By Aisha Musa Auyo 

Coursework lasted for four months. I enjoyed it as it’s Psychology, and got excellent results. But I couldn’t go back as planned, as I had already enrolled my kids in school. I complained to my parents about my lack of a job and how relatively boring it was to stay without my husband. They promised to do something about that. I ventured into the catering business full-time while my husband and I were still making plans to reunite. Fortunately, another transfer was by the corner, so the goal is to wait and see the posting. Living alone was getting harder for him and affecting his work productivity. No man wants to go home to an empty house. No man wants to be eating out every day; the inconveniences are just too numerous.

On my side, I felt empty and taking care of the home and raising the kids alone was taking a toll on me. He could only come once a month and spend two to three days. His kids saw him as a stranger. Although we were constantly on video calls, it’s not the same as being present.

An opportunity for a university job came, but I rejected the offer, explaining that we were leaving as soon as the transfer came out. The one and half years we did apart as couples have taught us never to try that again; I’ve changed my decision on work. I called my husband, told him about the offer, and made it clear I was not accepting it. He advised I should not do anything hasty, but I remained unshaken. Any job that would tie me to one place and make me apart from my husband is not worth it. At that time, the transfer came out, and the location was not travel-friendly. His workload too would not allow unnecessary travel, so the job is a big No for me. 

However, People judge from afar and couldn’t hide their disappointment of me not working in a cooperative world. A neighbour looked into my face and told me, ‘if you reject the job because of your husband, I swear you will regret this decision’.

 I was not saying I would not work outside my kitchen, but whatever my work is, it shouldn’t be the one that would split my family apart. One should not be surprised if they see me working outside home tomorrow if the work was within the place I stay and can offer transfer whenever we are made to leave the state. So, yes, my future work should revolve around my husband’s work state.

But for now, I choose catering, and I decide to do what works for me. Who knows it, feels it. Those who mattered have accepted and made peace with my decision. The challenge now is balancing the catering business with my PhD thesis.

Let me explain why my parents want us to pursue these degrees. They are university professors, have few kids, with guaranteed pension and gratuity. So, they don’t need any financial help from us. But they want us to be independent and financially stable. In addition, they want us to be highly educated and respected. As parents of girls, in this era of divorce, irresponsibility, and many life uncertainties, they know the best they could give us is this education.

Our parents often tell us that they’re not rich; they won’t leave us with mansions and millions when they die. This education is the only legacy they have, and I understand them. The University environment does that to its inhabitants. This is a general problem ‘we quarters’ children’ face.

A neighbour of mine whom we came from the same quarters made a similar decision not to work or further her education. She told me how her dad used to compare her to coursemates, that they’re all PhD holders now and doing great things in the university. Thus, he always begged her to at least further her education. To our parents, a bachelor’s degree is never enough.

To say I’m grateful to my parents is an understatement. Wallahi, I often cry, knowing I can never pay them for all they did to me. They’ve given and are still giving me the best of everything; we are over-pampered. We are the envy of our peers, and we have achieved so much at young ages due to their persistence and guidance. It’s not only Boko (Western education) they gave us; they also ensured all of us have memorised the Quran at young ages and have attended multiple Islamic schools and conferences.

Moreover, they have our best interests at heart; they are even overprotective. So I’m not only grateful, but I always feel indebted. All I do is pray for them to have the best of here and hereafter. Now, this story is history as I’ve eaten my cake and still have it. I’m doing my PhD while my family have been reunited. A postgraduate program is temporary and flexible. I’m glad I followed my parents’ advice, thanks to them, I’ll be a young Dr soon inshaAllah.

The lessons here are:

1. Allow, guide and encourage children to follow their dreams and passion. The result is a win-win, as parents won’t have to push the kids to work or study hard. Passion naturally breeds excellence.

2. Don’t make or set life goals too early. Be open-minded. The definition of success is very dynamic. Our dreams can change as we advance in age and transition from stage to stage in life.

3. Accept people’s decisions even if you have power over them. Just pray, and let them face the consequences. If it turns out good, that’s great. If it turns out bad, that’s a lesson, not a failure. All decisions are born from real-life experiences and or reading that change one’s line of thinking or learning an idea somewhere that sparks one’s interest in something.

4. When your passion is what you do for a living, your life will be happier thus healthier. The fulfilment and peace are on another level.

5. Diversify your knowledge and skill. Don’t just dwell on a single niche and plan your life around that. Don’t pigeonhole your thinking into believing that “I am a civil servant” or “I am a business person” and nothing else. It’s too dangerous. Life is dynamic; even if you chase degrees, learn a skill or trade. Government jobs are not guaranteed. Priorities also change, especially for women. For instance, my catering business has never been affected, even though I’ve been moving around. Cooperate jobs will not have been this flexible. 

6. Read, read, and read. Learn, unlearn, and relearn. Reading is an art that teaches one about life beyond their daily reality. Reading could help you avoid many problems, crises, and misunderstandings. Reading changes one’s outlook towards life makes one understand himself, those around him and the world better.

7. People should learn to mind their business and respect other people’s choices. Every individual is entitled to their decision. Making derogatory comments, asking personal questions, or judging based on half-baked information hurts. Many people think my husband, as an Ustaz, dictates my decision to be a housewife for now. On the contrary, he supports, pushes, and encourages me to work hard on my school projects. When I told him about the university job offer, he was willing to sacrifice. I single-handedly decided to reject it. He promotes my thesis and business on their tv channels. He pays for my air tickets whenever I need to see my supervisor and lots more.

8. Sometimes, one needs to stand firm on his decision, especially about his own life. Sometimes, one needs to put himself first; it’s not selfishness.

9. A married woman can actualise her dreams, career, and aspirations with a husband’s support.

10. To achieve greatness, one needs to make sacrifices. Success has never been achieved without struggle.

Finally, and most importantly, pray hard for God’s guidance on whatever decision or journey you want to embark upon. With a clean heart and good intentions, trust Allah to be always there for you.

Aisha Musa Auyo is the CEO of Auyo’s Cuisine and wrote from Abuja. She can be contacted via aishamuauyo@gmail.com.

By Aisha Musa Auyo 

Today, as a wife and mother, my definition of success is being an excellent homemaker that nourishes and nurtures my family in the best way possible. I want my topmost contribution to the world to be a set of individuals who are peaceful, loving, respectful, intelligent, honest and hardworking people. I want to be more successful as a homemaker than in school. I want to be always there for my family, not relying on others to discharge my primary responsibilities. Today, this is my priority!

In the world of academia, nothing counts better than degrees and working in the university. I was born and brought up in that world. My parents are academics, and their dream for us is to have as many degrees as possible and as early as possible. We know nothing but books. And lucky enough, the books love us.

I finish secondary school at 16 and my bachelor’s degree at 20. I wanted to be a doctor like every brilliant student, but life had it; I had a chronic ulcer in my teenage age. Thus, I was always in and out of the hospital. That ailment made my dad change his mind about letting me study medicine. He said he couldn’t stand seeing my dream and hard work being crushed by (University) Senate committees because I was sick and couldn’t write or pass medical school examinations. “I’m in the committee for years, and I know these things”, he told me.

That’s how I was advised to study education. It was not what I wanted, so I wrote exams to pass, not to fail. I graduated with a 3.46 CGPA, below almost everyone’s expectations. I’m always known for acing my exams. The least they expected from me was 2:1. I learned not to do what I didn’t want from that result, never again. It’s either “A” or nothing. 

I have a passion for cooking, and it’s known to everyone around me. So, after graduation, my mom enrolled me in a catering and hospitality management program –to ‘kill’ time before the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme. I gave that program my all and finished with an excellent result.

I got married a few days after my catering program. The plan was to live in our state, but my husband was transferred to another state two weeks after marriage. So, NYSC came, and I was posted to my home state as planned. However, I was alone, and my husband had to travel to and fro every week to his place of work and his new bride. It wasn’t easy on us, and we decided to stay together after service.

But before finishing my service, my parents advised me to register for a master’s degree. So, I started lectures a few days after my POP. Unfortunately, this delayed our decision to stay together with my husband, as we are constantly travelling to meet each other whenever we have a break in school and work, respectively. Fortunately, the master’s coursework is an 8-month program. So, I left the state immediately to settle with my husband, coming to school every month to see my supervisor. But this time around, I decided to study what I wanted.

I had to convince them that I couldn’t give it my all if it were something I didn’t like. Let’s negotiate; you want master’s, huh? Let it be something I like so that I’ll bring you the “As” you always want, I said to them. My parents wanted me to major in Biology, but I wanted Psychology, as it’s the only thing that caught my interest in education. It’s the only thing close to my medical career dream. Thus, I studied it with passion and graduated with First Class honours!

At 22, I was the youngest and the only one without a job in our class. The result proves to me passion breeds excellence. Kiyosaki’s Rich Dad, Poor Dad, and Angela Duckworth’s Grit taught and encouraged me to make employment out of what I love. They taught me how working on one’s passion can bring money effortlessly. I learned and practised making money out of what I love – cooking. Catering allows me to work in the comfort of my home, regardless of the location. People must eat anywhere, and many of them appreciate good food. Nonetheless, this passion of mine generates controversies.

Since I was young, those who have known me always thought this girl’s future was in academia. She’s a bookworm, brilliant, etc. So, they’re disappointed; such a waste of intelligence! Some bold ones even ask why I don’t work. Won’t your husband let you work? Why are you furthering your education since he will not let you work? Why continue wasting time, energy and resources on school if you don’t want to work? This and that.

Back to my academic life, I continued travelling from where I stayed to where I schooled, and vice-versa for my thesis until another transfer came – too far away location now. At that time, I was almost done with my master’s thesis as I was waiting for external defence. I had to wait for good eight months before I was called. Travelling from the new location to the university was far and stressful, as one had to travel by air.  So, there’s additional strain on travelling and financing. I had two kids then, and I travelled with them whenever school called.

We went for the viva, which was so relieving. At least now we can rest, I thought. A few weeks later, my parents advised me to register for a PhD. I tried to convince them that the distance was too much, promising them that I’d do that whenever I settled in one place, not now that I’m on the move. I also told them PhD was for those with a career in academia and that I was not working yet.

Moreover, a PhD is expensive, and I have never seen a self-sponsored unemployed candidate doing that. I even argued that at 26, I was too young for a PhD. But no, they would not hear me. I didn’t want to hurt them or make them think that I put my husband before them; I applied. They were delighted.

I went for the aptitude test, and my score was high. I was ranked the second-best; my admission number is 00001—the first to be given admission that year. But deep down, my husband and I were not comfortable with the decision. We thought it was too early to be living apart as our marriage was still young, less than ten years. Within me, I have this fear of what would happen to my marriage? Should I leave my husband and come to pursue worldly degrees? It’s not like he failed in any of his responsibilities. He is, in fact, the one sponsoring the PhD.

Being in the barracks has opened up my eyes to the realities of life. Sadly, gentlemen turned to womanisers due to a lack of family around. I have seen how northern Muslim men change or are lured and tempted by the evils of the world. I have seen many scary things that I had never thought could exist or happen. Even though living alone should not be an excuse for their behaviour, their bad behaviour couldn’t have escalated to that level. I vowed never to leave my man at the mercies of those home breakers, so I planned to go back immediately after coursework.

Aisha Musa Auyo is the CEO of Auyo’s Cuisine and wrote from Abuja. She can be contacted via aishamuauyo@gmail.com.

By Muhammad Sabiu

A man from Igege in Osun State was apprehended with mutilated human body parts on Wednesday. His identity, however, could not be confirmed immediately.

Some residents were said to have notified security agents after becoming suspicious of the man’s movements.

The suspect was forced to bring out mangled human body parts from a bag while several bystanders beat him with sticks and screamed profanity at him, according to video footage captured at the scene of the crime.

The suspect could also be heard in the video denying his involvement in ritual killings and criticising persons he claims to have set him up.

Residents attempted to lynch the man, and members of the Hunters Group of Nigeria and the Amotekun Corps were brought to the scene.

Sunday Olaifa, Chairman of the OlaOluwa South East Local Council Development Authority, informed our correspondent that once the man was apprehended, villagers attempted to lynch him, but he was saved by security personnel.

Olaifa, who said he had to rush to Igege to appeal to the villagers, sought a thorough probe into the situation to guarantee that justice was delivered.

By Kabir Mukhtar Galadanchi

It gladdens our hearts how our brave military has been intensifying offensives and operations to root out bandits and banditry in the North-West, particularly in Zamfara and Sokoto, to bring back normalcy and peace to the banditry ravaged states and communities in northern Nigeria.

The military’s recent Ariel bombardments and ground offensive that resulted in the elimination of some bandits’ leaders have boosted the fight against banditry and the confidence of all the concerned stakeholders adamantly and consistently speaking about the rising level of banditry and general insecurity in the region.

In the past weeks, many notorious bandits’ leaders and other terrorists who specialised in kidnapping for ransom and killing innocent civilians were sent to their Maker. Thanks to the well-coordinated aerial bombardment by some section of the NAF launching successful aerial attacks and unleashing serious damage to the now jittery and fear-stricken bandits running for their lives to avoid the currently sustained military bombardments and offensives.

The elimination of notorious Alhaji Auta scared other bandits’ leaders to be on their heels, especially the ferocious Bello Turji, the de factor governor-cum-administrator in those areas. He collects taxes and imposes rules which all must obey to save their souls. This is an embarrassment to our leaders and our security forces, to say the least, and has become a usual trend that is still occurring unabated.

Bello Turji has continued to dare the authorities and positioned himself as a somewhat invincible and unchallengeable criminal that can do and undo whatever he so desires in the communities he’s unleashing his inhumane activities and savagery.

But the recent killing of Alhaji Auta has sent jittery and panic into his camp. He’s now coming to terms with the reality and shamelessly calling and appealing for dialogue and conciliation.

Our military must not in any way give this vermin a space to breathe and must not relent in sustaining those assaults until Bello Turji and his bloodthirsty lieutenants are eliminated. Instead, the military should give them their deserved justice with the barrel of their guns, aerial attacks or through whatever lethal way that will ensure their permanent neutralisation.

Nobody can deny that the unconditional release of some 52 captives by Turji resulted from the intensified military assaults. Eliminating him (Turji) will send fear to hundreds of notorious bandits leaders operating in Zamafara, Sokoto, and Katsina and reduce their activities.

Credible reports have it that Duna Baleri, Dogo Gide, and a host of other bandits leaders are now hiding and running from their devilish camps to avoid our military’s ongoing pressure and offensives. We pray that their nemesis will soon catch up with them in no distant time inshaAllah.

While saluting our military’s efforts, bravery and gallantry, we also pray that they should continue to be determined, persistent, and maintain doggedness in flushing and neutralising these enemies of the state that made life hellish and turbulent through their primitive violence and atavistic barbarism.

On our part as civilians, let us unite and confront this huge challenge collectively without sentiment or regard to religious, ethnic and political affiliations and underpinnings. Let us also cooperate with the military in providing credible information that will help them uncover and eliminate these evils once and for all.

Kabir Mukhtar Galadanchi wrote from Katsina. He can be contacted via kmgaladanchi20@gmail.com.

By Abubakar Umar Gbs

Dear Sirs/Madams,

Let me start with these questions: Who among you has ever included people with disabilities in their empowerment programs? Who among you has ever offered a single person with a disability a job? Who among you has ever appointed a person with a disability as his aide? Finally, who among you has ever sponsored their basic diploma, NCE, or undergraduate program?

Since the 2015 election, Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) in the said region have suffered negligence from you even though they voted for you like everyone else. You do not consider them for empowerment, job provisions, educational supports, and so on. For basic education, many of their parents cannot take them to the only deaf school in Hadejia because of their physical location. There is no school for the blinds in the region, making it difficult for parents of blind children to take their children to school. The cripples, too, suffer going to school because of the absence of tricycles or other accessibility measures.

Please note that their defects made them require special needs, which means they should be given ‘special’ consideration in all aspects. Their needs should equitably be granted. They require inclusion, equal treatment, but this is not the case in the region as “those not in need are given more than those in need” or “those not in need are given what those in need needed the most.”

At this time, we have many PwDs from all over the region who have qualifications doing some handwork and are expecting jobs because their impairment may affect them doing other self-employed jobs. Some want to start a business but do not have the capital to kickstart. Some have hidden talents but do not dare to put them into practice or are being discriminated against in government and private companies, making them wait for government jobs which you (politicians) have the opportunity to offer them. 

There is one disabled lady who completed her NCE 5 years ago, but until now, she hasn’t secured any job or any seed capital to start a business as she complained.

Where are all those offers you are giving your people? Where are all those empowerment packs you are giving to your people? Did you know how it feels to have a defect in any body part? What if one of your children has a defect?

Imagine the son of less privileged parents with physical defects. They are citizens who have equal rights to education, health, and human rights. Sometimes, you will ask for what belongs to you from a serving leader like you, but you will be labelled a beggar. How can someone beg for what belongs to him? You begged them for votes that don’t belong to you but themselves and took them for granted after that. Their exclusion in campaigns has reasons as we can’t expect crippled men to take their bikes or join campaigners to go far and campaign. In the meantime, you can expect a blind man to do so too, so the deaf has his limitations.

Every citizen, irrespective of disability, race, tribe, or religion, deserves to be treated equally as per the constitution. Also, traditionally, persons with disabilities have equal rights, even if not constitutional. They have 100% rights, and that should be respected.

We know how well you perform, but the ‘well’ is not enough until you put PwDs’ rights on top of the agenda because society needs them. If they are neglected, they retort to some odd jobs to survive life which I don’t see their mistakes.

Thank you

Abubakar Umar Gbs sent the letter via abubakargbs@gmail.com.

By Uzair Adam Imam

One of the renowned businessmen and philanthropists in Nigeria, Alhaji Aminu Dantata, has said that the current system of government has failed Nigeria.

Dantata stated this when he received a condolence visit by the Northern Elders Forum over the death of Sani Dangote and Othman Bashir Tofa.

He added that there is a need for a collaborative effort by the elders in order to bring to an end the disturbing multiple problems facing the country.

“You will agree with me that the Presidential system of government presently in operation has failed the nation; what we need now is to adopt the parliamentary system, which is less expensive,” he said.

Reports disclosed those on the entourage included General Sale Maina, Hakeem Baba Ahmed, President Coalition of Northern Groups, Nastura Shariff, Dr Sadiq Gombe, Hajiya Najaatu Mohammed, among others.

The Northern Elders Forum had also called on the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, Deputy Governor Nasiru Gawuna, and Alhaji Yahya Hamma.

By Mallam Musbahu Magayaki

I write to commend and appreciate the unmeasurable feats of the Nigerian military personnel and other sub-security agencies for their bid to ensure that two of the well-known wanted bandits, Alhaji Auta and Kachalla Ruga, have met their waterloo. They spent many years operating their egregious activities of the gruesome killing of innocent people without regard to the principle of natural justice.

However, they were killed by a Nigerian Air Force aircraft, under operation Hadarin Daji, at Gusami forest and Tsamre village in Birnin Magaji Local Government Area of Zamfara State. Nevertheless, at this point, as they (bandits) reach their cul-de-sac, our adventurous security personnel should not relent unless they spare them all.

Undoubtedly, the death of these two kidnap kingpins is a severe blow to their bandits’ like-minded abhorrent individuals. As such, more triumphant efforts to fish them out of their territories should now be re-engineered by both military personnel and vigilante units who work inexhaustibly day-in-day-out to safeguard the lives and personal possessions of Nigerians.

Yet, there is a need for the government of the federation, specifically the security sector, to organize orientation sessions with security agencies to be fully informed about the assigned task that they have sworn to do of protecting and upholding the country’s constitution. Because we live in a country where some of its countrymen portray sabotage as a virtuous way to satisfy their narrow-minded desires. As a result, they will devote all of their useless energy to changing the great sense of our security personnel to compromise the country’s state of peacefulness.

Moreover, security personnel should be fully equipped with sophisticated weapons techniques to finish off these ruthless humans (bandits) and frequent motivational incentives that would boost their morale to serve uncompromisingly. They should also be retrained in modern battle strategy. A famous West African proverb says, “When the music changes, so does the dance.” It is high time the government changed all its tactics against these despicable fellows.

Mallam Musbahu Magayaki Writes from Sabon Fegi, Azare.Bauchi State. He can be reached via musbahumuhammad258@gmail.com.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari.

President Muhammadu, on Wednesday, while granting an interview on Channels TV, reportedly said he had a favourite successor.

The President, whose tenure will be over in less than two years, dropped the bombshell during an exclusive interview on Channels TV on Wednesday, January 5, 2022.

However, the president refused to state who the favourite successor was on the ground of their safety.

The President, in his own words, ” I wouldn’t (mention the name of my favourite successor) because he may be eliminated if I do. I better keep that a secret.”

The interview has generated ripples and different reactions across the political spectrum in the country.

By Abdulrahman Salihu

An accident is an unforeseen circumstance claiming the lives of many and inflicting injuries to several others for years. The number of people involved in just motor accidents in Nigeria has risen to 33751. Road traffic accidents statistics show that 5320 road crashes and 2471 deaths occurred in the first half of 2021 nationwide.

In Bauchi, more than 40 people died in ghastly motor accidents in December alone. Last week, four corps members were killed in a car crash after leaving orientation camp from Taraba to Yobe State. Recently, 13 people died on Christmas day in two separate motor accidents along the Lagos-Ibadan and Sagamu-Benin expressway.  

It is hard to read newspapers or watch TV without reports of motor accidents that are now prevalent; that is to say, things are getting worse every day. But who is to blame for the frequent accidents that became a new normal in the country where almost all drivers and traffic agents see themselves as saints?

Firstly, reckless driving plays a significant role in causing accidents due to overspeeding, overloading, unnecessary overtaking, failure to check their vehicle stability. These, among other causes, lead to several untimely death of innocent souls.

Similarly, some traffic personnel are neglecting their job by accepting bribes and letting go of violators of rules and regulations guiding road users. Moreover, potholes on the roads contributed to accidents because incidences of drivers having head-collision with oncoming vehicles are numerous. In trying to dodge potholes, they mostly end up in dreadful or fatal accidents with their cars on other lanes. So what are the ways out? 

Drivers should at all times check up their vehicles, avoid overspeeding, overloading, and unnecessary overtaking on roads to save lives that they could not create. Road safety and other traffic personnel should discharge their duties effectively without fear or favour. Anybody who violates traffic rules must be sanctioned regardless of his status to serve as a deterrent to others.

Federal and state road maintenance agencies should redouble their efforts to repair roads, and adequate personnel must be employed to have workforce capacity. Lastly, federal and state governments should construct more roads, expand narrow ones and dualize the existing highways to tackle the menace of road accidents in Nigeria.

Abdulrahman Salihu, student of mass communication from Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic Bauchi. He can be reached via abutalatu72@gmail.com.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

The foremost human rights activist and former senator, Shehu Sani, aligns with President Muhammadu Buhari’s position on having a police force under the control of state governments. The president has adamantly refused to consider state police a viable option despite Nigeria’s several security challenges and calls from different quarters. 

In an exclusive interview with Channels TV on Wednesday, January 5, 2022, the president reiterated his previous position regarding the issue.

Meanwhile, Shehu Sani, who has been critical of the Buhari administration, especially on poor management of the country’s security challenges, surprised many by agreeing with the president. He cited abuse of the police institution by state governors as part of his reasons on his official Facebook account following the president’s interview.