” The president said.

By Aisar Fagge

The gubernatorial candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, Eng. Abba Kabir Yusuf, popularly known as Abba Gida-Gida, said we never said we would abolish Kano’s new emirates.

Yusuf made this statement Tuesday during a continuation of interactive session series organised by a coalition of 21 Kano CSOs and NGOs aiming to promote peace and development of Kano State.

He said, “It is APC who are making this campaign of calumny. They went to Gaya Emirate, gathered their elders, feeding them with this blatant lie that Abba would abolish their emirate if elected. Don’t forget in our midst; we have politicians and followers from all these new emirates. They never see any evil intention in us. Had they seen anything like that, they would have abandoned us because they love their localities.

“What these people don’t understand is that Kano people are wise and educated. If you go for a campaign, use your projects and programmes. Stop spreading lies about us and our administration. They made another false accusation about five-kilometre roads that we stole money! [Who stole Kano’s money?] I have been challenging Ganduje for one-on-one debate on five-kilometre roads, but he refused”, he boasted.

Responding to a question about whether, if elected, he would continue with the APC’s uncompleted projects. Yusuf said, “We have been going around supervising their projects and seeing the ones that were properly planned and how they will be completed. Any meaningful project that has a direct impact on the life of the citizenry will be completed. But congested places that are making life difficult for people will be decongested.”

The convener, Dr Aminu Magashi Garba, thanked Eng. Abba Kabir Yusuf, his team, members of the press and all those who made the event successful.

By Aisar Fagge

The gubernatorial candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, Eng. Abba Kabir Yusuf, also known as Abba Gida-Gida, said Non-Governmental organizations (NGOs) are part of his government.

Yusuf made this statement on Tuesday during a continuation of interactive session series organised by a coalition of 21 Kano CSOs and NGOs aiming to promote peace and development of Kano State.

Yusuf said, “NGOs are part of my government. I need creative people who will assist us to make Kano State better. People seem to relegate the power of NGOs when it comes to good governance. They have important roles to play in the socio-economic aspects of human development. Our laws have recognized them. They can even take anybody who frustrates them to court and demand prosecution.

“Our administration will give special consideration to youth development. I, personally, have been supporting youths financially in various capacities, including national competitions. Social media activists and influencers are also part of our plans,” he added.

When asked about Child Protection Bill, the former commissioner said, “We’ll support it. We’ll implement it. We’ll give it maximum support. We’ll bring it back even if it is discarded. These poor kids are being victimized and molested. We’ll not tolerate it anymore,” he frowned.

The event gathered people from all walks of life. People living with disabilities sent their representatives who complained about how they have been constantly ignored by politicians. He assured them important posts such as advisers, MD and [possibly] a commissioner. He lastly appealed to an audience who are eager to see his blueprint, which he said will be unveiled very soon.

The convener, Dr Aminu Magashi Garba, thanked Eng. Abba Kabir Yusuf and his team spared their time to grace the event and interact with the audience on critical issues on health, education, youths, women, the environment, commerce, agriculture, and technology, among others.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

A civil liberty and human rights group, Northern Nigeria Human Rights Advocates (NONIHIRA), has in very strong terms condemned the “unlawful arrest and detention of Adamu Aminu Muhammad at the instance of Nigeria’s First Lady Aisha Buhari.”

In a statement signed by the group secretary, A.A Hakima Esq and made available to the Daily Reality on Monday, NONIHIRA described Aminu’s detention as arbitrary and unlawful.

“The Northern Nigeria Human Rights Advocates condemns in strong terms, the arrest and incarceration of Aminu Adamu Muhammad, the 23 year old student of Federal University Dutse over frivolous allegation of defaming the character of Nigeria’s first Lady Aisha Buhari,” part of the statement reads.

NONIHIRA further stated that defamation if proven is a simple offence for which punitive fine is awarded.

The group urged persons and authorities involved in Mr Aminu’s incarceration to release him immediately and issue him with an apology and compensation.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

Kano’s gubernatorial candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, (NNPP) Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, popularly known as Abba Gida Gida, has called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the Kano chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Abbas.

Abba Gida Gida’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, in a press statement made available to the Daily Reality on Monday accused the APC chairman in the state of instigating and orchestrating violent politics.

Abba Gida said the state APC chairman is notorious in making hate speeches and dishes out vitriol in every public gathering. He noted that this has be addressed in order to restore sanity in the polity.

On the allegations of orchestrating violence, Abba Gida said, there are numerous audio and video clips to support the allegations.

He therefore called on the security agencies to arrest and prosecute the APC chairman.

“We therefore to draw the attention of Security Agencies, all Stakeholders including other Political Parties that are also being intimidated by Abdullahi Abbas to as a matter of urgent public importance take all necessary actions against the person of APC chairman Abdullahi Abbas and his son Sani Abdullahi Abbas,” part of the statement reads.

The NNPP further stressed that if this is not addressed, they would be left with no option than to seek alternative means of protecting themselves and their members. They also said it may warrant them boycotting the signing of the peace accord

“We also want to state in clear terms that if the utterances of Abdullahi Abbas toward political violence are not squarely addressed, we will be left with no other option than to boycott the forthcoming signing of peace accord initiated by the National Peace Committee under the able Leadership of the Former Head of State, Gen. Abdussalam Abubakar and any other inter-party agreements toward 2023 elections as doing same may not guarantee the protection of lives and properties of the good people of Kano state,” the statement adds.