Politics

By Ibrahim Uba

Many observers have already concluded that no gubernatorial election in Kano has ever drawn more aspirants like the forthcoming 2023 election. There are over ten politicians who are vying for the governorship position. All these contenders have started their publicity campaigns, creating political razzmatazz on social media, radio stations, and across every nook and cranny of Kano state.

I carried out some research about each of the aspirants and also studied their campaign activities carefully. Some appear to lack experience and competence to govern the great Kano state, while others adequately fit the job. But I form an opinion that Bala Gwagwarwa, of SDP, is the overall best for the following reasons:

1. Of all the aspirants, Gwagwarwa is the only one who held leadership positions in all three tiers of government — local, state and federal. He served as local government chairman, commissioner for water resources; commissioner for science and technology; and national treasurer of the All Progressive Congress (APC). None of the other aspirants has as huge hands-on administrative experience as he does.

2. From his interviews and speeches, Gwagwarwa is very aware of how people suffer from growing poverty, especially in rural communities. He also seems to understand all the needs clearly and wants of the Kano people. The recurrent statement in all his speeches is that:

 “When I am elected as the governor of Kano, my administration will prioritise vital sectors of the economy. I will not concentrate on insignificant projects of building flyovers and underpasses which have nothing to do with the economic progress of the people. My administration will  empower the poor and restore the autonomy of local governments to help the development of rural communities…”

3. Moreover, while the rest candidates are campaigning through splashing money and political mobilisations, Gwagwarwa’s campaign focal point is explaining his blueprint and plan of action. He is fully prepared and ready to swing into action from day one. I was awed at his recent interview on radio stations, where he skillfully explained ways to revitalise small business owners in Kano.

4. Gwagwarwa is also well-educated and visionary. Moreover, he is a man with a good disposition and charisma that the Kano people will be proud to call their governor.

I hope the good people of Kano state will pay attention and vote wisely. Any aspiring candidate who is inexperienced and/or without a manifesto doesn’t deserve our votes. We tried many, but they failed us. Our inability to vote for the right people is the main problem.

May Allah make the best of choices for us, Ameen!

Ibrahim Uba wrote from Kano via ibrahimuba752@gmail.com.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Peter Obi, the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, denied the allegation made by the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufa’i that he was detained during Anambra governorship election in 2013.

El-Rufa’i laid the claim on Monday at an event for presidential candidates organised by the Arewa Joint Committee, saying that Obi ordered security operatives to detain him some nine years ago.

Responding, the LP candidate stated that he was not behind the directive for El-Rufai’s detention in Anambra.

He said, “When I came in now, somebody told me that my brother, the governor of Kaduna state, said that he came to my state and I detained him. Let me tell you, it is good when these things happen, you clarify them.

“Number one, in my eight years of being governor, only in the first three months did I have a commissioner that is not from the north — Commissioner of Police. And that’s because I met the person.

“At the time the governor said this, it was during election. The police commissioner that was there then was from Adamawa — CP Gwari from Adamawa. The AIG that supervised that election was CP Nasarawa from the north. The DIG that came for that election was from Kano.

“Tell me my power, that I was in APGA — government was PDP and APC. Tell me how APGA person will issue order for somebody to be detained. Even me was detained in my local government.

“However, the only offence I committed is that when they asked me, I said ‘that’s how they treat everybody; that I wouldn’t be in Kaduna on the day of election’. That was the only thing.

“I cannot do that. As governor of Anambra state, I had the best ADC in Nigeria — the best policeman. My ADC, Mohammed, is from Kano. He’s the best policeman that I have ever met. Who will I give the order? How will I tell who lives in my house every day; I’m close to his family; I get up and say ‘Mohammed, I want to deal with your people’, and he will stay there.

“Call my ADC today. I will give you his phone number. He’s the best policeman. He’s a CSP now. So, when people say Peter Obi is black. 2019, I was [vice-presidential candidate], I was a good man. Now that I want to be president, I’ve become a bad man. I did not do anything wrong. I want to change Nigeria.”

By Uzair Adam Imam

The BUA Group responded to the threat by the Kogi State Assembly to revoke the 500-hectare land allocated to the company a decade ago, saying the group is no longer interested in the land.

On Monday, the Kogi State House of Assembly summoned the cement firm to account for why it failed to pay the premium and other charges.

The assembly alleged that the company did not pay the charges despite being issued a certificate of occupancy

But, the management of the company, in a statement Tuesday, said the feasibility studies had shown that only about 30% of the entire land mass is suitable for their investment, while the rest (66%) consists of rocky, hilly and/or undulating areas.

The company also stated that the government had failed to provide infrastructure to make the area accessible, adding, “The land could also be reached by water.”

This is, however, coming amidst a crisis with the Dangote Group over the ownership of the Obajana cement plant in Kogi State.

The conflict deepened last weekend as the state government and Dangote Cement Plc continued to lay claims to the facility.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The police operatives in Bauchi State killed two suspected bandits during an exchange of gunfire and also recovered machine guns and N8.4m ransom generated from victims in the state.

A 20-year-old bandit was also arrested by police in the incident that took place on Tuesday at Maina-Maji village, Alkaleri Local Government Area of the state.

CP Umar Mamman Sanda, the Bauchi State Commissioner of Police, made this disclosure to journalists while parading the suspect on Tuesday.

He added, “Security concerns in our society have assumed alarming dimensions ranging from gender-based violence, thuggery, armed robbery, kidnapping, and banditry, among others.

“This necessitates a review of our modus operandi to contain the current security challenges bedeviling our dear state.

“On 07/09/2022, a patrol team attached to Maina-Maji Divisional Police Headquarters, in collaboration with a vigilante group, acted on credible intelligence and raided a suspected kidnappers’ den.

“On arrival, the kidnappers opened fire on the Police operatives. While returning fire, two of the kidnappers were neutralized at the spot.”

Your excellency sir,

The people of the Yelwa community have recently received soothing news of your plan to re-install a head for them, who will help revive and fight for the development of the community and beyond. The community had a joyous celebration at hearing this good news because they had long been waiting, praying for such action. Sadly, however, the tribalism-influenced reactions from some of your tribesmen (Goima people) show how envious they are about this long-awaited development.

Three to four days after the news reached every nook and cranny of the community, some rioters from your tribe were all over the streets of Yelwa Shendam protesting against the re-instalment of the new community chief. Their protest didn’t stop there; it got to a point where they violently defaced many cars, attacked innocent passers-by and set some places afire. My dear Governor, what are we going to call this? Terrorism or what?

According to their unreasonable, selfish statements, the people of the Yelwa community must have been under the control of the Nsher community head, which is impossible if Justice is considered. My dear Governor, how on earth can a 30-year-old village be a mother to a 200-year-old community? Is this something to agree with? No. Nsher is a 30-year-old village, while Yelwa is a 200-year-old community. There’s 170 years interval between the two. Therefore, Yelwa is, whether they like it or not, a grandmother to a mother of Nsher.

Since November 26, 1992, when the community head, chief Adamu Othman died, Yelwa has been without a leader to date (almost 30 years today). The previous administrations, at some point, vowed to re-install a new head for the community but didn’t keep their promises. It is surprising and questionable for a populous community like Yelwa to be left this long without a ruler. Many more villages in Plateau State have less population, businesses and other developmental things than Yelwa, but none is without a head. Why Yelwa?

Truthfully, Yelwa deserves to be upgraded to the status of Local Government, not only chieftaincy, for it has all it takes to be one.

Finally, my dear governor, the people of the Yelwa community really appreciate your tremendous support and care towards them. You are indeed a true definition of a good leader. Yelwa people have no words to thank you enough. But there is one thing you seem to forget. I have already demystified it above.

Thank you, sir.

Muhammad Abubakar

By Uzair Adam Imam

The All Progressive Congress (APC) in Zamfara said the state government did not shut down media houses but only sealed them for breaking the law. 

The APC Publicity Secretary in the state, Yusuf Idris, clarified this on Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily, saying the affected media houses collaborated with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to break the law.

The Daily Reality recalls that Zamfara State Government, through the announcement by its Information Commissioner, Ibrahim Dosara, ordered the immediate shutdown of the affected media houses.  

Since he announced the order, trials have continued to knock the state government over the closure of the broadcast stations in the state.  

Justifying the move, Idris said, “The information reaching you out there is incorrect. What I read from the government is that it sealed the media (houses), not shut down. 

“The government doesn’t have the right to shut down, it only sealed; no going in, no going out. Shutting down means they are not going to operate and cancelling their licenses; this is the responsibility of NBC.”

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

Reactions trail the Labour Party Presidential Candidate Peter Obi’s visit to the controversial Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi. Nigerians on social media have been saying a lot about the visit. 

Peter Obi tweeted photos of himself with the cleric in the latter’s residence on Monday

He said, “Dr Datti Baba-Ahmed and I stopped by for a courtesy call on Sheikh Gumi at his official residence in Kaduna.”

A tweep with the username, PopularOnyeka, described Obi’s visit as strategic, “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and give God what belongs to God!! You are a strategic man! And I trust you. May God protect you and turn your enemies into helping hands “

Virgo_brownie said : 

” Hmmm. Is this not the same Bumi that’s linked to terrorism? PO, what is happening? ” 

Onyemanchi commented: 

“He is not a convicted terrorist. Does he still have influence in his society? Do we need the votes of the members of his Society? Will their votes be counted? Well, the answer to all this is YES. Visiting him is not his approval of his activities.” 

minospeed007 wrote :

” After this meeting, Sheikh Gumi will talk to bandits to surrender and embrace peace. Peter Obi is the true peacemaker.”

Many Nigerians, particularly the Labour Party presidential candidate supporters, have expressed diverse views on the visit. Hence, Gumi has been trending on Twitter since Obi announced his visit to the cleric.

By Uzair Adam Imam

There has been tension among journalists in Zamfara as the state government shuts down all the federal and private media houses for covering political rally of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The state’s Commissioner of Information, Ibrahim Magaji Dosara, in a statement made available to journalists, disclosed on Saturday.

Dosara said the state governor, Bello Muhammad Matawalle, also directed the State Commissioner of Police to arrest all pressmen that attended the event.

The Daily Reality gathered that the event was organized by the PDP governorship candidate, Dr. Dauda Lawal Dare.

Several reports indicated that Matawalle earlier announced a suspension of all political activities in the state over the resurgence of insecurity.

However, the PDP went ahead with its inaugural rally which enjoyed media coverage by the affected media.

Radio Nigeria Pride FM Gusau, NTA Gusau, Gamji Television, Vision FM, Al’Umma TV are among the media affected by the order.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, on Saturday, visited the Emir of Zazzau, Mallam Ahmed Nuhu Bamali, in Kaduna.

Abubakar also planned to visit Kaduna city and Kafanchan as well as attend an interactive session with presidential candidates which has been organized by Arewa joint committee in the state.

He described the purpose of his visit as seeking the royal blessings and intimate him on his outing.

“My visit here is a homecoming, but it has been a tradition of our campaign programmes to seek the blessings, advice and guidance of our royal fathers.

“I’m also here to congratulate and rejoice with you on the conferment of national honour given to you by the president.

“With this visit, we hope to boost and strengthen our campaign activities geared towards national unity and development,” he said.

“By this, we hope to receive guidance and prayers to enable us succeed in our campaign activities.” He stated.

The Emir, while responding, called on politicians to play by the rule of the game and avoid comments and utterances that may jeopardize the national unity.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The All Progressive Congress (APC) gubernatorial and deputy gubernatorial candidates for Kano state lack the integrity to run for any public office, says the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP).

The party argued that the duo should be prosecuted by now for disrupting the 2019 general election.

This was disclosed in a statement signed and issued Friday by the Spokesperson to the party, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa.

Dawakin Tofa lambasted the ruling party for giving tickets to Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna and Murtala Sule Garo for their “uncivilized behaviour.”

The Daily Reality recalled that, in a viral video, Gawuna and Garo were seen under police custody after allegedly tearing election results that led the electoral body to declare the 2019 governorship election inconclusive in the state.

The statement said, “It is morally reprehensible for the party to give tickets to those whose videos depict them disrupting elections that have globally smeared the image of Kano.

“It is on record and cannot be disputed that on February 14, 2019, the state police command nabbed two individuals after discovering 14 sacks containing ballots that had been thumb-printed in favour of the APC.

“For the APC to accuse us or any other party of rigging is silly and a public show of lack of shame,” the statement added.