By Aliyu Nuhu

The Petroleum Marketers, under the umbrella of IPMAN, are saying that petrol will be sold at N700 per litre if the next imported fuel arrives. But even at the current price, ask them “how market?”.

These days you see pump attendants sitting down for hours without selling 200ltrs. The moment they see a car approaching, they start shouting, ‘Come here! come here!’ It is now the buyer’s market; all that arrogance associated with the seller’s market during scarcity periods has vanished.

During fuel subsidy regimes, NMDPRA said we used to consume 66.8m ltrs of petrol daily. But after the withdrawal of the subsidy, the figure has dropped to 40m. If they increase the price to N700/ltr, the consumption may drop to 20m ltrs per day.

This will shrink the downstream industry and shut down half the filling stations in the country. Nigerians are resilient, and they know how to adjust to every difficult situation. People with many cars will sell them. Those with big cars will go for smaller, fuel-efficient cars. People will take Keke or bus and only travel when and where necessary.

The beauty of a free market economy is that the market forces of demand and supply will set price equilibrium to the acceptance of both sellers and buyers. There will be no market distortion, and petrol marketers will only make marginal gains relative to their level of capital and investment.

We are not scared of a free market. It is a waiting game. If they fail to sell their products due to low demand, they will lower the price. Otherwise, new entrants into the industry will come and offer lower prices for market penetration.

We are waiting.

Aliyu Nuhu writes from Abuja, Nigeria.

By Muhammadu Sabiu
 
English midfielder James Maddison has successfully undergone medical examinations and officially signed with Tottenham Hotspur Football Club.
 
The highly anticipated move, valued at £40 million, has delighted fans and pundits alike. 
 
Fabrizio Romano, a football journalist, wrote via his Facebook handle: “James Maddison completed medicals and signed as new Tottenham player!”
 
The signing reflects Tottenham’s ambition to bolster their squad ahead of the upcoming season. Fans eagerly await the impact Maddison will make in his new white and blue jersey.
 
Maddison’s creative playmaking abilities are expected to strengthen Tottenham’s midfield and provide a potent attacking threat. 

By Ayatullah Muhammad and Aminu Ismail Elyakub

In my History of the US Founding and Constitution class, I had the rare privilege of reliving the experience of the constitutionalist and founding patrons of the country. It elicited a feeling of foundational belonging despite each representative being entitled to their colonies or settlement. This led to a brief conversation during the semester where a colleague of mine in a friendly conversation uttered, “I love Aristocracy”. My radical response had to be heard, “I hate aristocrats because of their elitism and…” a list of things identifiable with modern oligarchs today.

I may have defeated my colleague but not for too long. He responded, “I see what you are saying, but my reasons are tied to the values….” That made no sense, even though I ended up writing an article on aristocratic values shaped and eschewed by leaders that ended up being transcendental. I was too hasty for a moment. The case of the Musa Yar’adua family presents a typical example of what virtuous aristocracy can bring to the building of the nation-state.

The 10th National Assembly commences with a renewed commitment and a rejuvenated pursuit toward Nigeria’s unhindered democratic succession. This comes with a mixture of veterans, the newly elected, and experienced former governors coming into the Senate. From the pool of “freshmen”’ comes Senator Abdulaziz Yar’adua, representing Katsina Central in Northwestern Nigeria.

The entry of Senator Yar’adua marks another moment for his constituents and enthusiasts of democracy globally as we spotlight family dynasties and their potential for impacting nation-building and making their distinct mark in public service. In this article, we highlight Senator Abdulaziz Yaradua, a distinguished member of the Yaradua family and arguably the first bi-cameral legislator of the dynasty’s siblings. This opens up possibilities for making parallels to the Kennedy family as examples of counterparts across the Atlantic with a serendipitous trajectory in destinies of similar dynasties.

The authors of “The Democratic Imperative: Exporting the American Model” have noted that dynasties are not an inherent aberration to democracy but an opportunity to enhance it with their experience and public service. Thus, the oldest democracy in the world has had five political dynasties across two centuries since its inception. This includes notables such as Adams, the Roosevelts, and, most recently, the Bush family.

The dynasty began with the late Patriarch of the Family and Mutawallen Katsina Musa Yar’adua, a parliamentarian who held two ministerial portfolios in the Tafawa Balewa Cabinet. However, the family name was shot into the limelight when an illustrious son, Gen. Shehu Musa Yar’adua, became the defacto “Second in Command” to General to the Head of State following the 1976 Coup. Since the late General SM Yar’adua’s passing, Shehu’s beacon of political light and values have arguably been responsible for shaping political decisions, contests, and prodigies since 1999, including the late Umaru Musa Yar’adua’s ascension to Presidency in 2007. Beneficiaries of such illustrious mentorship in the early 90s were two of the prominent aspirants of APC and PDP at the 2023 presidential elections.

As a significant member of the Yaradua dynasty today, Senator Abdulaziz Yaradua is continuing his family’s history and advancing Nigeria’s unity and prosperity. The senator’s career began as a disciplined and commissioned military officer of the Army’s Signal Corps, mirroring his elder brother’s path and earning him the moniker “Audu Soja”.

Despite being the penultimate child among his mother’s children, he heeded his father’s call for higher education. He joined the famous brothers in becoming the third university graduate from the men of a large family and a distinguished engineer in his own right. Senator Abdulaziz Yaradua has had a stint at being dependable on security issues, to Tinubu’s delight, while in the recent past also had a brief stint as an administrator of the country’s Rural Electrification agency under Buhari’s stewardship.

Like the Kennedy family in the United States, the Yar’aduas are not without their trials. Shehu Yar’adua could be paralleled to Robert F Kennedy, who died as a prominent political figure outside of an official capacity, compared to Umaru Yar’adua and John F Kennedy, who died in similar official capacities. Beyond the trials, however, were similar shared convictions, progressive ideals and activist mindsets championed by Shehu-RFK and Umaru-JFK positions and situations, respectively. They never missed their marks in setting stones and policies that etched them in the hearts, projects and legacies of admiration today.

Senator Abdulaziz Yaradua could learn from his late Senator Kennedy counterpart in history with hopefully a longer lifespan and influence etched in the Red Chamber of the NASS. While in a similar vein, expected to continue on their family’s tradition, he has his priorities and goals, including helping the Tinubu administration with bills to improve infrastructure and ensure long-term economic growth. His dedication to educational reforms and constituency empowerment projects sensitive to the needs of his community is further evidence of his intention to improve his people’s lot in life.

The tall and elegant leader with a built statute also best fits the “bridge builder” role. Tinubu could find a dependable “Senator Biden” in him capable of working across party lines to accomplish shared goals, a quality that is consistent with his family’s tradition.

Judging from the bios of the dynasty’s youngest politicians, it is clear that both men forged their unique paths while inheriting a powerful history. Senator Yar’adua did not have an easy way to political victory today as the family name was not enough to earn him a win in at least four contests he was involved in between 2011 and 2019. A devotion to democratic values, social equality, and inclusive governance has characterised the Yaradua dynasty. Senator Yaradua shares these values.

Expectations are high as Senator Abdulaziz Yaradua pursues his political career. He holds a good place in the Yaradua dynasty due to his unshakable commitment to the values supported by his family and his vision for a prosperous Nigeria. By taking a cue from his predecessor’s accomplishments, traditions, and values in pursuing a better future through their dedication to public service, social advancement, and economic prosperity. Like the late Senator Kennedy, Senator Yaradua represents the promise and hope of his people and constituents toward a better political system for his Katsina state and Nigeria’s evolving democracy.

Ayatullah Muhammad and Aminu Ismail Elyakub can be reached via ayatmatters@gmail.com.

By Prof. Abdussamad Umar Jibia

Southern Kaduna (popularly known as Southern Zaria because of its history of being part of the Zaria emirate) is a place I feel connected to whenever it is mentioned. At the age of 12, when I went to a boarding secondary school, a large percentage of those who became my classmates were from that area. Although GSS Musawa was located in the heart of what is now Katsina state, one can say without any fear of contradiction that nearly half of its students were from Southern Kaduna. 

With this background, I can accurately claim to have grown up with people from Southern Kaduna, many of whom remain my friends. Religious and communal crises that set us against one another are unfortunate. With those many crises, it would be a lie to claim that there is no mutual suspicion between the people of that area, who are mainly Christians and the Northern part of Kaduna state made of mostly Muslims and the greater old Kaduna/North-central state to which I belong. 

Of course, like any other people, there are good and bad people in Southern Kaduna. To verify to which category a particular person belongs, you find out. Since the announcement of Major-General Christopher Musa as the new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), I set out to investigate the kind of person he is. After contacting my sources, I was left thankful to President Bola Tinubu for choosing such a detribalised professional soldier to head our military, especially when professionalism is required to deal with the many security challenges across the country.

The choice of Christopher Musa is timely not just because he is a thoroughbred General but also because he is a victim of the banditry scourge that has bedevilled the Northwestern part of Nigeria. To be a Nigerian, one must first belong to one of the 774 local governments in one of the 36 states or FCT. Like the case with many other places in the North West, the state and local government area of General Musa have been attacked.

But, contrary to what the Southern press would want us to believe, although Southern Kaduna has its share of banditry, it is not the worst hit. Killing, kidnapping and other heinous crimes committed by bandits are daily occurrences in Zamfara, parts of Sokoto, Katsina, Kebbi and Niger, in addition to both Northern and Southern Kaduna state.

To succeed in his task, General Musa has to dispel the incorrect notion that bandits are coming from outside Nigeria. I believe the security reports are at his disposal, but there are things that we, the victims, expect from him that his predecessors failed to achieve.

Most of the operations hitherto carried out involve bandits at the bottom of the bandits’ hierarchy. The most dreadful bandits’ leaders are lurking safely in the North West. Only recently, one of them released the last batch of students of FGC Yauri whom he kidnapped and kept on Nigerian soil for more than two years, during which he extorted their parents through the nose. He is still living unscathed despite the billions of Naira the Government spends on security. 

He is not alone. In a widely condemned show of irresponsibility, another criminal who killed more than 100 villagers in Katsina state and was declared wanted by the Nigerian Police was given a traditional title in Zamfara state last year. He lives peacefully while the orphans and widows his crime generated are left on their own.

Another criminal who burned a passenger bus with 30 people in it days after opening fire on a village market that claimed 60 lives is also enjoying himself in Zamfara state. He is said to be moving around like a king in his locality.

Yet, another criminal who publicly claimed to have killed many Nigerian and Nigerian soldiers and abducted 40 Nigerian children days after he killed 53 farmers in Zamfara state is living there like a king. He also moves around unscathed. 

A bandits’ kingpin who ambushed Nigerian soldiers and killed many of them in 2020 is now enslaving villagers in Katsina state. Villagers under his jurisdiction work on his farm whenever he invites them to do so.

These are some of the most well-known bandits’ Generals with bases in the North West. The list is not exhaustive. That they were accessed by international and local media to which they gave video interviews leaves our security forces with no room to claim that the criminals are at large.

Of course, arresting/killing the above-mentioned bandits’ ring leaders and others in their category is not as easy as mentioned. In addition to sophisticated weapons and trained fighters, they have powerful sympathisers. We cannot rule out mischievous claims of genocide when the military goes all out to deal with them. Ordinary people like me expect that General Musa and Mr President should ignore any noise resulting from securing the North West and  North Central geopolitical regions of Nigeria.  May Allah help them, amin.

The question begging for an answer is whether General Musa and his team are willing to take up the challenge and uproot banditry by attacking its leadership, or they will just scratch the surface, make their money and go into partisan politics like we saw some of their colleagues did.

Prof Abdussamad Umar Jibia wrote from Kano, Nigeria. He can be reached via aujibia@gmail.com.

By Muhammadu Sabiu

The Federal Government has declared Wednesday, June 28, and Thursday, June 29, as holidays in observance of Eid-El-Kabir.

This is contained in a statement by Oluwatoyin Akinlade, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of the Interior.

The statement reads, “The Federal Government has declared Wednesday, June 28th, and Thursday, June 29th 2023, Public Holidays in commemoration of this year’s Eid-el-Kabir celebration and heartily felicitates with the Muslim Ummah at home and in the diaspora,” the statement read.

“We are hopeful that the prayers and sacrifices that come with this great celebration, as well as the message of Eid-el-Kabir, will bring about peace, unity and progress in Nigeria”

Muslim faithful across the world are preparing to observe Eid El-Kabir, popularly called Babbar Sallah in Northern Nigeria, on Wednesday.

By Muhammad Abdurrahman

On Sunday 25^th day of June 2023, the good people of Sokoto woke up and learnt about the murder of one butcher called Usman Buda over an alleged blasphemous comment against our noble Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

Sources revealed that some of the victim’s closest business associates at the Sokoto abattoir made frantic efforts to rescue him, but they equally sustained injuries and have been admitted to the hospital sequel to the attack.

Sokoto State Chapter of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), in a statement signed by its chairman Muhammad Mansur Aliyu Esq., has condemned the murder and urged the Muslim Ummah to stop taking the law into their hands each time there is an alleged blasphemy. It reads:

“We assert that Islam abhors jungle justice because it will lead to the taking of innocent lives and the destruction of the properties of innocent persons. Islam does not allow people to do what they like or take laws into their hands as they deem fit. It is only the courts (Shariah and common law courts) that have the power to execute offenders after proving them guilty through a fair trial. This position can be found in many Qur’anic verses such as Qur’an 4:65, 6:57, 12:40 and 43:10 etc.

“It is not in dispute that Islamic law provides a death sentence against anybody who insults, defames or brings disrepute to the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad (Peace and Blessing of Allah be Upon Him). However, Islamic law does not leave the killing open in the hands of private individuals as it happened in the case of Usman Buda.

“In fact, Islamic law stipulates that the offence of blasphemy, like other offences, should be established through evidence by witnesses before a court of law, and the Court shall pronounce such person guilty of blasphemy before the execution could be carried out by the authorities.

“Finally, while we condemn the murder of Usman Buda, we also, in the strongest terms, urge Muslims to stop jungle justice and allow the law to take its course whenever issues of such nature arise. May the peace and blessings of Allah continue to be upon the noble prophet Muhammad (SAW).”

By Muhammad Abdurrahman

Today, the Executive Governor of Kano state, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf, swore in his newly appointed commissioners and assigned them to their respective ministries.

During the governor’s speech, he urged the appointed commissioners to prioritize honesty and sincerity and avoid any involvement in corrupt practices.

The commissioners and their ministries are as follows:

1-Comr. Aminu Abdulsalam  – Ministry for Local Government

2-Hon. Haruna Umar Doguwa -Commissioner for Education

3-Hon. Ali Bukar Makoda -Commissioner for Water Resources

4-Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf – Commissioner Ministry of Health

5-Engr. Marwan Ahmad – Commissioner Ministry of Works, Housing and Infrastructure

6-Barr. Haruna Dederi – Commissioner Ministry for Justice

7-Dr. Yusuf Kofar Mata – Commissioner Ministry for Higher Education

8-Hon. Nasiru sule Garo-Commissioner Ministry for Environment

9-Engr. Muhammad Diggol – Commissioner Ministry for transport

10-Hon. Abbas Sani Abbas-Commissioner Ministry for Commerce and Investment

11-Hon. Hamza Safiyanu-Commissioner Ministry for Rural Affairs

12-Dr. Danjuma Mahmoud -Commissioner Ministry for Agriculture

13-Hon. Musa Sulaiman Shanono – Commissioner Ministry for Budget and Planning

14-Haj. Ladidi Garko -Commissioner Ministry for Culture and Tourism

15-Hon. Adamu Ali Kibiya – Commissioner Ministry for Land and survey

16-Hon. Tajuddeen Othman- Commissioner Ministry for Science and Technology

17-Hon. Baba Halilu Dantiye – Commissioner Ministry for Information

18-Sheik Tijjani Auwal – Ministry for Religious Affairs.

19-Aisha L. – Commissioner Ministry for Women Affairs

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has met with the designer of the demolished Kano Golden Jubilee Edifice of the Government House Roundabout.

The governor who made this disclosure Monday on his verified Twitter handle, said the roundabout will be reconstructed along Na’ibawa Flyover, Zaria Road.

According to the governor, the demolition of the Government House Roundabout was for security purposes and structural considerations.

He stated, “Recently, we took the decision to move the Kano Golden Jubilee Edifice from the Government House Roundabout, due to security and structural considerations. 

“It was therefore in that regard, I met with its designer, at the structure’s new home, along the Naibawa Flyover, Zaria Road. 

“Our government is highly committed to the massive improvement of Kano’s infrastructural architecture, and its accessibility to all,” he added.

The Daily Reality recalls that the demolition of the roundabout a few weeks ago generated painful arguments with many people saying the demolition was meant to satisfy the political anger of the Abba’s Godfather, Kwankwaso, against the immediate past governor, Ganduje.

By Muhammad Sulaiman

The registration fees at Bayero University Kano, once known as one of the most affordable universities in Nigeria, have now skyrocketed to a minimum of 105,000 for new students.

This increase has come as a shock for many students, who are expressing their disappointment and frustration.

Details later.

By Abdurrazak Muktar Makarfi

As a budding writer, I have always admired Mahmud Jega as a role model. His eloquent prose, thought-provoking ideas, and ability to captivate readers with his words have inspired me to strive for excellence in my own writing. Mahmud Jega’s works have inspired me, ignited my passion for the written word and pushed me to improve my craft.

However, as I embark on this journey of self-discovery through writing, I realise that one crucial element is missing from my writing growth. This senior, world-class mentor can provide guidance, impart wisdom, and help me refine my skills. While I have studied Mahmud Jega’s works and learned from his style, nothing compares to the personalised guidance and invaluable insights that can come from a seasoned writer who has already traversed my path.

A mentor would be a guiding light, someone who could help me navigate the intricacies of the writing world, offer constructive criticism and share their own experiences, triumphs, and setbacks. A mentor would challenge me to push my boundaries, encourage me to explore new genres and provide a wealth of knowledge that only years of writing experience can bring.

With the guidance of a mentor, I could learn to develop my unique voice, polish my storytelling techniques, and sharpen my ability to convey emotions and ideas through words. A mentor’s wisdom would enable me to navigate the challenges ahead, understand the nuances of the publishing industry, and provide me with the tools to elevate my writing to new heights.

I yearn to have a mentor who can nurture my talent, critique my work honestly and compassionately, and guide me towards becoming my best writer. I believe that with the guidance of a mentor, I can hone my skills, overcome obstacles, and ultimately make my mark in the world of literature.

Until I find that mentor, I will continue to immerse myself in Mahmud Jega’s works, studying his techniques and extracting lessons from his writings. I will strive to incorporate his brilliance into my style while exploring other literary voices and expanding my horizons. Though the path may be challenging without a personal mentor, I am determined to push forward, driven by the passion and dedication that writing instils within me.

One day, I hope to find a mentor who can provide the guidance and mentorship I seek—a senior, world-class writer who can help shape me into the best version of myself as a writer. Until then, I will persevere, inspired by the words of Mahmud Jega and the countless other literary giants who have paved the way for aspiring writers like myself.

Abdurrazak Muktar Makarfi wrote via prof4true1@gmail.com.