By Jibril Mutalib

The naira notes live a life as colourful as the country itself. This isn’t just any currency—it wears its experiences on its sleeve, or rather, on its creases, tears, and patches. The naira isn’t just a medium of exchange; it’s a survivor with a story that shifts depending on where it finds itself in this country.

In the northern part of the country, the naira is a seasoned warrior. It has seen the depths of pockets unwashed for years and battled with rain and sun, leaving it bruised and wrinkled. Yet, the good people of the North, perhaps because of their warm hospitality, never turn their backs on the naira, no matter how worn out it appears in most cases. 

A naira note in Sokoto could look like it just took a swim in the gutter, got into a wrestling match with a goat, and lost a few limbs. But fear not! The traders in the North would still embrace it with open arms. Ah, my friend,” a northern trader might say, “kudi kudi ne”, whether it looks like a prince or a pauper. 

As long as it can buy me a cup of fura or a plate of Denkeli, it’s good enough!” If your money is rejected, then it must be very bad. Perhaps it might have undergone an abnormal surgery where you have Obafemi Awolowo appear on a #50 naira note. Lol.

But when travelling to other regions, the naira’s fortunes change quicker than you can imagine. In places like Kwara, the naira is subjected to intense scrutiny—borderline interrogation. The traders will examine it like a detective at a crime scene, looking for any sign of distress. A small tear? Rejected. A hint of dirt? Not in my shop! And don’t even think about presenting a naira note with a sellotape surgery—it might as well be a counterfeit. Lol.

So, the naira itself is living a double life in different regions of the country. In the North, it is a rugged hero, loved despite its flaws. In the South, it is an outcast, shunned for the slightest imperfection. I wonder why naira notes are treated so differently based on location. 

And so, if you ever find yourself possessing a naira note that has seen better days, do not despair. Simply tuck it away safely and wait until you return to the northern lands. There, you’ll find a warm welcome for your weary traveller. And remember, it’s not just about having money; it’s about having the right money in the right place.

In any region you find yourself, blend with how they treat the currency. When you’re in Sokoto, bring whatever naira you’ve got—no questions asked. I’m not saying they accept money in Sokoto; they do but on rare occasions. If your money is denied, it’s already very bad beyond repairs.

By Rabi Ummi Umar

Recently, I found myself in the heart of Abuja—a bustling city surrounded by the everyday hustle and bustle of urban life. The streets were alive with activities—commercial drivers calling out for passengers, pedestrians hurrying to their destinations, and the overall pace of the city reflecting the urgency of modern life.

Though an intern, I was there with some female staff writers of Economic Confidential, a tabloid published by Image Merchants Promotion (IMPR) Limited. This, however, was not for leisure or sightseeing but for an official assignment—to shoot an episode of ‘Economy on the Streets’ for the Economic Confidential’s YouTube channel. Yet, what caught my attention was something that went beyond the task at hand, revealing a deeper issue about women’s involvement in public discourse.

As a budding communicator, this ‘field trip’ was more than just an opportunity to write news stories, features, or opinion pieces. It was a chance to extend my skills beyond the written word, to engage directly with the public through a street interview—what we call a vox pop—to gauge Nigerians’ thoughts on the contentious issue of the reintroduction of fuel subsidies.

It was also a chance to experience the realities of journalism beyond the confines of a newsroom. To my surprise, I noticed that most of the respondents were men. Conversely, women seemed reluctant to lend their voices or share their opinions on the matter.

At first, I rationalised that perhaps the women were in a hurry, given that it was a weekday. I thought they might not have a few minutes to discuss Nigeria’s pressing economic challenges as more important tasks were awaiting them.

However, as the seconds, minutes, and hours ticked by and the number of women who declined to participate grew, it became clear that they did not want to discuss our nation’s challenges.

This realisation took me back to last year when I was on my Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) with News Digest, an online media platform. I was invited as a guest on WE FM (106.3), a radio station in Abuja, to discuss “Women Participation in Politics.”

During that discussion, I argued passionately that there were insufficient opportunities for women to engage in politics, and I stood firmly by my belief. Yet, a year later, my experience during the street interviews has led me to question this stance. The opportunities, it seems, are indeed out there.

On the streets, even though these women were not holding political office themselves, they had the chance to contribute to public discourse. Yet, they chose not to. This realisation troubles me because it raises questions about women’s participation in public life—whether in political offices or the organised private sector.

We frequently hear discussions about gender equality, inclusivity, roles, and the presence of women in positions of power. However, when we look deeper, we might find that men are not the primary reason women like myself remain on the periphery of public discourse or power.

As women, we may contribute to our marginalisation by refusing to seize opportunities, even when they are right before us. This brings me to a few questions we should all consider: Are women not given opportunities because men seek to dominate?

Are women holding themselves back because society expects them to remain confined to domestic roles? Are we, as women, making efforts to break free from these constraints? Or are we simply holding ourselves back?

While I leave these questions for you to ponder, I want to call on women to recognise that opportunities exist to showcase our capabilities, our capacity to deliver, and much more. We should strive to reach our goals based on what we have to offer.

But we must start somewhere, even if it’s as simple as participating in a street interview. Your voice is vital to society’s prosperity. No matter how insignificant you may think your contribution is, your participation in various aspects of society, community, and the nation at large matters more than you realise. Your voice truly matters.

Rabi Ummi Umar is a student of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin. She can be reached at rabiumar058@gmail.com.

By Abdullahi Yusuf Tela

Introduction 

In many societies, women are constantly reminded of their roles as wives and mothers. They are saddled with the responsibilities of producing and nurturing children and caring for the home. Over the years, however, women have embarked on a struggle aimed at affirming their identities while at the same time doing all they can to transform the societal, cultural, or traditional perceptions of their gender. Women are striving very hard to change these perceptions through education and by creating awareness.

Female writers have significantly helped by making the female characters in their works more prominent. They aim to have female characters that are powerful and outspoken. This is because women in most male writings are often illustrated as subservient. 

In 1966, Flora Nwapa broke the silence of women by publishing her first novel, Efuru, inspiring other female writers. These women used literature to explain the state of their societies, either good or bad, and the importance of female existence in society. These feminist writers include Zaynab Alkali, Buchi Emecheta, Mobolaji Adenubi, and Hilary Rouse-Amadi.

Notably, Azizah, like other female writers, has been able to outline the following feminist angles in her book, A Sackful of Wishes.   

Cultural Feminism:

Cultural feminism celebrates human attributes in women. It focuses on the feminist virtues by celebrating the positive sides of women. In A Sackful of Wishes of Azizah Idris M., Inna Binta, Hadiza’s mother, is a character who portrays aspects of cultural feminism. Inna Binta is a calm, reserved woman who faces a lot of tragedies as a new bride to Mallam Musa. She is hated and manipulated by her co-wife, Mairo Lauje. Inna Binta’s character shows a woman with patience despite the confrontations she faced from Mama Mairo. Cultural feminism believes that there is strength in a woman’s silence. They see the strength in women in the face of oppression. 

Hadiza’s mother, Inna Binta, could endure hardship from her co-wife or return to her parents. Binta remains strong even when Mairo Lauje makes her evil plot to charm her into never staying in Mal Musa’s house. 

Despite all the plots, Binta says, “It’s okay, I can do that . . .as long as she lets me stay with you. You are worth it.”

It is evident from the above quote that Binta, as being put in the cultural feminism, wanted peace for herself, her husband, and her children; that was why she heeded Mama Mairo’s deal. At this point, the cultural feminists view the mother’s strength as crucial. “Mothers have to be strong to take on both roles, loving, protecting, and counselling in turns” (Ngcobo 536).

Marxist feminism: 

The Marxist feminist approach propounded by Karl Marx is embedded in this work. The author portrays Hadiza Musa as someone who earnestly wants to earn for herself and feed her children. When she faces hunger, starvation and poverty, Hadiza immediately engages in a skilled job to take care of her children. She was into plaiting people’s hair and got an immense reward in cash. Hadiza becomes her own woman, independently sourcing and feeding herself and her children. 

It should be noted that Marxist feminists connect the oppression of women to social exploitation and oppression. A Sackful of Wishes by Azizah Idris M. majorly portrays an oppression of the female gender. According to Sotunsa, Marxist feminists believe that male domination is one of the societal ills, and gender oppression must be overcome to overcome societal ills. Hadiza resists the dominance of her husband, AR, whom society believes she needs to bow to. In the text, Hadiza says:  

“I want to start a business.” 

“I don’t have enough money, but I have skill in weaving hair. So, I’m going to start making people’s hair, I want your permission.” (129)

When her husband, AZ, decides to stop her, Hadiza says:

You can’t stop me, you know. You don’t feed me, nor clothe me, you don’t know how I buy my detergent or my body cream or provide the needs of Maahir. You just go out and come home. Some nights, you would try to come near me. Why do you think I got the money for those perfumes and creams that make me feel smooth and appealing to you? You either man up and hold on to your responsibilities or you let me start a business. (129)    

Fortunately for Hadiza, she wins the battle to make people’s hair after Umma Sala, Abdurrazak’s mother, intervenes.   

In portraying her bizarre situation, Hadiza was quoted as thus: 

I resorted to selling two of my wrappers from Mahir’s naming gifts to buy some foodstuffs since I was so heavy, I could not plait my customers’ hair at this stage. I found it difficult to sit for long. They did not sell for much. I saved some of the cash because I knew my situation, and I could need it anytime. I bought some spaghetti and vegetables. My sisters came to check on me the next day. We ate and chatted, and I even gave them some transport fare. Nobody would think things were amiss in my house. (141) 

Another portrayal of Marxist feminism in the text is in the character of Umma Sala, Abdurrazak’s mother. Umma is the boss of the house because her husband, Abdurrazak’s father, is not earning much, and she’s making money with her food business. 

As it turns out, Umma took over control of the house. With her business as a food vendor and other small businesses, whenever she did something in the house, she billed it to Baffa. Whether he had it or not, he would pay when he got some money. 

Radical Feminism: 

A Sackful of Wishes by Azizah Idris M. portrays richly a form of radical feminist approach. Radical feminists view society fundamentally as a patriarchy in which men dominate and oppress women. According to Shulamith Firestone, radical feminists seek to abolish the patriarchy in a struggle to liberate women and girls from an unjust society by challenging existing social norms and institutions. This struggle includes opposing the sexual objectification of women, raising public awareness about such issues as rape and violence against women. 

The central character, Hadiza Musa, exhibits a taste of radical feminism as a woman who mysteriously falls in love with a man so obsessed with her that Hadiza rebels against her husband’s oppressive behaviours. The radical feminism inked in the work portrays Hadiza as a woman who stays firmly and fights against starvation, rape, humiliation, and disrespect from her husband and, subsequently, his. Hadiza Musa rebels to the extent that she leaves her husband’s house several times out of her mother’s frustration and anger. 

Hadiza states that: 

I was fed up with my life. I was just twenty-five years old, but I had seen the difficulties of a sixty-year-old’s lifetime. I did not put on fancy clothes, nor did make-up appeal to me. I had forgotten how to laugh heartily, my soul was a wreck, my spirit in shambles. I was a walking time bomb waiting to explore. The things I bore in my chest were unimaginable. I had a sackful of wishes that I craved, that I needed to explore but could not do that because I was a coward. There, that’s it. (172)

Her rebellious act makes her stand tall against society, which tends to make her return to her horrible marriage. With the assistance of her brother, Yusuf, Hadiza can take the matter to court. She perseveres despite the intricacies of her husband, Abdurrazak, until she finally gets a favourable judgment dissolving the marriage.  

Conclusion

A Sackful of Wishes is one of the many texts that portray the difficulties, hardships, pain, angst, and oppression women experience in their marriages. It is one of the works that uses a feminist approach to fight for women’s freedom and free them from society’s shackles. 

Thus, it is evident from the text that there still exists a repressive and hostile environment against women. The text shows how young Hadiza faces and traverses through oppression and pain from her psychopath husband and his mother. 

Abdullahi Yusuf Tela wrote via abdullahiyusuftela@yahoo.com.

By Sumayyah M. Auwal

In Kaduna State, over 10,000 supporters of Senator Shehu Sani have decamped to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)and pledged their support to Governor Uba Sani.

The party’s State Chairman, Emmanuel Jekada, applauded the decampees for returning to the APC. He promised to work with everyone to move the party forward for peace and the development of Kaduna State. He noted that the APC in Kaduna State is open to all, irrespective of any differences. 

It would be recalled that Shehu Sani’s withdrawal from the APC in 2019 resulted from the acrimonious relationship between him and the then-governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai. Their disagreements eventually led to Sani and his supporters leaving the APC.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini 

Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, CON, has congratulated Senator Monday Okpebholo, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), for his victory in the just-concluded Edo State governorship election.  

Okpebholo emerged victorious after a keenly contested race, defeating his main rivals—Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party. 

Governor Inuwa Yahaya, who is also the Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum, noted that the APC candidate’s triumph underscores the growing popularity and confidence the people of Edo State have in the APC. 

He stated that the overwhelming support for Okpebholo reflects the party’s achievements and its commitment to governance rooted in the needs of the people. 

“It is with immense pleasure that I warmly congratulate our candidate in Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo and indeed our great party for recording an emphatic victory. This success is a clear validation of the people’s trust in the APC-led administration and further solidifies the party’s influence across Nigeria, reaffirming its position as the party trusted by the people to drive national growth and transformation”. 

The Governor expressed confidence in Senator Okpebholo’s leadership capabilities, adding that his election represents an opportunity to rebuild and reposition Edo State towards sustainable development. 

He called on members of the opposition to graciously accept the olive branch extended by the Governor- elect, urging them to contribute positively to the future of Edo State. 

The NSGF Chairman also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for conducting a transparent and fair election that provided a level playing field for all contestants.  

He also applauded the nation’s security agencies for maintaining peace and order throughout the process, as well as the electorate for their peaceful and orderly participation in what was a highly anticipated election.

By Sabiu Abdullahi 

A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit seeking the removal of Abdullahi Ganduje as All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman.

Justice Inyang Ekwo ruled that the plaintiff, North Central APC Forum, lacked standing to file the suit. 

The court held that the group was not registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission and therefore not a juristic person.

Justice Ekwo ruled that Ganduje’s appointment or removal requires a national convention. 

The plaintiff’s lawyer, Ayuba Abdul, and group leader Saleh Zazzaga vowed to appeal the judgement, expressing no surprise at the outcome. 

The suit challenged Ganduje’s appointment, citing the APC constitution’s Article 31.5(1) f, which requires the chairman to hail from the North Central geopolitical zone.

Ganduje is from Kano State in the North West zone.

By Uzair Adam

President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has expressed confidence that attempts to silence the labour movement will not succeed.

Ajaero, who has recently faced scrutiny from security agencies such as the Police and the Department of State Services (DSS), stated that he will respond to a police summons on Wednesday, September 25, 2024.

Addressing workers and union officials in Lagos, Ajaero recounted his recent experiences, including an arrest and detention, which he described as an effort to weaken the labour movement.

Despite these challenges, he urged workers to remain united and resolute.

“On August 29, we answered the state’s summons regarding certain allegations, and on the 25th of this month, we will again comply by attending the police headquarters in Abuja,” Ajaero said.

He revealed that the NLC’s strength is rooted in its integrity and collective determination. “Our hands must remain clean, our hearts pure. Even when they come for us, they will find nothing to use against us.

While they may try to imprison our bodies, they cannot imprison our spirit,” Ajaero stated.

As the NLC prepares for upcoming challenges, Ajaero urged members to stay vigilant and united.

He also expressed gratitude to international trade unions and organizations, such as the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of the UK, for their support during the NLC’s recent struggles.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

President Bola Tinubu congratulates Senator Monday Okpebholo, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in Saturday’s Edo State governorship election, on his victory at the polls. 

On Sunday, Senator Okpebholo was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), having defeated other contenders for the position.

President Tinubu commends APC national leaders, Edo State leaders, and party governors for working hard to achieve victory. He says the victory testified to the people’s support for the ruling party, its progressive ideals, its economic reengineering programme and its commitment to improving the lives of Nigerians. 

He urges Senator Okpebholo not to gloat over his victory but to see it as a challenging call to service. He encourages him to demonstrate magnanimity by reaching out to his political rivals and uniting the people of Edo State to ensure its development. 

President Tinubu also praises other candidates who participated in the election for their contributions to advancing Nigeria’s democracy, saying peaceful political contests, such as the one on Saturday, portray Nigeria as a stable democracy. 

The President urges all those aggrieved by the election outcome to seek redress through the legal channels.  

In addition, the president commends the people of Edo State for their orderly and peaceful conduct during the election, underscoring the maturing of Nigeria’s democracy after 25 years. 

“I commend the INEC and our security agencies for working round the clock to conduct a successful, peaceful and largely hitch-free exercise. 

“INEC has once again demonstrated that it is committed to organising a free and fair election in our country”, President Tinubu says.

By Kabir Fagge Ali

Nigeria’s oil industry was recently thrown into chaos following disputes that erupted between Farouk Ahmed, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group when the former accused the Dangote Refinery of producing substandard diesel and operating without proper licensing.

As stated by the NMDPRA, the diesel from Dangote’s refinery contained unsafe levels of sulfur, suggesting it was inferior to imported products. In response, Dangote countered these claims by presenting laboratory tests proving his diesel’s superior quality and compliance with international standards.

Dangote emphasised that the NMDPRA had previously accredited his refinery’s in-house laboratory, which added credibility to his defence—going ahead to criticise the reliability of the NMDPRA’s testing methods and called for an investigation into the standards of fuel testing laboratories in Nigeria.

During a visit by leaders from the House of Representatives, Dangote demonstrated the refinery’s production capacities and dismissed allegations of receiving special incentives. Industry analysts confirmed that although the refinery is in the pre-commissioning stage, it is already producing fuel.

This controversy brings to light critical issues surrounding energy security, monopoly, and the potential benefits to Nigeria’s economy as we understand the importance of energy security to national economic stability and development.

For Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, ensuring energy security is essential for economic growth, industrialisation, and the overall well-being of its citizens. Recent changes, such as removing fuel subsidies, have underlined the importance of a robust and reliable energy sector.

Energy security can be viewed through both long-term and short-term lenses. Long-term energy security involves investments that support sustainable economic development and environmental needs. Short-term energy security focuses on the immediate availability and affordability of energy.

It is often noted that energy security encompasses availability (geological), accessibility (geopolitical), affordability (economic), and acceptability (environmental and social) considerations. These address concerns related to the depletion of fossil fuel reserves and environmental impacts.

The Dangote Refinery represents a significant step towards improving Nigeria’s energy security. By reducing the country’s reliance on imported refined products, the refinery aims to enhance energy independence and stability. This shift is expected to alleviate some economic burdens, particularly in light of recent subsidy removals, as I mentioned before, that have led to increased fuel prices and higher costs of goods.

However, there are concerns about monopoly and regulatory oversight. Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Nigerian government deserves a commendation for collaborating with the Dangote Refinery to address these challenges. Nevertheless, the government and the Dangote Group must work together to ensure that the benefits of this refinery extend to Nigerian citizens.

The Government should ensure that this collaboration includes fair pricing agreements and transparent operations, ensuring that the refinery’s products are affordable and accessible to the populace. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the removal of the subsidy has led to a decline in economic growth, with the country’s GDP contracting by 1.92% in the first quarter of 2023.

The Dangote refinery is a welcome development for Nigeria’s energy security. The refinery, which is expected to be one of the largest in Africa, will have the capacity to produce 650,000 barrels of refined petroleum products per day. This will significantly reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported petroleum products, thereby reducing the country’s energy costs and increasing its energy security.

Energy security is a critical component of Nigeria’s economy, and the Dangote refinery is a step in the right direction. By reducing the country’s dependence on imported petroleum products, the refinery will help to conserve foreign exchange, reduce the pressure on the naira, and increase the country’s GDP.

Furthermore, the refinery will create jobs, stimulate economic growth, and increase government revenue. However, the Dangote refinery’s dominance in the Nigerian energy market has raised concerns about an energy monopoly.

The NMDPRA has expressed concerns about the refinery’s potential to dominate the market, leading to a lack of competition and high consumer prices. Aliko Dangote has countered that the refinery will increase competition and reduce prices, as it will provide an alternative to imported petroleum products.

Despite the concerns about energy monopoly, the Nigerian government and Aliko Dangote have agreed to collaborate to ensure that the refinery benefits the Nigerian economy. The government has provided incentives and support for the project, while Dangote has committed to ensuring that the refinery operates transparently and competitively.

While the Dangote refinery is a significant development for Nigeria’s energy security, the country still relies heavily on fossil fuels. Nigeria needs to diversify its energy sources to include renewable sources such as solar, wind, and hydropower.

This will reduce the country’s dependence on fossil fuels, reduce its carbon footprint, and mitigate the impact of climate change.

Although concerns about energy monopoly need to be addressed, the collaboration between the government and Dangote is a positive development. However, Nigeria must diversify its energy sources to include renewable ones to ensure a sustainable energy future.

Kabir Fagge Ali, a youth corps member with PRNigeria Centre, wrote via faggekabir29@gmail.com.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Bauchi State Police Command has arrested Dauda Saidu, a 21-year-old scavenger, for allegedly desecrating a grave at Yelwa Christian Cemetery in the metropolis and stealing iron rods.

Spokesman of the Command, Ahmed Wakil, revealed in a statement on Sunday that the suspect was apprehended on September 20, 2024, over trespassing, vandalism, and theft.

“Saidu unlawfully entered the Christian cemetery in the Yelwan Kagadama area of Bauchi, damaging several graves and stealing iron rods in broad daylight,” Wakil stated.

During interrogation, Saidu confessed to the crimes, admitting he had stolen multiple iron rods and sold them to scrap buyers for ₦9,500, ₦12,000, and ₦5,500 in separate transactions.

He was said to have disclosed that the money was used to purchase Indian hemp and food for personal consumption.

“The Commissioner of Police, Auwal Musa Muhammad, has directed that Saidu be prosecuted after investigations are concluded.”

“He also stressed the need for parental supervision and urged parents and guardians to be vigilant in monitoring their children and wards.”