By Uzair Adam

The Presidency has refuted claims that Vice President Kashim Shettima was recently denied access to the Presidential Villa, describing the report as completely false and misleading.

In a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice-President), Mr. Stanley Nkwocha, condemned the report as “a deliberate and well-planned orchestration of falsehood.”

Nkwocha noted that the story was far removed from reality and could only gain traction among individuals unfamiliar with the operations of the Nigerian government.

He urged the public to disregard the misleading publication and called on the media to rely on credible sources while treating sensational claims with caution.

He decried what he described as a growing pattern of misinformation targeted at the Vice President and his office, all in an attempt to sow discord within the Presidency.

“The most recent of these fabricated stories claims that the Vice President was refused entry into the Villa by armed military units — a wild tale that reflects a combination of wishful thinking and misinformation,” Nkwocha stated.

He noted that nothing of such nature ever occurred and described the publication by obscure blogs as a desperate move to mislead the public and tarnish the image of both the President and the Vice President.

Nkwocha recalled that the Presidency had earlier this week also debunked another false report related to campaign posters of President Bola Tinubu, noting that such stories aim to cast doubt on the unity and legitimacy of the current administration.

He reaffirmed that Vice President Shettima remains focused on his duties and on supporting President Tinubu to fulfill the aspirations of Nigerians.

“Shettima does not have the luxury of time to entertain distractions born out of fiction and mischief,” he said.

Nkwocha praised Nigerians who continue to support the administration and are committed to combating the spread of fake news, reaffirming that no amount of misinformation can shake the democratic foundation upon which the current government stands.

By Musa Kalim Gambo

ND Shehu Kanam, a political scientist and son of the soil, offered a searing insight into Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s recent statewide broadcast in a Facebook post following the blood-soaked tragedy that befell some communities in Plateau. In dissecting the speech, he made a remark that has lingered in my conscience like smoke from an unquenched fire:

“The governor made reference to previous attacks including Dogo Nahauwa and completely ignored the attack in Garga District of Kanam LGA in 2022 where over 100 lives were killed. At all times, Kanam LGA is being treated as third-class citizens in Plateau State.”

And how true that is—how bitter, how brazen. One would expect that in the arithmetic of grief, every loss would count, that memory would not play favourites. But alas, even in mourning, there is politics. Even in death, there are those deemed more worthy of remembrance than others.

Let’s be clear: every act of violence against any group of people is an abomination. It should be met with absolute condemnation. Those who carry out such horrors—burning homes, hacking down the old and the young, silencing lives with the crack of a rifle—are not just criminals. They are monsters in human form, agents of chaos and cruelty, and they must be made to face the full wrath of justice, if justice still has a name.

But then we turn to the governor’s address. Perhaps the speechwriter, weary and burdened, meant no harm. Maybe it was all too much—the urgency, the pressure, the tears behind closed doors. Perhaps grief blurred the pen, and memory failed. But selective memory tells a deeper story, whether by accident or design. It speaks of a hierarchy of pain where some cries echo louder in the chambers of power while others are muffled into silence.

The omission of the Kanam massacre, where bullets and blades buried over a hundred souls in 2022, is not just an editorial oversight. It is a symbolic erasure. It is a painful reminder that suffering is not always seen in some communities in Plateau. The state does not always mourn their dead. Their pain is not always acknowledged. In the cold theatre of political memory, Kanam seems to occupy the balcony—watching, grieving, unheard.

But why? Why must Kanam and others like it constantly beg to be seen?

Maybe the intention of the governor’s speech wasn’t to compile a historical record of tragedies. Perhaps it was just a passing mention meant to stir the ghosts and frame the urgency. But even a passing mention must carry the weight of justice. When invoking past massacres, we must strive for balance, breadth, and truth. We cannot cherry-pick grief.

This is not mere sentimentality—it’s about shaping policy from a place of inclusion. When the memory of a people is consistently erased or ignored, how can they believe in the solutions presented to them?

Interestingly, embedded in the governor’s speech was a subtle but telling reference to the nature of the attacks. The subsequent ban on open grazing and cattle movement at night across the state implies that the perpetrators may be connected to patterns of pastoral violence. Whether these connections are definitive or speculative is for the intelligence community to clarify. Yet, in that policy, one senses that the governor has a working theory of the violence–it is, therefore, expected that this act of violence will be brought to a definite end very soon.

Still, even the most astute policies will fall flat if people feel excluded from the conversation—if they feel like third-class citizens in their own land.

A state cannot heal when its government speaks selectively, and a people cannot move forward when some of their dead are left behind in the narrative. To move forward, we must gather all the names, all the villages, all the cries, and lay them bare—without hierarchy or hesitation.

Governor Mutfwang must do better. Plateau deserves better. Kanam demands no pity—only remembrance, and justice.

Let this not be another footnote in the long, bitter history of the Middle Belt. Let this be a turning point—where silence gives way to truth, and truth gives rise to healing.

Musa Kalim Gambo writes from Barkinladi, Plateau State.

By Uzair Adam 

The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in Kano State has dismissed rumours suggesting that its 2023 presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, is planning to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The state party chairman, Hashimu Dungurawa, made this known while reacting to growing speculation surrounding Kwankwaso’s alleged defection.

Dungurawa stressed that neither Kwankwaso nor the NNPP had any intention of joining the APC, which he described as a party that has failed Nigerians.

“Definitely, we (NNPP) don’t have that interest or intention. We see them (APC) as enemies of democracy. Look at where they’ve led the country today. People are only waiting for the day of the election to teach them a lesson,” Dungurawa stated.

He further noted the steady decline in the APC’s electoral support, saying, “In 2015, they had almost 20 million votes. In 2019, they got 16 million, and in 2023, it dropped to 8 million votes.”

This comes after the Chairman of the APC in Kano State, Abdullahi Abbas, welcomed the idea of Kwankwaso joining the APC but stated that it would be under certain conditions.

By Uzair Adam

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State has addressed the growing speculations regarding the potential defection of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), to the APC.

During a press conference held at the party’s state headquarters in Kano on Friday, APC State Chairman Hon. Abdullahi Abbas acknowledged that the party, under its renewed hope agenda, is actively receiving defectors from various political parties.

However, Abbas expressed concern over what he described as strategic attempts by certain political actors, particularly those with controversial pasts, to seek refuge within the APC.

“We are fully aware that some individuals are desperate to join the APC because they have squandered their political goodwill and are looking to the APC for relevance,” Abbas stated.

He stated that joining the APC should not be seen as a means to evade accountability or to escape scrutiny from anti-corruption agencies such as the EFCC and ICPC.

“Joining the APC is not a shield from anti-corruption scrutiny or consequences,” Abbas asserted.

The party also called on prospective defectors who have previously made derogatory statements against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima to offer public apologies as a sign of remorse and respect for future relationships.

“We unequivocally call on all those prospective defectors who have earlier made derogatory statements against our leaders to offer a public apology,” Abbas said.

Furthermore, the APC Kano chapter reaffirmed its commitment to fairness, justice, and a transparent political process, urging prospective members to align with the party’s principles rather than use it as an escape route.

This development comes amid ongoing political realignments in Kano State, with both the APC and NNPP experiencing defections.

Notably, the APC has recently received former NNPP members, including ex-NNPP National Chairman Prof. Rufa’i Alkali and other chieftains, who cited the APC’s accommodating platform as a reason for their defection.

By Uzair Adam

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said his opposition to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s 2023 presidential ambition was driven by principle and not personal disappointment.

Wike clarified that his stance was not about being sidelined for the vice-presidential slot, as widely speculated, but rather rooted in his belief that power should have shifted to the South after President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure.

“I wanted power rotation. After eight years of Buhari, I couldn’t support power remaining in the North. It wasn’t about whether I was picked or not—it was about principle,” he said in a recent interview.

The former Rivers State Governor added that he never considered Atiku a viable option because, according to him, the former Vice President is not reliable.

“From day one, I told my delegates that Atiku doesn’t keep to his words,” Wike said, citing past experiences.

He recounted how in 2019, Atiku, alongside Bukola Saraki and Uche Secondus, assured him of nominating individuals for key ministerial positions, but later acted contrary to the agreement.

“I was told I would nominate the attorney general and minister of petroleum. After the election, I saw the legal team formed on TV, and the person I was supposed to nominate didn’t even know when it happened. That was when I laughed and called Saraki,” Wike explained.

He maintained that he never trusted Atiku’s promises and never expected to be selected as his running mate.

Wike’s remarks add another layer to the internal wrangling that plagued the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the lead-up to the 2023 elections.

By Uzair Adam

Professor Mainasara Yakubu Kurfi, a former Head of the Department of Mass Communication at Bayero University, Kano, and a current lecturer at the institution, has announced the passing of his father.

The Daily Reality reports that he shared the news via a post on his Facebook page, revealing that his father died on Thursday night.

Professor Kurfi added that the funeral prayer was scheduled for Friday morning in Kurfi town, Katsina State.

“Inna lillahi wa Inna Ilayhi raji’un. With a heavy heart, I share the news that my beloved father passed away on Thursday night,” the professor wrote, while also praying for Allah’s mercy and forgiveness upon his father’s soul.

By Muhammad Abubakar

The Kano State Hisbah Board has arrested 24-year-old Shamsu Yakubu after a disturbing video showed him allegedly licking a goat’s genitals. The footage, which circulated widely on TikTok, sparked outrage among viewers and residents.

Yakubu reportedly asked someone to film the act in a bid to gain social media fame. “I did it to trend on social media and become famous,” he admitted in the video. 

However, under interrogation by Hisbah officials, he denied fully committing the act, saying, “I swear to Allah, I did not lick the goat’s genitals. I only put my mouth around the area.”

Hisbah officials were alerted after concerned residents, angered by the video, threatened to take matters into their own hands. A community leader intervened and reported the incident to the authorities.

Speaking on the arrest, Deputy Commander-General of the Hisbah Board, Sheikh Aminuddeen Abubakar, expressed dismay over the act, calling it a violation of religious and moral values. “Sadly, a Muslim man will use his mouth to lick the genitalia of a goat, without regard to religious teachings,” he said.

Sheikh Aminuddeen revealed that both the suspect and the goat will undergo medical testing. “We will test both for possible diseases before prosecution,” he stated, adding that Yakubu would also face psychiatric and drug evaluations.

He warned others against seeking online popularity through indecent behaviour, saying, “Anybody caught bathing in dirt or charcoal under the guise of fame will be arrested and dealt with accordingly.”

The incident has reignited conversations around the influence of social media on youth behaviour, with some calling for stricter regulations and moral guidance to curb extreme acts done for clout.

By Anas Abbas

The Centre for Democratic Studies at Bayero University Kano held its 23rd Annual Symposium on Thursday morning, honouring the 42nd memorial anniversary of the esteemed Mallam Aminu Kano. 

The event, which took place at the Aminu Kano Centre for Democratic Studies, was centred on the theme “The Politics of Tax Reforms in Nigeria: Expectations and Realities.”

Prominent figures from the political and academic spheres graced the symposium, including Professor Abubakar Adamu Rashed, who delivered the opening remarks, and Professor Badayi, who served as a co-discussant. Other notable attendees included Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, represented by Comrade Aminu Abdulssalam, and Senator Abdurrahman Kawu Sumaila.

In his address, Professor Rashed underscored Mallam Aminu Kano’s legacy, describing him as “not just a politician from Kano, but a revolutionary figure for Nigeria and Africa.” He highlighted Mallam Aminu’s strong opposition to colonial taxation and his belief that the lumpen proletariat should be exempt from taxation.

The guest speaker, Professor Kabiru Isa Dandago, a distinguished professor of accounting at Bayero University, presented a thought-provoking paper titled “The Politics of Tax Reforms in Nigeria: Expectations and Realities.” He advocated for the acceptance of a proposed development levy included in the tax reforms bill, suggesting a uniform rate of 4% across the board.

Professor Dandago proposed allocating 50% of the development revenue to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), with 20% directed towards the National Economic Recovery Fund (NELFund). The remaining 30% would be distributed among various initiatives, including NITDA, NASENI, cybersecurity projects, and police trust funds.

He expressed concern over multinational companies’ inadequate contributions to the tax reforms outlined in the bill. Professor Dandago called for substantial enhancements in the bill’s content to ensure that the renewed tax system effectively delivers the intended benefits for Nigeria.

The symposium served as a vital platform for discussing pressing issues surrounding tax reforms in Nigeria, echoing Mallam Aminu Kano’s enduring legacy in advocating for social justice and equity.

By Uzair Adam

A late-night fire outbreak has razed the shop of a popular TikToker, Rahama Saidu, located along UDB Road in Tarauni Local Government Area of Kano State.

The incident occurred just hours after officials of the Kano Urban Planning and Development Authority (KNUPDA) demolished parts of the shop, citing illegal structural extensions.

Although the exact cause of the fire is yet to be confirmed, an eyewitness who spoke to journalists at the scene on Thursday night alleged that the blaze may have been triggered by a spark from welding activities in a nearby shop.

According to the eyewitness, a neighbouring shop owner had engaged welding engineers to carry out repairs on his property, which was also affected by the demolition.

“After the demolition, Rahama came and cleared all her belongings from the shop. Unfortunately, this fire broke out not long after,” the source added.

Aside from Rahama’s shop, a photographer’s store in the same area was also affected by the inferno.

Security operatives were later seen cordoning off the area to prevent any possible looting.

By Maimuna Katuka Aliyu

Pollution poses one of the greatest threats to human existence, yet it remains highly underestimated. All over the world, air, water, and land are being contaminated by industrial waste, plastic, toxic emissions, and deforestation. 

The impact is devastating—rising diseases, extreme climate shifts, and dwindling biodiversity. Yet, many people treat it as a distant problem, failing to see that the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the soil that grows our food are already contaminated.

With rapid industrialisation, urban expansion, and population growth, pollution has reached critical levels, threatening ecosystems and human survival. The consequences are already here—millions of lives are lost to pollution-related diseases annually, while climate change escalates natural disasters. 

Without urgent action, the world may be heading toward irreversible environmental collapse.

The Invisible Killer in the Air

Air pollution remains one of the deadliest forms of contamination, responsible for nearly 7 million preventable deaths yearly. Toxic substances such as carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides fill the atmosphere due to vehicle emissions, industrial activities, and deforestation. 

Respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular diseases, and lung cancer are rising sharply, even in developing nations where pollution regulations are weak.

A recent World Health Organisation (WHO) campaign has garnered support from nearly 50 million individuals, highlighting the growing global concern over pollution’s impact on health. 

Advocates call for cleaner energy, stricter environmental policies, and large-scale sustainable infrastructure. Without such efforts, air pollution will continue to rob millions of their health and shorten lifespans worldwide.

Poisoned Waters and a Dying Ecosystem

Water pollution is another crisis unfolding before our eyes. Industrial waste, plastic pollution, and chemical runoffs have turned once-thriving rivers and oceans into toxic dumps. 

Marine life is being suffocated by plastic debris, while communities reliant on rivers and lakes for drinking water are facing increasing cases of waterborne diseases. The situation is especially severe in developing countries, where clean water is still viewed as a luxury rather than a basic right.

Land pollution is also eroding our ability to produce safe food. Improper waste disposal, deforestation, and unregulated pesticide use are depleting the soil, making it more difficult to grow crops. This issue coincides with the rise of global hunger, further exacerbating the suffering of millions.

Nigeria’s Battle Against Pollution and Disease

While the world grapples with pollution, Nigeria confronts a dual crisis—environmental contamination and disease outbreaks. The country is currently facing an alarming rise in Lassa fever cases, with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) implementing emergency measures to contain its spread. 

This outbreak, linked to poor sanitation and rodent infestation, is a stark reminder of how environmental degradation fuels public health disasters.

The parallel concerns of pollution and infectious diseases demand urgent intervention. Nearly 50 million individuals worldwide have signed petitions demanding stronger policies to combat pollution, but actions on the ground remain insufficient. 

If nations like Nigeria fail to address these twin threats, millions more could be at risk.

The Fight to Save Our Planet

The crisis may seem overwhelming, but solutions exist. Governments must enforce stricter environmental laws, encourage the adoption of clean energy, and invest in waste management systems. Individuals also have a role to play—reducing plastic use, supporting eco-friendly products, and advocating for policy changes.

Nigeria, in particular, must strengthen its disease surveillance systems and healthcare access, especially in rural areas where pollution-related illnesses are rampant. Public health campaigns must be intensified, educating citizens about preventive measures against pollution-induced diseases and outbreaks like Lassa fever.

There is no more time for complacency. The battle for a cleaner planet is also a fight for human survival. Every moment wasted brings us closer to a world where clean air, safe water, and healthy food become privileges rather than rights. The time to act is now.

Maimuna Katuka Aliyu is a correspondent of PR Nigeria in Abuja.