By Uzair Adam Imam

Many people were outraged by the Polaris Bank Ltd directive, Tuesday that laid a strong warning against its Muslim staff to desist going to Friday prayer.

The Daily Reality reported that there had been growing anxiety among the Muslim employees as the order did not sit well with them.

The management of the bank, in an email to its Muslim employees, said going to the mosque for Friday prayer contradicts the policy of the bank.

However, a statement issued and signed by the Group Head, Strategic Brand Management, Nduneche Ezurike, said the incident involved one staff and her supervisor and has already been addressed.

Customers’ rage

The management of the bank was under fire as the concerned citizens, who couldn’t make sense of the directive, threatened to stop using the bank.

Abdallah Aliyu Uba said, “We’re doing all the needful to successfully withdraw all our money from the bank.”

Idrees Omar stated, “Polaris bank beats the drum and definitely, our Muslim brothers, will teach them lessons. This carries strong messages to the bank that Islam in Nigeria is beyond intimidation.”

Shehu Bello said, “Polaris bank will receive our strong messages that, Islam in Nigeria is beyond intimidation by any means.”

Ayuba Musa Garba stated, “By God’s grace as of now I decided to stop using this bank”

Mas’udu Musa said, ‘By God’s grace as of now I decided to stop using this bank.”

I resigned from my work over the ban on prayer

One of the employees of the Dimond Bank, Yusuf Shehu, has recounted how he resigned from his job over a ban on prayers by the bank.

Shehu said, “This applies to all banks in Nigeria except Zenith and Union Bank.

“This happened to me during my days in Diamond Bank. I had to beg, kneeling for my supervisor before She could allow me to go and pray.

“One of my colleagues was issued a Memo like this too. In the Banking industry, you have to worship your Supervisor like a god. God forbid. It’s my reason I left too,” he said.

By Uzair Adam Imam

A 51-year-old man, Oluranti Badejo, has been arrested by Police in Ogun for allegedly beating his 40-year-old wife, Folasade Badeje, which resulted in her death immediately.

On Thursday, the Police Spokesman, Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed the development to journalists in the state, adding that the suspect has been apprehended.

It was gathered that his arrest followed a complaint lodged at Mowe Police Divisional Headquzrter by the younger sister of the deceased.

Several reports indicated that the incident occurred at Orimerunmu, Mowe, in the Obafemi-Owode Local Government area of the state.

Oyeyemi said the husband beat his wife to death after they had a minor misunderstanding.

The DPO Mowe division, SP Folake Afeniforo, quickly dispatched the divisional detectives to the scene where the suspect was arrested.

“The lifeless body of the victim was there and then evacuated to the mortuary in Sagamu for post-mortem examination. Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect strangled the deceased during a scuffle as a result of a minor disagreement.

“Having realized that he has killed his wife, the suspect used a hot iron to burn parts of the body of the deceased so as to look as if she was electrocuted. But unfortunately for him, their 8-year-old daughter was there and witnessed the whole thing.

“It was the daughter who testified seen her father strangulating her deceased mother,” Oyeyemi said.

The Commissioner of Police, Lanre Bankole, to have directed that the suspect be taken to the Homicide section of the state Criminal Investigation Departments for further investigation.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Bayero University, Kano (BUK), has emerged as the first in the north on the Times Higher Education 2023 World University Rankings list. 

Topping the list in the north, BUK is the fourth in Nigeria, with the University of Ibadan emerging as the best in the country.  

The University of Lagos is the second, while Covenant University is the third in the ranking in Nigeria. 

BUK, being the first varsity in Kano, was established in 1975. It currently has over fifty thousand students.

The University of Oxford emerges as the best university in the world, followed by Havard University, the University of Cambridge Standford University. 

BUK students, alums, and some of the university’s lecturers took to their social media spaces to jubilate the success.

By Uzair Adam Imam

There was a growing anxiety in Polaris Bank LTD as Muslim employees were cautioned against attending Friday prayer.

The strong warning by the bank management was via an email sent by one Damilola I. Adebara to the Muslim employees on Tuesday, saying going to the mosque contradicts the policy of the bank.

The development, putting in mind that any citizen is entitled to a right to religion, does not sit well with many of the Muslim employees whose eyes gloated through the email in dismay.

One of the employees who spoke to The Daily Reality through a phone call said the same issue happened just recently with one female employee who was warned against going for the prayer by her Christian supervisor.

The email that goes viral reads: “It has been observed that on Friday, you leave your work desks to attend Juma’at service bearing in mind the impact of your absence on workflow and productivity of Yes Center.

“Kindly note that there is no provision made anywhere in the bank policy for employees to attend any religious activity during work hours.

“Going forward such permissions would not be granted on the Yes Center platform and any infrastructure of this directive would be dealt with accordingly,” the bank instructed.

A legal practitioner in Kano, Barrister Abubakar Saleh, told our reporter that the bank’s directive is against the constitutional provision of the right to religion.

He said, “The constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has entitled any citizen the right to religion. For that, it is wrong for the bank to rob the employees of their rights and freedom of religion.”

Also, Sheikh Abubakar Ayuba Tangimi, lambasted the bank’s directive, saying Jumu’ah prayer is obligatory to any male Muslim.

He quoted, “Ibn Qayyum in his book Zadul Ma’ad said Juma’at prayer is compulsory to any Muslim adult. He was of the opinion that if anyone misses a single Juma’a prayer has wronged his creator.”

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Imo State Police Command arrested five persons for allegedly killing a man whose wife died in a car accident a few days ago. 

The incident took place on Monday, October 11, 2022, and her demise stroke terror and threw the community into deep mourning. 

The man was identified as Apostle Wisdom Mbakwe and hailed from Umuduruchukwu Aboh, Isu, in the Nwangele Local Government Area of the state. 

He was said to have been making the burial arrangements for his wife when he was brutally murdered. 

Speaking to journalists in the state, one of the deceased relatives recounted, “Our brother was observing his morning prayer according to the Jewish religion he professes. 

“Just then, Chidiebere said he heard the shout of ‘Yahweh, Yahweh’ and rushed into the house just in time to see the deceased struggling with some men.

“One of them tried to use a machete on his head, but he dodged, and it landed on his shoulders. He ran out to alert some neighbours and the youth of the area. 

“When they came, they did not see my brother or the assailants. So they started combing the bush, thinking that if they were kidnappers, they wouldn’t have gone far.

“But they combed everywhere without seeing anyone. When they eventually returned to the house, they observed blood all over the sitting room and saw my brother where the killers had pushed his body in between some chairs and covered him up with curtains,” she added. 

Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Mike Abattam, said the Police are still investigating to fully discover the circumstances surrounding the incident.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Ministry of Power on Wednesday disclosed that there is no plan on the ground to sell the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

The ministry disclosed this in a statement signed and issued to journalists today, October 12, 2022.

The statement urged the general public to dismiss the statement making the round regarding a non-existing plan to privatize the TCN. 

The Daily Reality gathered that the ministry stated this a response to media reports and statements claiming that there is a plan to privatize TCN next month. 

The statement read: “These reports are untrue and are only mere misinformation aimed at spreading panic in the power sector, which is making progress towards ensuring that Nigerians enjoy uninterrupted power supply.”

“The Federal Government of Nigeria has no intent to sell or privatize the Transmission Company of Nigeria, and no one in the FGN has made a statement of an intent to sell TCN.

“The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) is a centrepiece in the Federal Government of Nigeria’s efforts to rejuvenate the power sector. Therefore, the Ministry of Power working with key stakeholders is continuing to evaluate, assesses and upgrade TCN to make it more efficient and transparent.

“As part of the repositioning of TCN, job opportunities are being created, as with the recently concluded ramp up of employment, contrary to claims that there is a plan for a mass disengagement of staff at TCN. The organization has also been carrying out sustained capacity building by training and retraining of staff across all cadre for efficiency and service delivery.

“Transmission is a vital segment of the electricity value chain that constantly needs significant investment. As is the best practice across the world, the government of Nigeria maintains the transmission segment of the power value chain even when other segments have been privatized. Currently, the federal government is investing and supporting efforts to make TCN a world-class transmission service provider.

“The federal government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari focuses on upgrading, stabilizing and modernizing Nigeria’s power industry through various interventions, including the Nigeria-Siemens partnership under the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI),” the statement added. 

By Uzair Adam Imam

The former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, has rejected the OON national award by President Muhammadu Bahari.

Professor Attahiru Jega was also the former Vice Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano (BUK).

One of his close associates that preferred anonymity confidentially told the Daily Reality on Wednesday.

He said although many people have carried the news of the Jegas award since it was made public, Jega declined to accept it and did not attend the national event either.

He added, “The professor has informed me that although many people have carried the news of the award since it was made public, he declined to accept it and wasn’t at the ceremony.

“So in principle, Prof Jega did not accept the honor,” the source genuinely broke to the Daily Reality.

However, the reason why Jega declined to accept the national award was unknown and the source did not mention any. Similarly, Prof. Jega was not the first person to reject national award by Nigeria’s presidents. Late Chinua Achebe also rejected the similar award given to him by Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

Recall that President Buhari, in a letter to the awardees dated October 7th, 2022, by Sen. George Akume, fnim, approved the conferment of the national honour on awardees to the rank of OON (Officer of the Order of the Niger).

The investiture ceremony took place at the International Conference Center (ICC), Abuja on Tuesday, 11th October, 2022, at 9:00 am.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Reports from Zamfara State indicate that the police in the state have arrested eight bandits’ informants, gun runners, cattle rustlers and suppliers of hard drugs and foodstuff.

The police operatives also repelled the terrorists’ attacks in Bukkuyum, Shinkafi and Tsafe Local Government Areas of the state. 

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent Mohammed Shehu, disclosed this to journalists in Zamfara. 

Zamfara State is one of the epicentres of banditry and kidnapping in northern Nigeria that suffers from several attacks, leading to the deaths and displacements of a number of its residents. 

 He said the operatives also recovered four sophisticated guns, one cutlass and a bunch of charms after exchanging gunfire with the terrorists, who were forced to retreat into the bush.

Following the distress calls by some community members, this resulted in repelling the terrorists’ planned attacks on some communities. 

The suspects are under the state’s police custody, and a thorough investigation is currently taking place. 

By Uzair Adam Imam

Former Kano State governor, Senator Kabiru Gaya, said the All Progressive Congress (APC) was not worried by the growing strength of the New Nigerian People Party (NNPP).

The senator said NNPP would only strike terror into the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the party would split the votes that belong to the PDP. 

He stated that the APC would sweep the votes in all the electoral positions, predicting that the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) would come second while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would come third.

Gaya disclosed this to journalists in Kano when he was debunking the rumour going around that the vice president, Yemi Osibanjo, was sidelined in the formation of the presidential campaign team of APC. 

He said the information was misleading and fake and that Osinbajo remained committed to the presidential ambition of the APC candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He said, “I am a member of the Tinubu campaign team, so the issue of sidelining anyone does not arise. Even the president has said he wants Osinbajo to be with him in running the affairs of the country to ensure a seamless handover.

“There is nothing like Osinbajo is sidelined because, after the primaries, we were in Osinbajo’s house when Tinubu came and said he needed our support. We had over two hours’ discussion. They are working together. Politics should not divide us,” he stated. 

By Tordue Simon Targema

At a time like this, Public-Private Partnership is undoubtedly the surest blueprint for economic prosperity in Nigeria. This explains why Prince Abubakar Audu, the visionary Executive Governor of Kogi State in 2002 invited the Dangote Industries Ltd. to the State to partner on cement production, a venture that has been so far productive and economically rewarding to both the State and Dangote Industries Ltd., and indeed, Nigerians at large.

It thus smacks of apparent permittivity for the State Government to wake up today, over 20years after the deal was struck with Dangote Industries Ltd. and shut down the Company on the grounds of alleged illegal acquisition.

Apart from the physical damage that this dastardly act will incur the Company, it is also important to consider the bad signal it sends to prospective investors preparing to go into public-private partnerships with governments at all levels.

At the moment, calls are rife for governments in Nigeria to privatize moribund ventures and hands-off their operations in the interest of productivity. NNPC has just been privatised with the registration of the NNPCL, so also are calls for privatization of other assets that gulp billions in annual budgets without tangible results.

Yet, it is at a time like this that Governor Yahaya Bello and the Kogi State House of Assembly consider it most appropriate to wield their sledge hammer on Obajana Cement Company and shut it down in the most primitive manner possible.

A statement by the company’s management indicates that the invasion by armed vigilante groups has caused enormous damage on the plant ranging from physical destruction of the Company’s assets to wounding about 26 staff among other scores of incurred damages.

The report of death of a staff that was shot during the invasion cannot be substantiated at the moment, and appears as an exaggeration to attract public sympathy to the Company. It must be noted at this point that Dangote Industries Ltd. cannot be absolved completely of sharp practices in the course of its operations.

Just recently, the Benue State Internal Revenue Service shut down Dangote Cement Plant in Gboko due to the unwillingness of the Company to remit due taxes to Benue State. Like the current saga at Obajana, a war of words trended between State officials and the Company’s management over claims and counter claims regarding remittance of taxes.

Prior to the incident and until recently, the road around the plant was a terrible nightmare to commuters plying the busy Katsina Ala – Makurdi federal highway which leaves many wondering how serious Dangote Industries Ltd. is with its corporate social responsibility.

The road around Savannah Sugar Company in Numan, Adamawa State is equally a nightmare, so much such that commuters would always ask whether it is customary to Dangote companies to live roads around their plants terribly devastated.

A visit to Obajana where the cement factory is situated leaves one wondering if at all it hosts a company of that magnitude, as no meaningful development project commensurate to the company’s prestige can be spotted around.

One would have expected critical interventions of the Company in basic infrastructures of the town such as educational institutions, healthcare facilities, road networks, water and other critical infrastructure as part of the company’s compensation to the host community for the concomitant environmental effects occasioned by its operations.

This is not the case at Obajana which is but a glorified village remitting billions into Dangote’s coffers, even as Dangote Industries Ltd. is among the most renowned donors doing what one would regard as “Father Christmas” to places that it has no investments!

Another critical question worthy to ask pertains to who owns the remaining 10% of the Company’s shares due to Kogi State as provided in the agreement transferring ownership of the Company to Dangote Industries Ltd.

This question is crucial as the Company in its reaction to the invasion claimed 100% ownership of the plant, even as existing laws stipulate that a State is entitled to 10% equity shares of such investments within its domain, 5% of which belong to the indigenes while the remaining 5% to the State Government.

One must also be curious to ask if all taxes rightfully due to the Kogi State Government are being remitted as at when du. Recall the incident at the Gboko cement factory! These are critical questions that must be carefully interrogated as one wraps his head around the current crisis at Obajana.

Notwithstanding all these, however, given the strategic position of the Obajana cement factory in Nigeria’s economic sphere especially with regards to cement production, distribution and consumption, the consequences of shutting it down at the moment can best be imagined.

Consequently, it behoves on the State Government and management of the Company to shelve their swords and immediately return to the discussion table to resolve the crisis within the shortest possible time in the interest of all and sundry. It is worthy to note that Public-Private Partnership benefits all parties wherever it exists.

Kogi State Government and the Dangote Industries Ltd. should have known this better. In this regard, efforts must be made to strengthen existing partnerships and encourage new ones to emerge exponentially.

Individuals and groups going into such agreements with governments must, as a matter of necessity, exhibit the highest sense of responsibility by constantly dialoguing with government agents towards addressing all grey areas that might arise on a regular basis to ensure peace and tranquillity in the course of their operations.

In doing this, impunity and arrogance must be avoided and business operations must thrive purely based on mutual understanding and corporate best practices in line with existing legal frameworks.

In a similar way, governments going into agreements with private investors must be prepared to respect their fundamental rights and privileges, and must desist from all primitive and draconian acts that are capable of causing untold damage to such investments.

This is necessary if industrial harmony must be attained in jointly owned ventures for greater economic prosperity of Nigeria and her component states.

Tordue Simon Targema writes from the department of Journalism and Media Studies, Taraba State University, Jalingo. Email: torduesimon@gmail.com