By Uzair Adam

The Hills and Valleys Recreation Centre in Dawakin Kudu Local Government Area of Kano State has been transformed into a centre for Qur’anic education, Islamic learning and humanitarian activities, with plans underway to establish a university and skills acquisition programmes at the facility.

The Daily Reality reports that the development followed the acquisition of the property by the Zam-Zam Islamic Initiative for N1.2 billion, according to Sheikh Aminu Ibrahim Daurawa, who disclosed this during the formal handover of the facility.

Daurawa explained that Hills and Valleys, which previously served as a park and hotel, had been a popular recreational centre where children and youths gathered, particularly during Sallah celebrations.

He, however, alleged that the facility later became associated with activities such as drug sales and prostitution, among other activities considered unacceptable by the community.

According to him, the property had been put up for sale by its owners and heirs for almost two years before discussions began over its acquisition by the Zam-Zam Islamic Initiative.

He said a wealthy associate later informed him that he had heard Zam-Zam was interested in purchasing the property, leading to further discussions and negotiations that eventually resulted in its acquisition for N1.2 billion.

Daurawa said the facility had since been renamed Zam-Zam and would serve as a centre for religious education, modern education, skills acquisition and humanitarian activities.

He explained that Zam-Zam had already been supporting the education of Qur’anic memorizers, noting that 170 female memorizers had been sponsored to study at different universities.

He added that the initiative had opened a portal to enable both male and female Qur’an memorizers to access opportunities to pursue first-degree and master’s programmes.

Daurawa also disclosed that the organisation had sponsored students to universities in Abuja to study various disciplines, including supporting married women to further their education.

He said the initiative was also planning to sponsor students to universities in Cairo, Egypt, to study courses such as medicine, engineering and computer science.

According to him, representatives of Arab organisations associated with the initiative would visit the centre to assess students and identify those who could benefit from educational opportunities.

He further said a renowned computer training centre would be involved in the new facility to equip young people with digital skills, while other vocational programmes would also be introduced.

Daurawa said the centre would therefore combine Islamic education with modern education and vocational training to provide young people with opportunities for learning and skills development.

He also highlighted the humanitarian dimension of the initiative, saying Zam-Zam had links with an Arab organisation that provides rams for distribution during Sallah.

He disclosed that the organisation received 500 rams this year for distribution as part of its humanitarian activities.

Daurawa said Zam-Zam also intended to establish Zam-Zam University at the facility, explaining that although other locations had been offered for the project, he preferred Hills and Valleys because of its potential benefits to the community and the legacy of the philanthropist who owned the property.

He described the development as a source of joy to the community, Kano State and the family of the philanthropist.

Daurawa also reflected on the long-term significance of the project, saying, “Whoever establishes something, whether good or bad, continues to receive its consequences even after death.”

The transformation of the facility into a centre for Qur’anic education, Islamic learning and humanitarian activities was earlier reported following its formal handover to the Zam-Zam Islamic Initiative, with Kano State Hisbah Command deploying personnel to the centre.

By Uzair Adam

The Kano State Coordination Office of the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) has commenced a four-day training for key stakeholders on peacebuilding, conflict prevention, management and resolution.

The training, organised in collaboration with the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), Abuja, is aimed at strengthening stakeholders’ capacity to prevent conflicts, manage grievances and promote sustainable peace, particularly between farmers and pastoralists.

The Daily Reality reports that the training, which began on Monday, September 7, brought together farmers, pastoralist leaders, security personnel, traditional and religious leaders, government officials, women and youth representatives, among other stakeholders.

The programme focuses on the third component of L-PRES, which deals with crisis prevention and conflict mitigation, with particular attention to conflicts and grievances that could arise from interventions targeting farmers and pastoralists.

Speaking at the event, the Kano State Project Coordinator of L-PRES, Dr. Salisu Muhammad Inuwa, who was represented by the project’s Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Sule Saleh, said the training was important because development interventions could sometimes create disagreements among beneficiaries and communities if not properly managed.

Saleh explained that L-PRES provides various forms of support to farmers and pastoralists, including interventions involving grazing areas, water and infrastructure, which could sometimes lead to disagreements between the two groups.

He said the third component was therefore designed to prevent or minimise such conflicts and grievances, particularly those arising from interactions between farmers and pastoralists.

According to him, farming and livestock rearing had traditionally coexisted, but the movement of pastoralists in search of grazing land and water could bring them into cultivated farmlands and trigger disputes.

“The programme looks at the reasons why pastoralists move from one location to another. Is it because of inadequate grazing land, lack of water or market-related issues?” he said.

Saleh said identifying the underlying causes of pastoral movement would enable stakeholders to develop appropriate solutions and reduce situations that could escalate into conflicts.

Also speaking, Paul Andrew Gwaza, an official of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, Abuja, said the institute was collaborating with L-PRES to implement the conflict prevention and mitigation component of the project in 20 states, including Kano.

Gwaza said the training was designed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills needed to facilitate dialogue, mediation and conflict resolution within their communities.

He stressed that the objectives of L-PRES could not be fully achieved in an environment where conflicts and crises continued to disrupt relationships between farmers and pastoralists.

“The essence is that you cannot achieve component one and component two when there are conflicts and crises, especially between farmers and herders, which is affecting livestock productivity,” he said.

He said the participants were also being trained on stakeholder mapping, conflict-sensitive investment, gender and social inclusion to ensure that development interventions promoted unity rather than create divisions within communities.

Gwaza explained that conflict-sensitive investment was particularly important because development projects must be implemented in ways that do not create new grievances or deepen existing divisions among communities.

He added that the programme also sought to ensure that minority groups were not marginalised in the implementation of L-PRES interventions.

On the collaboration between L-PRES and IPCR, Gwaza said the partnership was intended to strengthen peacebuilding efforts and ensure their sustainability beyond the lifespan of the project.

He said the institute was also working with relevant peacebuilding agencies at the state level, where available, to build local capacity and ensure continuity after L-PRES exits.

According to him, the direct beneficiaries of the training include pastoralist and farmer leaders, security agencies, traditional and religious institutions, women and youth leaders and civil servants.

He said the participants would subsequently take the knowledge and skills acquired to their respective communities, making the wider population of Kano State the ultimate beneficiaries.

The training, which is being held under the L-PRES conflict prevention and mitigation component, is expected to strengthen stakeholders’ ability to identify potential sources of conflict, promote dialogue and contribute to peaceful coexistence between farmers, pastoralists and other communities across Kano State.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Sorrow has gripped the Kano State Children’s Council community following the death of its Chairperson, Hauwa.

The announcement of her passing was made with the Islamic supplication, “Innalillahi Wa’inna Ilaihirrajiun” (Indeed, to Allah we belong and to Him we shall return), as family members and close associates confirmed the sad news on Tuesday.

According to the funeral arrangements released by the family, the Janazah (burial prayer) has been scheduled to hold at 9:00 AM prompt. The service will take place at Hotoro Tsamiyar Boko, located directly behind Amazing School, where sympathizers and well-wishers are expected to gather for the final rites.

Mourners are currently mobilizing to the venue to pay their final respects, with prayers offered for the repose of her soul and for fortitude for her bereaved family.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The family of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has issued a seven-day ultimatum to Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (Rtd.), demanding either credible evidence for a murder allegation or a public retraction and apology.

The dispute stems from a live appearance by General Musa on Channels Television’s Politics Today on September 3, 2026, during which he allegedly claimed that Mr. El-Rufai actively orchestrated killings in Southern Kaduna while serving as governor.

In a press statement signed by Hon. Mohammed Bello El-Rufai on behalf of the family, the former governor’s relatives described the allegation as “grave” and “unsubstantiated,” noting that no evidence was presented to back the claim.

“While General Musa (Rtd.) is entitled to hold and express his personal opinions, the El-Rufai family is equally entitled to demand that such serious allegations be substantiated with credible evidence,” the statement read.

The family has given the Defence Minister until September 14, 2026, to either produce proof of his allegation or retract it publicly through the same media platform.

“In the absence of such evidence, we call on him to publicly retract the allegation through the same medium on which it was made,” the statement added.

The El-Rufai family warned that failure to comply would leave them with “no option but to pursue all appropriate legal remedies available under the law.”

Mr. El-Rufai, a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and current Opposition Leader of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has faced various political and regional security criticisms during his tenure, but this marks the first time a sitting cabinet member has made such a direct personal accusation against him on national television.

As of press time, the Defence Ministry had not issued an official response to the ultimatum.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Zainab Zee Diamond, a beloved figure in Nigeria’s Hausa film industry (Kannywood), has passed away. The actress died in the early hours of today, shortly after the Fajr (dawn) prayer, following a prolonged battle with an illness.

Her family confirmed the death in an official statement, offering condolences to fans and colleagues with the heartfelt words: “Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un” (To Allah we belong, and to Him we shall return). The statement noted that she had endured a long period of medical treatment.

Tributes have begun pouring in from fellow actors, filmmakers, and fans across Nigeria, mourning the loss of the veteran star. Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced shortly by her immediate family.

By The Daily Reality

Farida Bungudu, a 2026 graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, has turned years of skepticism about her home state into a record-breaking academic run, becoming the first student from Zamfara State to finish top of the Faculty of Law with First Class Honours.

Bungudu, who emerged Overall Best Graduating Student in the LL.B Class of 2026, said the journey began as “a dream few people believed in.” Critics, she recalled, argued she was “reaching too far, too fast.”

“What they didn’t know was that this dream was never about me alone,” she said. “It was about proving that Zamfara State, too, belongs in every room, every conversation, every arena where excellence is measured.”

Record-Breaking Run at ABU

Results released on Wednesday confirmed a historic performance that placed Bungudu among the faculty’s all-time best.

Her list of achievements includes:

– Overall Best Graduating Student, LL.B Class of 2026, Faculty of Law, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria

– First Class Honours, LL.B (Civil Law) 
– Third Highest CGPA ever recorded in the Faculty’s history

– 5th Female Best Graduating Student in the Faculty’s history

– First Female from the Northwest to graduate with a First Class and as Best Graduating Student in the Faculty

– First Zamfara State student from the Faculty to graduate with a First Class and as Best Graduating Student

– First Chief Judge in the Faculty’s history to graduate as Best Graduating Student with First Class Honours.

Beyond academics, Bungudu also distinguished herself in student leadership and advocacy. She served as the Second Female Chief Judge of the ABU-SRC Court, Chief Justice of the Law Students’ Society, Chairman of the LSS Privileges Committee, Chairman of the Council of Benchers, and Chairman of the LSS Judicial Council.

Her profile also identifies her as a Nigeria Higher Education Foundation (NHEF) Scholar, an award-winning National and International Moot Court Champion, Best Advocate, and Best Oralist. She also served as Assistant Chief of the Ahmadu Bello University Students Support Associates.

“We now have a seat at the table”

Speaking after the announcement, Bungudu described the achievement as more than a personal success.

“Today, I stand as a voice for every Zamfara State student who has ever felt limited, overlooked, or underestimated,” she said. “We can walk into any room now, and know we belong in the conversation. We have broken through the glass ceiling, and we now hold an undeniable seat at tables once thought unreachable.”

She described the milestone as “merely a blueprint” for younger students from Zamfara and the wider Northwest.

“I have walked the path; now it is your turn to run,” she said, adding that she will later share details of “the sacrifices that happened behind the scenes to make this possible.”

For a state whose students have long faced stereotypes about their academic capacity, Wednesday’s announcement represents a new reference point. For Farida Bungudu, the achievement was answered “not with words, but with results.”

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Senator Shehu Buba, who represents Bauchi South Senatorial District, has rejected fresh allegations that he has links with bandit groups, describing the claims and videos circulating on social media as false and part of an alleged campaign against his reputation.

Buba, a former Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, has faced allegations of connections with suspected bandits since 2024. He has repeatedly denied the allegations.

The latest controversy followed videos shared by a content creator identified as ‘D English Alhaji’, who claimed that suspected bandit leaders had visited the senator’s residence.

The controversy was further fueled by comments from a resident identified as Hassan, who accused Buba of being among politicians allegedly supporting bandits in the area.

Hassan also claimed that persons associated with the wanted bandit kingpin, Dogo Gide, were brought to Abuja for specialised training through an aide of the senator.

However, Buba rejected the claims in a statement issued on Sunday with the title, “Setting the Record Straight: My Response to Fabricated Videos, False Allegations and a Sustained Campaign of Disinformation.”

The senator, who currently chairs the Senate Committee on Livestock and Animal Husbandry and is seeking the Bauchi governorship ticket of the Peoples Redemption Party, said he had previously chosen not to respond because of the sensitive nature of his former security-related responsibilities.

He stressed that his decision to remain silent should not be taken as an inability to defend himself.

He said, “For much of my public life, I have resisted the temptation to respond to every allegation, criticism or provocation directed at me. Citizens have a legitimate right to scrutinise those entrusted with public responsibility, and public officials must be prepared to account for their conduct.

“My election as senator representing Bauchi South Senatorial District — and particularly my responsibility as chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence — reinforced the need for restraint. National security demands discretion.

“Operational successes cannot always be publicised without jeopardising ongoing efforts, exposing sources or endangering individuals and communities involved in sensitive interventions.”

Buba traced the allegations against him to an incident on September 15, 2024, involving Umar Shayi, whom he said led a militia group said to be operating as hunters for the Bauchi State Agency for Vigilante and Youth Empowerment.

He said two charcoal sellers were allegedly killed during the incident.

According to Buba, he visited the victims’ families after the incident and demanded justice. He said his intervention later became the basis for claims that he was connected to banditry.

“This campaign dates back to September 15, 2024, when Umar Shayi led a militia group purported to be hunters working for the Bauchi State Agency for Vigilante and Youth Empowerment. The group reportedly killed two charcoal sellers who were conducting their lawful business.

“As the elected senator representing the district, I visited the families of the deceased to condole with them and called on the relevant authorities to ensure justice is served. I also vowed to pursue lawful action on behalf of both the deceased and the injured victims.

“I condemned the killings and urged the government to institute safeguards against abuses by those entrusted with protecting citizens,” he said.

The senator alleged that Abubakar Bununu, Bauchi State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, later publicly associated him with banditry after his intervention.

He also referred to an earlier allegation that he sponsored a suspected bandit leader to attend the 2024 Hajj. Buba said he denied the claim and asked security agencies to investigate it.

The lawmaker said, “Following my intervention, the Bauchi State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Abubakar Bununu, publicly linked my name to banditry — an allegation I rejected as false and unsupported by evidence.

“Subsequently, Governor Bala Mohammed petitioned President Bola Tinubu that I sponsored a ‘bandit kingpin’ to perform the 2024 Hajj through an aide named Yahaya Ibrahim.

“I categorically denied these allegations. I stated that I had no aide by the name cited and invited security agencies to investigate.”

Buba said his support for pilgrims, educational initiatives, medical assistance and empowerment programmes had been based on recommendations from community and religious leaders.

He added that he instituted a defamation case, CV/413/2024, at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory over the allegations.

Senator Explains Viral Videos

Buba also gave an account of how some of the photographs and videos now circulating online originated.

He said a young man named Hassan Husseini was introduced to him in 2024 as an orphan who needed educational support.

According to the senator, he enrolled Husseini in a private college and an Islamic school in Kaduna and also gave him a bicycle.

He said Husseini later abandoned his studies and asked for financial assistance to start a car dealership. Buba said he rejected the request and advised him to return to school.

“I later discovered that, while under my care, he had recorded photographs and videos of visitors to my residence. These materials later formed the basis of allegations circulated on social media,” Buba said.

He alleged that some people who circulated the materials later demanded money from him.

The senator said he petitioned the Nigeria Police Force on September 9, 2025, which resulted in the arrest and investigation of several suspects.

According to him, five suspects were arraigned before Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court in Abuja on October 30, 2025.

“After the videos circulated and those sharing the videos and photos demanded money as extortion, I petitioned the Nigeria Police Force on September 9, 2025. Several individuals were arrested and investigated.

“On October 30, 2025, five suspects were arraigned before Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/526/2025, on charges including criminal conspiracy, cyberstalking, criminal defamation, advance-fee fraud and extortion.

“The matter is before a competent court, and I will refrain from comments that could prejudice the proceedings. The next hearing is scheduled for September 29, 2026,” he said.

On the latest videos, Buba said the footage had been presented falsely as proof that bandit leaders visited his residence.

He said the videos actually contained unrelated footage, including images of Hajj returnees who visited his residence in 2023.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Former President of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma, has returned to Freetown after spending more than two years in Nigeria, following the withdrawal of treason charges filed against him.

Koroma left Nigeria on Sunday morning in the company of former Nigerian Presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Olusegun Obasanjo, as well as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu.

The former Sierra Leonean president governed the country from 2007 to 2018. He faced treason charges over an unsuccessful coup attempt that occurred in November 2023.

Following the incident, an agreement was reportedly reached under the auspices of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The arrangement allowed Koroma to relocate to Nigeria while proceedings against him were discontinued.

Koroma arrived in Nigeria in January 2024 and remained in the country until his return on Sunday.

The Sierra Leonean government announced in July that it had ended the criminal proceedings against the former president.

The office of the Attorney-General said the case was no longer before the court and confirmed that Koroma was free to return to Sierra Leone.

Vice-President Mohamed Jalloh also announced on Friday that Koroma would return to Sierra Leone as part of efforts to promote peace and national cohesion.

In a statement issued on Sunday by Magnus Eze, media aide to Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the minister said negotiations involving ECOWAS, the Nigerian government and other stakeholders had helped resolve the issues that led to Koroma’s relocation to Nigeria.

“His conduct throughout this period reflected restraint, statesmanship, and commitment to a peaceful outcome,” Odumegwu-Ojukwu said.

The minister expressed appreciation to President Julius Bio, Koroma and the Sierra Leonean authorities for their cooperation and commitment to peace.

Jonathan also issued a separate statement in which he said discussions had promoted dialogue with Sierra Leonean authorities and helped establish the conditions required for Koroma’s safe and dignified return.

The former Nigerian president said he was pleased that Koroma had returned to Freetown and expressed hope that the development would usher in a period of renewed hope and reconciliation in Sierra Leone.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 2023 election, Adewole Adebayo, has promised to reduce the prices of petrol, cooking gas and aviation fuel to N200 per litre if he wins the 2027 presidential election.

Adebayo made the pledge on Sunday in Abuja during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said his proposed pricing policy would take effect within 12 months of assuming office.

According to him, his administration would focus on reviving the country’s existing refineries while also supporting modular refineries to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported refined petroleum products.

He argued that the age of Nigeria’s refineries should not prevent the government from rehabilitating them. He cited refineries in the United States that have remained operational for more than a century.

“SDP will pick cooking gas, petrol and Jet A1; those three, we will put them under a regime where the price does not go past N200,” he said.

Adebayo said his plan would include the restoration of what he described as the original subsidy arrangement, under which 450,000 barrels of crude oil are set aside for domestic consumption.

He explained that the crude would be processed locally, while the sale of other petroleum products such as naphtha, heavy fuel oil, diesel and kerosene would generate funds to sustain the proposed pricing system.

The SDP candidate said his party would collaborate with the National Assembly to create a framework that would allow revenue from other petroleum derivatives to support the scheme.

He maintained that Nigeria should concentrate on developing adequate domestic refining capacity rather than relying on imported petroleum products sold at international prices.

According to him, the country already possesses two major resources needed to achieve this goal: crude oil and existing refining infrastructure.

Adebayo also said the prolonged debate over fuel subsidy had shifted attention away from what he considered the deeper challenges affecting Nigeria’s petroleum sector.

He dismissed the argument that subsidy removal alone would solve the country’s financial difficulties, describing such a position as a “red herring”.

He further said Nigerians would not be subjected to petrol subsidy under an SDP administration, as he does not consider subsidy a government economic programme.

On transportation, Adebayo proposed a policy that would combine lower petroleum prices with improvements in public transportation and railway services.

He said workers and students would have access to public transport through their employment and student identification cards. Employers, he added, would contribute six per cent of workers’ salaries towards transportation.

He said the measures would reduce the cost of transportation and boost economic activities across the country.

The presidential candidate also proposed that housing costs should be capped at seven per cent of workers’ salaries, while education and healthcare would be provided free of charge.

“The summary of it is that transportation costs cannot go more than six percent of your salary and housing costs should not be more than seven percent of your salary, education and healthcare should be free,” he said.

Adebayo added that agriculture and food security would receive priority under his administration, with the aim of making food more affordable for Nigerians.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration, describing it as more oppressive than Nigeria’s past military regimes and urging the president not to seek reelection in 2027.

In an interview on The Mic-On Podcast, Baba-Ahmed accused the Tinubu government of exercising what he termed “brute civil force” and using state institutions to suppress political opposition and dissent.

Baba-Ahmed compared Tinubu’s leadership with the regimes of Generals Ibrahim Babangida, Sani Abacha, and Abdulsalami Abubakar, arguing that despite being dictators, the military leaders demonstrated greater respect for constitutional principles.

“The military was so disciplined. They respected the Constitution. They had shame. They had principles. They had scruples. But now it is brute civil force. That’s what we’re experiencing in Nigeria,” he stated.

He described the concentration of political power under the current administration as unprecedented, suggesting that even past military rulers maintained what he called discipline and restraint.

Baba-Ahmed advised President Tinubu to prepare to hand over power after his current tenure rather than contest the 2027 presidential election.

“I would simply advise ‘Uncle’ to please prepare to hand over and move away, but not to the people contesting against him, because none of them will improve Nigeria,” he said.

When asked whether he included Peter Obi among those he believed would not improve the country, Baba-Ahmed answered in the affirmative.

“None of that pack. Tinubu should leave the stage. All those people contesting against him, too, they were all in bed together at some point or another,” he said, adding that this included Obi.

He emphasized that his position was not an endorsement of any existing politician but a call for “a whole new Nigeria,” arguing the country needs leadership beyond politicians who previously belonged to established ruling parties.

The former senator also criticized the National Assembly, alleging that the legislature has become too close to the executive and has effectively turned into an extension of the presidency.

He took particular exception to lawmakers singing political songs in support of the president, arguing such conduct undermines legislative independence.

“A legislature must never be that compromised to the level of singing for those who are members of their party. Singing ‘On your mandate we shall stand,'” Baba-Ahmed said.

He added that if he were still a member of the House of Representatives, he would have taken steps to prevent such conduct from recurring.

Baba-Ahmed revisited the 2023 presidential election, alleging that the electronic transmission and reporting of results through INEC’s IReV platform was interrupted and that constitutional provisions were breached.

He questioned the circumstances surrounding the declaration of the presidential election result and alleged that the presence of the National Security Adviser in court during proceedings concerning the election raised questions that deserved answers.

“From outside government, you had switched off IReV. From outside government, it was switched off. The Constitution was breached,” he alleged.

Baba-Ahmed has consistently maintained that the Labour Party ticket won the 2023 presidential election and that there were constitutional grounds to challenge the process leading to Tinubu’s inauguration.

Despite his criticism of the current political system, Baba-Ahmed rejected military intervention as an alternative, saying the solution to bad democracy is better democracy.

“The only option to bad democracy is good democracy,” he said.

He described “legitimate, active civil engagement” as the way forward, urging Nigerians to leave their comfort zones and participate more actively in politics.

“The good people in Nigeria must come out, sacrifice their comfort, leave their comfort zones, come out and ride out, push out the bad elements that have been destroying Nigeria,” he said.

On insecurity, Baba-Ahmed argued that corruption is at the heart of Nigeria’s security crisis, claiming that eliminating corruption could address more than half of the country’s insecurity problems.

“How do you… Once you remove corruption, you have fought more than 50% of insecurity in Nigeria,” he said.

He called for greater investment in the armed forces, including military equipment, personnel welfare, and technology to monitor Nigeria’s extensive borders, suggesting that modern surveillance technology could allow Nigeria to monitor large stretches of its borders from central command facilities.

On Tinubu’s economic reforms, including fuel subsidy removal and foreign-exchange reforms, Baba-Ahmed said policies could not succeed without addressing what he described as the underlying character and integrity of government.

He compared governance to constructing infrastructure, saying the success of policies depends on the “foundation” on which they are built.

“Those policies are supposed to rest on something. What is that thing? That is the character, content, principles, and philosophy of the leadership,” he said.

He acknowledged that some Nigerians may have benefited from the administration’s economic policies but attributed such benefits largely to what he described as the president’s friends and political associates.

His remarks come as Nigeria’s political parties and opposition groups position themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections, with questions over the ability of opposition forces to mount a credible challenge to the ruling APC.

Baba-Ahmed said Nigerians should focus less on personalities and more on building institutions and a political system capable of producing accountable leadership.