By Sabiu Abdullahi

The eagerly awaited judgement in the Kano State governorship election dispute has been set for Friday, January 12, 2024, according to an announcement from the Supreme Court.

The case involves Governor Abba Yusuf of the New Nigeria Peoples Party and the All Progressives Congress candidate, Dr. Nasiru Gawuna. 

A notice issued to all concerned parties outlines the court’s directive that each side can bring no more than two legal representatives during the judgement proceedings.

This decision comes after a five-member panel, led by Justice John Inyang Okoro, listened to arguments in late December last year and subsequently reserved judgment. 

The appellate court had previously upheld the tribunal’s decision, which removed Governor Abba Yusuf and declared Dr. Nasiru Gawuna as the rightful winner.

However, disputes arose among NNPP supporters, particularly concerning alleged conflicting judgements delivered by the appellate court. 

While NNPP supporters contested the ruling, pointing to discrepancies in the judgements, APC supporters celebrated the verdict in favour of their candidate. 

The tense situation in the state prompted the Kano State Police Commissioner, Gumel, to impose a ban on protests and rallies.

Despite efforts to ease tensions through a peace accord signed by the leadership of both parties, incidents of violence have been reported, underscoring the heightened anxiety surrounding the election dispute.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Last week marked a historic moment in Kaduna as Athletic Football Academy emerged triumphant in the Under-13 Bundesliga Cup, defeating Kuso Boys in a thrilling final match at the Secret Heart Stadium in Kaduna Police Barracks.
 
The intense competition, which kicked off in August 2023, witnessed the participation of 24 youth teams, captivating the attention of football enthusiasts across Kaduna.
 
Athletic Football Academy’s stellar performance in the final secured them a resounding 3-0 victory, clinching their first Under-13 Youth Cup.
 
The final match saw the presence of former Nigerian Premier League players and those who had showcased their talents abroad.
 
Bakin, among the esteemed guests, presented the awards. Yassir Awwal, a standout player from Athletic, claimed the spotlight by not only leading his team to victory but also securing the coveted title of top scorer with an impressive tally of seven goals.
 
Awwal’s remarkable talents earned him the Golden Ball and a pair of prestigious football shoes.
 
While Athletic Football Academy celebrated their grand triumph with the sizable cup, Kuso Boys Football Academy received a small trophy for their commendable efforts in the competition.
 
The Bundesliga’s influence is evidently growing in Kaduna and Northern Nigeria, as the tournament successfully garnered attention from football fans and inspired the youth.
 
Also, former players, industry professionals, and DW Hausa station representative Mohammed Mohammed, who doubles as the Bundesliga ambassador, expressed delight at the competition’s impact.
 
Mohammed, who dedicated five years to organising the tournament, noted the importance of nurturing young talents. He noted that this was not the first Bundesliga Cup in Kaduna but the first exclusively for youngsters aged 13 and under.
 
The aim is to boost children’s confidence and foster interest in the German Bundesliga, a sentiment echoed by Mohammed.
 
Expressing satisfaction with the young players’ performances, Mohammed highlighted the need for continued support from the Bundesliga, DFL, and the German football organization.
 
He believes that such backing will elevate the competition’s standards, enhance the Bundesliga’s reputation in Kaduna, and extend its influence to major cities like Kano and throughout Northern Nigeria.

Dear Dennis,

I am writing this letter to you from a very far distance from you. Even though I am unsure where you are now, I can never forget where you were on 9th May 2022. There is no way I can forget that fateful day and what has now gone down as an encounter of historic proportion. One that defied the scheming of ethnic militiamen and escaped the wrath of vainglorious agents of darkness. 

That day, it was brought to the fore in the most flagrant way: human injustice and hatred against fellow humans. It encapsulated the merit and importance of being good. It portrayed the essence of virtue, which great men utilise in the arduous task of nation-building and, of course, for the benefit of mankind. 

Dear Dennis, I am breathing in and out to this point for the mercy of God and His guidance in giving me the wisdom to react in the manner I did in the hands of my would-be killers. Naturally, the clear understanding of a great man like you, who comprehended my message and resonated with it, played a huge part. 

At that moment, when nothing was assured. But that one may never live to see the next 15 minutes without being hacked most painfully by people whose only crime is their ethnicity and faith. Although I have lived all my life advocating for peaceful coexistence among people of all tribes, religions, and backgrounds. 

It was agonising and ironic that the cause of my death would have been what I had lived all my life striving to address. The world would know no evil if great men like you discern the messages of people like us, whether the world accepts them or not. You did not only listen as I spoke amid large swaths of people gathered in Takum. You had come as one of the passers-by, but you strategically intervened by supporting my points and taking me to the back of your motorcycle. You did all these because humanity means humanity to you with all its benevolence. This, fellow Nigerians, should learn.  

No doubt we are in a tangled situation. Prices of commodities have skyrocketed, and earnings have remained largely the same or dropped significantly. Nigeria’s inflation has remained at double digits since 2016. ‘In September 2023, the headline inflation rate increased to 26.72% relative to the August 2023 headline inflation rate, which was 25.80%.  On a year-on-year basis, the headline inflation rate was 5.94% points higher compared to the rate recorded in September 2022, which was 20.77%,’ National Bureau of Statistics.

Anything that could instigate the people against the people has been in place. However, the best bet is to persevere, as things won’t remain stagnant. There will be changes. Yes, positive changes if Nigerians continue to stand for what is right no matter the provocation, threats, and hazards that can lead one to do otherwise, just as Dennis, my eternal friend, rose to support me at a moment when not only my life but also his were in danger by his stance. 

This is a letter from a grateful heart to a good Nigerian, Dennis, wherever you could be at this hour, as I have lost your contact.  Your maturity, actions, and position on 9th May 2022 are the way forward for Nigeria. Therefore, Nigerians worldwide will be in a better position to flourish if we follow this path that leads to nothing except development for the most populous black nation on earth. I am eternally grateful, Dennis until we meet again.

Abdulrazak Iliyasu Sansani wrote from Turaki B, Jalingo, Taraba State. 

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Nasiru Isa Kwarai, Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), disclosed that six out of Borno State’s 27 local government areas (LGAs) are excluded from the ongoing 2023-24 Demographic Health and Survey (NDHS) due to escalating security concerns. 

He stated this in a press briefing held in Maiduguri on Monday. 

Kwarai identified the omitted LGAs as Chibok, Magumeri, Abadam, Mobar, Marte, and Guzamala, citing them as potential flashpoints necessitating heightened security logistics.

“The safety of our staff is paramount, and conveying them to these areas poses significant risks,” Kwarai Sa’id. 

Despite the exclusion, Kwarai assured that the impact on the omitted LGAs would be mitigated as neighboring communities and participating LGAs would indirectly influence them.

He stated, “The results obtained in these neighboring areas will also be applied to the excluded ones,” addressing concerns about potential data gaps. 

Represented by Haruna Ibrahim, the Director of the NPC in Borno, Kwarai underscored the critical role of the NDHS exercise in collecting high-quality data on vital indicators such as fertility rates, maternal and child health, childhood mortality, gender-related issues, and nutrition. 

Anticipating that major stakeholders would leverage this data to make informed decisions, Kwarai highlighted its potential to address the unique needs of citizens, enhance health outcomes, and alleviate disease burdens nationwide. 

While urging media involvement, Kwarai called on press outlets to utilize the five-month period to educate the public on the NDHS exercise. He emphasized the importance of dispelling cultural and religious misunderstandings surrounding the program.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Nigerian Army has revealed ongoing efforts to revamp its training methods as part of a proactive strategy to curb the activities of insurgents, bandits, and other armed groups causing unrest in the country.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen T. A. Lagbaja, conveyed this message through the Chief of Training, Army, Major Gen SG Mohammed, during a 5-Day Doctrine and Training Conference held at the Headquarters of the Training and Doctrine Command, Nigerian Army in Minna, Niger State.

Lt. Gen Lagbaja emphasized that the updated training approaches would specifically target contemporary security challenges within a Joint Environment.

He urged all commandants of Army Training Schools to actively engage in discussions at the conference and ensure the full implementation of the new strategies in their respective schools.

The Commander of Training and Doctrine Command, Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen. K. O. Aligbe, explained that the conference aimed to set an agenda for all Nigerian Army Schools and Divisional Training Schools.

The goal is to draw inspiration for courses and training activities throughout 2024 to effectively address the prevailing security challenges in the country.

Aligbe highlighted the importance of training, stating, “Without training, you cannot fight.” He emphasized the need for increased training to enhance operational effectiveness, ensuring that adversaries do not continue to threaten law-abiding citizens.

The conference will also focus on applying the Nigerian Army Doctrine 22 to enable effective training and operations, aligning with the goal of liberating the country from insecurity.

The commander acknowledged gaps in previous operations and stated that all training in 2024 would concentrate on addressing these gaps to achieve operational effectiveness.

By Uzair Adam Imam

In a recent development, the police have apprehended three suspected members of a gunrunning syndicate believed to be connected to the December 24 attack on Plateau communities.

The announcement was made by ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Force Public Relations Officer, during a media briefing in Abuja.

Following an order from the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, strategic measures were put in place to bring the attackers to justice.

The arrested suspects were found with significant weaponry, including an ash-coloured Golf car, an AK-47 rifle, an AK-49 rifle, 1,000 rounds of live ammunition, and five magazines.

Efforts are underway to capture additional individuals involved in the attacks, and the public will be kept informed as events unfold.

In a related incident, police operatives on December 13, 2023, arrested nine suspects over the attack and murder of three Fulanis in the Gaube area of Kuje Area Council in the FCT.

The suspects, identified as six members of the hunters and forest guard in Kuje, confessed to the crime. The victims, three Fulanis in transit from Keffi, Nassarawa State, to Niger/Kwara states, were attacked and killed.

The suspects abandoned the bodies in Kabi forest, taking their Bajaj motorcycle to an unknown location in Takuba village, Kuje.

The recovered corpses were examined and confirmed dead by a medical practitioner before being released to their families for burial.

The deceased Bajaj motorcycle was also recovered, with investigations still ongoing. Additionally, police operatives arrested a suspected armed robbery and kidnap kingpin in Nasarawa State, found in possession of an AK-49 rifle and ammunition.

The suspect admitted to using the rifle and ammunition for criminal activities. During the investigation, the suspect revealed that another accomplice, currently at large, possesses an AK-47 rifle used by the gang to terrorize Nasarawa State.

Intensive efforts, including technical intelligence, are being employed to apprehend the fleeing suspect and recover the firearm.

By Ishaka Mohammed

The management of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has created numerous job opportunities for its current students. This is contained in a special bulletin dated Tuesday, January 9, 2024.

According to the director of the Counselling and Human Development Centre, Dr Sa’adatu Makarfi, the initiative named Students Work/Study Scheme aims to provide financial support to needy students and enhance their educational experience.

The scheme welcomes interested and capable students to work in areas such as coaching (for primary and secondary school students), research assistance, computer operation, harvesting, babysitting, laundry and car washing. Students can equally work as masters of ceremonies, and those with other specific skills are also encouraged to apply.

Interested students are to visit any of the Guidance and Human Development Centre offices at both the Samaru and Kongo campuses for registration or more information.

The Daily Reality gathered from some ex-students of ABU that the Centre has been assisting needy students who can work while studying, but this is probably the first time it is publicly calling for registration.

By Lawan Bukar Maigana

After watching a Hausa video from Kano State a few days ago on different social media platforms, I was deeply saddened to witness a young man confessing to security officials how he fatally stabbed and murdered his father. Saying he committed the act “out of love for him” forced tears out of my eyes.

The most heartbreaking part was when he acknowledged his father’s care, provision, education, and immense love towards him, expressing that he killed him to ensure his father’s peaceful rest in heaven.

When asked about his name by the interrogator, he confidently said, ” My name is Abu Kasim Bin Ya’u Bin Ibrahim Bin Abubakar.” Surprisingly, he doesn’t even know the crime he committed before his arrest by the staff of the Nigerian Civil Security and Defense Corps (NSCDC).

While reminding him that he killed his father, he unapologetically explained that whoever is killed goes to heaven—paradise—without any questions from angels. ”I killed him, and whoever kills someone will go to hellfire. I am a certified member of Hellfire, but my father is a dweller of paradise, and I don’t care about the situation I will find myself in. That is not my problem.”

When asked why he didn’t kill himself,  he replied, saying he loves his father more than himself. ”He paid my school fees, and I became a wayward person and killed him, qualifying me to be judged accordingly. We must tell the truth no matter what. I am in the know that I killed him, and I will not lie to you, Officer.”

These were the words of the young man from Nigeria who killed his hard-working and promising father after getting high on hard drugs, exposing the level of crime that a drug addict can commit if he or she is high.

Similarly, I overheard a story of a young man, 21, who forcefully slept with his 17-year-old sister after being high at night, leading to her pregnancy. He said he thought he was at a hotel where he spent the night.

Another case of drug addiction that got me thinking some months ago was a case of a man who threatened to kill his father if he cautioned him about his lifestyle.

Yesterday, I read a report by TheCable that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has raised concerns over the abuse of psychoactive substances among Borno’s young people, outlining fermented human urine, lizard dung, camel urine, Lipton soaked in gin, and mentholated spirits mixed with soft drinks as the most abused substances in the state, which resulted in prostitution, extortion, and other social ill-practices.

This was contained in a statement by Iliyasu Mani, the Commander of the Narcotics of the NDLEA, Maiduguri, Borno State.

He explained that some youths are inhaling toilet fumes and gutter dirt to get high and commit different kinds of crimes to the detriment of the state, aside from the ongoing insurgency that has claimed thousands of lives and businesses, leaving people poor and helpless.

Mani went on to say, “Let me categorically state here that these new psychoactive substances that are commonly abused today include cannabis sativa, skunk, cough syrup with codeine, ice, tramadol, rRohypnol diazepam, pentazocine, rubber solution, and glue,” concluding that some use 10-year-old human urine to get high.

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, a household survey conducted in 2018 and reviewed in 2021, the level of substance abuse in Nigeria is at 14.3 percent which was three times higher than the 5.6 percent global average. This alone calls for action to come up with realistic and achievable ways of tackling drug addiction in the country.

Recently, one of my relatives escaped death after a botched attack by terror drug addicts at his residence in Gwange Sabon Layi in Maiduguri. They went to his house at night, attacked him with knives, and snatched his cell phones, one among the many crimes they commit daily.

This is the situation of many young people today in the North. Their addiction to hard drug consumption has already taken a frightening dimension. That is why the government must do something to arrest the dangerous situation. 

Lawan Bukar Maigana writes from Borno State and can be reached via email lawanbukarmaigana@gmail.com

By Zayyad I. Muhammad

The excellent investigative report by the Daily Nigerian and the subsequent suspension of accreditation of degree certificates from Beninese and Togolese universities by the federal government of Nigeria has put a dent in every certificate genuinely or ill-obtained from institutions in these West African countries and some other African countries. This includes certificates from Eastern Africa as well.

The urge for these certificates, particularly among young Nigerians, is simply the price we pay for our inclination toward seeking easy solutions and allowing personal interests to override the national image.

One interesting aspect of the Cotonou ‘easy’ certificates is that they predominantly attract young people from Nigeria’s ‘semi-middle’ class and lazy individuals from wealthy families. For them, obtaining a bachelor’s degree often involves pursuing studies at Benin or Togo universities, which admit anyone can pay for the desired degree.

Another unfortunate aspect is that someone who obtains a bachelor’s degree in less than two months can easily secure a job in a sector involving life and death, make critical decisions in vital areas of Nigerian public life, or lead a group of competent individuals who have diligently earned their certificates. We hope there are no doctors, pharmacists, engineers, etc., practising in Nigeria who obtained their certificates through ‘crooked ways’ from Benin, Togo, etc. However, Nigeria’s professional and regulatory bodies should have prevented them from gaining entry.

Fake certificates pose a serious threat to the nation. This issue would be treated as a ‘war’ against the country in more developed countries. The Nigerian government should suspend accreditation from these countries and take decisive action to shut down these irresponsible institutions targeting Nigeria and punish the perpetrators.

However, Nigeria shouldn’t throw away the baby with the bathwater; some individuals have obtained certificates from reputable institutions in these African countries. Nigeria should address the issue from both ends—domestically and with these countries. Domestically, authorities must address why our young people opting for universities abroad. The answer lies in our universities being plagued with incessant strikes, some lecturers being unnecessarily sadistic, and sometimes foreign certificates being undeservedly celebrated.

Secondly, serene learning environments are attractive; some of Nigeria’s university lecture classrooms and theatres are overcrowded and in poor condition. In contrast, foreign universities provide beautiful and appealing learning spaces. Additionally, it raises questions about why graduating from a private university in Nigeria is often easier than a public university, especially when many lecturers at private universities are the same individuals teaching at public universities.

To address the issue at its source in these African countries, Nigeria should leverage its diplomatic influence in West Africa, compelling these nations to mandate that private universities adhere to established standards and penalise offenders. Those implicated should face legal consequences, as certifying unqualified individuals is akin to warring Nigeria’s human resources development and socio-economic sectors.

Fake degree certificates from Benin and Togo involve two actors: the institutions in those countries and their collaborators in Nigeria. Moreover, fake degrees are not confined to Benin and Togo; they are a global issue. According to a report by the Academic Credentials Evaluation Institute, Inc. (ACEI Global), based in Los Angeles, CA, USA, on December 2, 2023, Israeli police arrested 40 Israeli doctors, medical interns, and pharmacists who had presented false credentials to Israel’s Health Ministry. These individuals are suspected of purchasing medical and pharmacy degrees from three universities in Armenia despite never completing studies at those institutions—St. Tereza Medical University, Haybusak University, and Mkhtiar Gosh Armenian-Russian International University. The report also highlights controversies surrounding Punjab Technical University (PTU), India, including the issuance of fake degrees, leading to the arrest of four administrators for aiding failed students in passing.

If someone has genuinely obtained their degree from Benin or Togo, the current controversy has cast a shadow over it, and it may take some time to restore its credibility.

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

By Salihi Adamu Takai

The case of culpable homicide has become a daily report case in Kano State. The crime is a rampant nuisance that disturbs the whole country today. This is horrible in a state like Kano, which is the most populous state in Nigeria.

The rampancy of the crime is not only confusing but also the human, physical, and emotional proximity of the parties that are involved in the commission of the crime. The case of the rampancy of the commission of the crime is abnormal considering how it has been in records in police stations and contained in many cases of laws.

Most of the reported culpable homicides in Kano show the relationship and social proximity of the parties involved in it. The accused persons of the reported cases had proximity to the dead persons. This started – (as I have noticed it) – from the Hanifa’s case. Hanifa was kidnapped and killed by her teacher. There was a human proximity between the dead person and the accused person.

The Chinese man who killed his girlfriend had human proximity to the dead person engaged in courtship, and he eventually killed her. The recent case of Hafsa is also a case that confuses lots of people in Kano. The accused person had proximity to the dead person, and she killed him. Yesterday, it was reported that a person raped and killed his sister in Kano.

Therefore, this rampant nuisance in the report of the cases of culpable homicide in Kano is not a mere thing of crime inconsistent with the Penal Code; it’s beyond human perspectives and avoidable. What a relationship that puts people into a dilemma! Son kills his mother, and mother kills her son!!

It’s a collective responsibility of the Kano State community to engage in the proper investigation of the causes of these crimes. Islamic scholars shall always deliver sermons to admonish people on such offences, and the life of the Prophet (SAW) shall be part of the sermon so Muslims can always remain in touch with it.