Jigawa State

A 25-year-old man, identified as Nasiru Muhammad, was arrested by the police in Jigawa State for allegedly having sex with a goat.

This was confirmed to newsmen in Dutse by the Jigawa State Police Public Relations Officer, Lawan Shi’isu Adam.

Mr Shi’isu was quoted as saying, “On 09/09/2021 at about 0100hrs, Police officers from Gwaram divisional headquarters, while on patrol within Gwaram and its environs, arrested a 25-year-old man, Nasiru Muhammad of Kunnadi quarters while having intercourse with a goat.”

He added that an investigation was ongoing and the suspect would be prosecuted subsequently.

By Adamu Saleh Maidalibai 

While the economy is down, school fees higher, poverty increases, many families lost hope that their children could not afford tuition fees. As a result, many families become hopeless, yet many students in Jigawa State manage to survive and get their legs in tertiary institutions across the country.

I know many students that solely depend on scholarships to settle their annual school fees. I know many students who lack food and rely on the same scholarship to get their tummy intact. I know many students who use scholarships to buy materials to improve themselves academically.

Thousands of Jigawa state students become excited when their phones ring, thinking it is a credit alert every day.

I can vividly remember my terrible struggles two years ago when I led a team of thousands of students. Then, we struggled for our betterment (scholarship), and it bore a fruitful outcome. In those days, I proved to myself that yes, I’m a comrade, a student leader with capacity, who could stand for Jigawa state students not only before them but before the government. It has been two years back today. Since then, the Jigawa State government has never listened to students anymore.

I often use to ask myself some questions: Does the Jigawa State government forget about students? Is the government aware of students problems? Are there any students leaders in the state? Do Jigawa state students have a voice? Why can’t they air their concerns? These and many questions cross my mind, but I was ashamed of both the government and the students.

Dear Governor Badaru, part of your manifestos is that students’ betterment will be part of your top priorities. Wouldn’t you fulfil that promise, please?

Leadership is a burden, not an enjoyment. Please do the needful before it’s too late. Then, you will stand before the Lord and be accountable for all that you did. On that very day, what would you tell the Lord (Allah) when you’re asked about students?

Adamu Saleh Maidalibai writes from Kazaure. He can be reached via salehadamu90@gmail.com.

By Garba Sidi

It’s well-known that the Jigawa State government paid half of the registration fee to its indigenes each year. That’s how any governor in this state inherited it and continued it. Still, unfortunately, the present governor, Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, came with some injustice in this matter of scholarship. For three years, the money has not been paid.

The government conducted a screening exercise on 28/01/2021. However, after five months, they selected only three schools within the state and disbursed the money to some students, not all and stop till now. Then, they went on to the media and announced that they gave scholarships to all Jigawa state students. It is an injustice.

Sadly all these injustices that happened, neither the Jigawa state assembly nor the commissioner of education uttered a word about the matter. While students are suffering from poverty, and some even dropped their studies because of registration fees. Those House of Assembly members and commissioner of education are busy taking their children abroad to study in expensive schools.

Unfortunately, it looks like there is no Students Union Government in this state. This is because the Union has failed to discharge its responsibility to fight for students’ welfare. Unfortunately, the acting president of this Union is busy travelling from Kano to Katsina, and others state fulfilling the mission of another group he joined some time ago.

Days ago, leaders of Jigawa state schools’ chapters visited the state capital, Dutse. They met with Special Advisor on students matter on this issue of scholarship. His reaction was, if students protest, the government will not ever give scholarships to any indigenes of Jigawa state. That typically showed students have no freedom to struggle for their rights as the constitution of Nigeria gives to anybody.

May Allah bless us with good leaders.

Garba Sidi wrote from Jagawa State. He can be reached via sidihadejia@gmail.com.