By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, CON, has approved the appointment of Abdulmalik Suleiman Abubakar as Senior Special Assistant (SSA 1) and Focal Person for the Solution for the Internally Displaced and Host Communities (SOLID) Project.

The Secretary to the State Government, Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, who conveyed the Governor’s approval, said in his new role, Abdulmalik will be responsible for spearheading the SOLID Project.

The project focuses on providing sustainable solutions to improve the living conditions, welfare, and integration of displaced populations, while simultaneously strengthening the socio-economic capacities of host communities across Gombe State.

Governor Inuwa Yahaya expects the new appointee to bring to bear, his wealth of experience, to ensure efficient coordination between government agencies, NGOs, and international partners involved in SOLID project to deliver tangible results.

This appointment is with immediate effect.

By Saifullahi Attahir Wurno

I had the privilege of working in a private firm during a long break from medical school. It’s like a dream, being versatile and getting the opportunity to work as a marketing officer instead of holding a scalpel and stethoscope. It would allow me to enhance my communication skills and human relations, increase my networking, and learn to be more responsible and accountable.  

Indeed, it’s teaching me how to be more assertive and aggressive, unlike my initial shy character. I had to learn to sell my product, pressure people to pay me back, and say no to fraudulent transactions. Indeed, I am learning that there is a larger world outside of the hospital.

I had a firsthand experience of the reason why the ‘major’ Northern Nigerian tribes lag in terms of competitiveness in business, science, athletics, and education compared to our Southern counterparts and even the ‘minority’ tribes from the North. This is a sad reality and a bitter truth. I stand humbly to be corrected if my statement is far from fact.

I began this work not more than three months ago, but their level of humility and respect toward the bosses was something I had never seen. These people always greet their boss with respect. They respect their colleagues at work irrespective of their level. They attend to customers with courtesy and gentility. 

They have this attitude of taking their job seriously no matter how meagre their pay is. I have never heard any of them complaining about their pay despite having heard of numerous complaints from ‘my people’. Although I tried to arrive at the office at least 3 minutes before 8 a.m., thanks to my medical professional training, those people always arrived 15-20 minutes earlier. I observed this from the attendance record in front of the Security man.

This story was about our security man from the South-East. I used to see him working in the hospital where I lived (since I reside in the medical students’ hostel). He used to work with a private security company in Dutse, Jigawa State, working a shift daily between 8 pm and 5 am. I have known about this man for the past year. 

Surprisingly, we met in this company, too, working between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily. When I enquired more about him, I discovered he was even managing a small trader kiosk in front of his house with his wife. The most astonishing part was that this same person has a National Diploma (ND) in Public Administration and is currently doing his part-time HND at Jigawa Polytechnic during the weekend studying Criminology.

It’s hard to instil this attitude of resilience in our people, who have families to feed while juggling two lowly-paying jobs that take up most of their daily lives and are also studying for personal development.

There was this teenage girl who was also of the same South-eastern origin. She was just out of secondary school. She was the company cleaner and one of the lowly paid staff. But this Lady took her job with every seriousness, coming out daily earlier before all others arrived, sweeping and cleaning the environment neatly, and even using pleasant deodorants. She would not disappear after all this but remain in the office until 2 pm if something arises.

This young lady preferred to come out every morning and do a lowly paying, menial job of cleaning the toilet and mopping floors to be paid ₦30,000 monthly to help her parents financially and felt proud of her achievement instead of sitting down at her mother’s room all day, wasting time of social media.

The spirit of humility and looking after one another was mind-blowing and pathetic whenever I remember ‘my people’ who constantly brag about good culture and religion. There was a time when this young cleaner was sick, and all the staff arrived one morning ready for work. So, we realised she was ill and, thus, absent. We were in this dilemma of what to do; what I saw next was astonishing: there was a group of about five young and classic ladies, all of whom were graduates of the university and among those highly paid in the office. 

Without delay, these ladies volunteer to bring out all the cleaning equipment and do the job wonderfully. Without telling, this thing happened in front of about three of the same young ladies from ‘my people’ despite being Diploma holders and one with even a secondary school certificate.

During my stay, I observed that these people were not very involved in office politics, gossiping and abusing bosses. They were not in the habit of making silly excuses just to move around. I have never observed anyone attempting to involve himself in any fraudulent act to cheat a customer or act against the established rules of company ethics.

From this alone, I have come to draw the answers to why most of the reputable private investment in this country is dominated by ‘those’ people. I have discovered why they dominate our banks, the FinTech, and most prominent organisations. I have seen the reason why they dominate our science and technology establishments. I have seen why they even dominate our athletes and sports sector.

The answer is relatively straight. It is simply character and nothing else. It is about our character, perception of life, and attitudes. It is all about their attitude of resilience, respect, humility, gratitude, and discipline.  Let’s learn and not use excuses or blame games.

Saifullahi Attahir Wurno wrote via saifullahiattahir93@gmail.com

By Uzair Adam

The Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a ruling preventing Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) from stopping vehicles, seizing or taking possession of vehicles, and imposing fines on drivers. The Daily Reality reports that Justice Evelyn Maha announced the decision in a fundamental rights enforcement case, identified as FHC/ABJ/CS/1695/2023, filed by human rights activist and public interest lawyer Abubakar Marshal. The ruling also affects the Director of Road Transport, the Area Commander of Jabi, the Team Leader of Jabi, and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, who are listed as respondents.

By Uzair Adam 

The Kano State High Court has adjourned a ruling on the ongoing dispute over renovations to the historic Nasarawa mini palace in Kano until October 10, 2024. 

The case, presided over by Chief Judge Justice Dije Aboki, involves an application seeking to halt the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, from proceeding with modernisation plans for the palace.

The plaintiffs, which include the Kano State Government, the Attorney General, and the Kano Emirate Council, are pushing to preserve the palace’s original structure, arguing that renovations would compromise its cultural and historical significance. 

The Daily Reality reports that the Emir is the sole defendant in the case.

During the hearing, the plaintiff’s counsel, Habib Akilu, noted that the defendant’s legal team was absent and moved for an interlocutory injunction to prevent any renovation until the court delivered its final judgment.

The plaintiffs had previously secured an interim injunction on September 13, 2024, following the release of a proposed plan to modernise the palace. 

In support of the motion, a 33-paragraph affidavit deposed by the Matawallen Kano, Ibrahim Ahmed, emphasised the palace’s importance as a symbol of cultural heritage, warning that any changes could erase its architectural and historical integrity.

Justice Aboki has ordered that all relevant court processes be posted publicly to keep all parties informed.

By Abdurrazak Muktar Makarfi 

Regret is a universal human emotion, a lingering shadow often following negligence or poor decision-making. It can be personal, like not putting in enough effort to achieve a desired goal, or it can be monumental, affecting entire nations or history. From personal experiences to the grand scale of global events, regret reminds us of the consequences of our actions—or inactions.

I, too, am a living witness to this. I aimed for a higher degree classification during my undergraduate studies, hoping to graduate with a Second Class Upper or even a First Class. However, due to a lack of focus and dedication, I had a second-class lower. I realise now that my negligence led to this outcome, which reminds us that what we fail to do today can haunt us tomorrow. In this case, regret is the product of what I did not do rather than what I did.

However, personal regrets are not unique to every person. Even the most powerful, successful, and celebrated figures in history have experienced regret for their actions or oversights. These moments of reflection often come too late, after the damage has been done, and serve as cautionary tales for the rest of us.

Napoleon Bonaparte and the Russian Campaign

One of history’s most infamous military campaigns is Napoleon Bonaparte’s invasion of Russia in 1812. His quest for dominance over Europe led him to undertake an ill-fated military venture that ended in disaster. Over 400,000 of his troops perished due to a combination of Russian scorched-earth tactics and the brutal winter. While Napoleon was not one to publicly admit fault, accounts suggest he acknowledged the enormity of his mistake. His ambition, unchecked by the realities of war, led to the unravelling of his empire and his eventual exile. In this case, the regret came too late to save his soldiers or his reign.

Robert McNamara and the Vietnam War

In modern history, Robert McNamara’s role in the Vietnam War stands as a significant example of deep, public regret. As U.S. Secretary of Defense, McNamara was a key architect of the war, which led to the loss of tens of thousands of American lives and countless Vietnamese. Years later, in his memoir *In Retrospect* and in interviews, McNamara admitted that the war was a mistake, reflecting on the misguided policies and assumptions that drove U.S. involvement. His regret was genuine, a stark acknowledgement that decisions made without fully considering their consequences can lead to tragedy on an unimaginable scale.

Oskar Schindler: The Regret of Not Doing More

Oskar Schindler is remembered as a hero for saving more than 1,200 Jews during the Holocaust. However, Schindler sincerely regrets not saving more lives despite his extraordinary efforts. He famously broke down in tears after the war, lamenting that he could have sold more of his possessions to rescue more people from the horrors of the Nazi regime. His regret was both real and deeply personal, showing that even those who do good can be haunted by the thought that they could have done more.

Thomas Jefferson and the Paradox of Slavery

Thomas Jefferson, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, is a figure whose legacy is intertwined with regret and contradiction. Although he wrote eloquently about the moral wrongs of slavery, he continued to own slaves throughout his life. In his later years, Jefferson expressed regret for the institution of slavery, calling it a “moral depravity” and a “hideous blot” on the American experiment. Yet, he never entirely acted on his convictions, and his words often rang hollow in light of his continued participation in the system he condemned. His regret was intellectual but lacked the moral courage to manifest in his actions.

J. Robert Oppenheimer and the Atomic Bomb

Few regrets in history are as profound as J. Robert Oppenheimer’s remorse over the creation of the atomic bomb. As the lead scientist of the Manhattan Project, Oppenheimer’s work led to the development of the most destructive weapon ever used in warfare. After witnessing the devastation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Oppenheimer famously quoted the Bhagavad Gita: “Now I become Death, the destroyer of worlds.” His regret was not just for the immediate destruction caused by the bomb but also for the moral implications of unleashing such power on humanity. He spent much of his later life advocating against further development of nuclear weapons, but the legacy of his creation haunted him until his death.

The Lessons of Regret

What can we learn from these stories? Whether in personal or historical contexts, regret often arises when we fail to align with our values or ignore the consequences of our decisions. Napoleon’s ambition, McNamara’s overconfidence, Schindler’s sense of responsibility, Jefferson’s moral paradox, and Oppenheimer’s scientific pursuit—all illustrate the different forms that regret can take.

In my own case, I can see that my negligence in my studies was not just a matter of missed marks but of missed opportunities to reach my full potential. The grades I received reflected not just academic performance but also personal responsibility. Regret teaches us to confront the results of our choices and, perhaps more importantly, to make better decisions going forward.

In the end, regret is not just about what we did but about what we failed to do when it mattered most. While it’s a heavy burden to carry, it also offers a powerful lesson: that attention, dedication, and foresight can often prevent us from looking back in sorrow.

Abdurrazak Muktar Makarfi wrote via prof4true1@gmail.com.

By Uzair Adam

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian affirmed on Wednesday that while Iran is not seeking war, it will deliver a stronger response if Israel retaliates for the recent missile attack.

Speaking alongside Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, in Doha, Pezeshkian emphasized that Israel is pushing the region into conflict.

“We are not looking for war, but if Israel reacts, we will respond even more forcefully,” Pezeshkian stated, holding Israel accountable for escalating tensions.

The remarks follow Iran’s launch of about 200 missiles, including hypersonic weapons, towards Israel.

Although Israel intercepted most of the missiles, some damage was reported, including a school building, and two civilians sustained minor injuries from shrapnel.

Israeli military sources confirmed that some missiles landed near air force bases without causing significant damage.

Pezeshkian criticized Israel’s intentions, accusing it of creating instability in the region and called on the US and European nations to pressure Israel to halt its actions.

Meanwhile, Qatar’s Emir also condemned Israeli strikes on Lebanon and Gaza, warning that the region was being pushed to the brink of disaster.

Qatar remains committed to brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

By Uzair Adam

The Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has apprehended four notorious kidnappers in Abuja, acting on credible intelligence.

The suspects, identified as Yau Sani, also known as Baba (an ex-convict), Nuhu, alias Giwa, Kabiru Mohammed, and Yusuf Hassan, were arrested at their hideout in Sauka, Abuja.

According to the Command’s spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, the suspects had been living among the general population and confessed to being involved in a series of kidnappings in the FCT and neighboring areas.

The Daily Reality gathered that the gang’s activities had resulted in the deaths of seven victims.

The suspects also led the police to another hideout in Gauraka Forest, Suleja, Niger State, where officers recovered a significant cache of arms, including four AK-47 rifles, thirteen magazines, and 162 rounds of live ammunition.

The group had previously attacked areas such as Dakwa, Dawaki, Aco Estate, and villages in Niger and Kaduna States.

They also admitted to planning future attacks on government institutions and estates in Abuja, which were successfully foiled by the police.

The FCT Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to tackling crime in the region and urged residents to report any suspicious activities through provided emergency numbers.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kaduna State, Isa Rabiu, has asked former governor Nasir El-Rufai to be patient and allow a proper investigation to be conducted into his eight years administration in the state.

The PDP chieftain was reacting to El-Rufai’s claim that he did not steal public money during his time as Kaduna governor.El-Rufai had said he is ready to swear with the Holy Quran to prove his innocence.

Reacting to El-Rufai’s assertion, Rabiu said, “Former governor El-Rufai should wait patiently for the final investigation before uttering anything against his predecessors or swearing with the Quran on what transpired during the eight years of his administration in Kaduna State.”

Rabiu observed that the same El-Rufai ‘arranged’ a petition against former governor of Kaduna State, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, following which the Makarfi administration was investigated.

He added, “To be honest, from all indications, El-Rufai lacks discipline, self control and focus to do the right thing than swearing with holy Quran. The same El-Rufai ran away to a foreign country during the regime of late President Yar’Adua and only came back when the President died in 2010 and started making unnecessary utterances against the late President Yar’Adua.”

He called on the Kaduna State government, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and related offences Commission, ICPC, to investigate the former governor with a view to recovering what was stolen from the state during his tenure.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini 

Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has revealed that N4.7 billion is being deducted from the state government’s federal allocation each month to pay off debts he inherited. 

He said, “In Kaduna, we are paying N4.7 billion in debt every month; go and check and see our allocation. You will agree with me that we started paying this debt in June 2023. Currently, what we are receiving is about N8 billion, while we should be receiving around N12 billion compared to what other states are getting within Northern Nigeria. 

“We are trying our best to manage what we have. Yes, I agree with you that governance is about reducing costs. Since I became governor, I have maintained that we have not purchased a single vehicle for anyone—whether myself, the Deputy Governor, or my commissioners. We have also reduced the performance bonuses and salaries of our commissioners and the Deputy Governor. Today, I am only receiving half of my salary because we have to make sacrifices, considering the challenges we face. 

“People may ask about our IGR (Internally Generated Revenue). Our IGR account is with Zenith Bank; you can check it. Every month, Zenith Bank deducts about N800 million at source because I inherited that debt.” 

By Uzair Adam

The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has issued a 15-day ultimatum to the Kano State Government, demanding that their grievances be addressed or face an imminent strike.

This decision was reached during a meeting of the State Administrative Council, following the government’s failure to resolve issues previously raised in multiple correspondences.

In a letter signed by NANNM’s acting State Secretary and Public Relations Officer, Comrade Ahmad Hamzat Sharada, and addressed to the Kano State Head of Civil Service, the association warned that nurses and midwives across clinical facilities and training institutions in the state would withdraw their services after the notice expires on October 16, 2024.

The letter outlined key demands, including the payment of a revised hazard allowance for nurses, harmonization of their service scheme, and the payment of a 259% upward review of the CONHESS salary structure.

This development follows a similar ultimatum by the National Association of Government General and Medical Dental Practitioners, which began an indefinite strike on October 1, 2024, due to the government’s failure to meet its previous agreements.