Kaduna State

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

Shehu Sani, a former Senator representing Kaduna Central, has decried extortion of aspirants in political parties ahead of the 2023 elections in Nigeria.

On Wednesday, May 18, 2022, Shehu Sani took to his verified Twitter handle to subtly express his displeasure regarding the extortion of aspirants in his party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and others.

“Pay for Form. Pay for Submission of Form. Pay for Screening. Pay or “contribute” for venue and logistics for Primaries. Pay delegates. I’m not supposed to write this, but I have to; Extortionist Tollgates or Checkpoints to power,” Sani tweeted. 

In January, the former senator declared his interest in contesting for the Kaduna State governorship seat. He has consequently obtained his nomination and expression of interest forms.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

The Kaduna State Government has banned all forms of religious protests in the state.

The State Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, made this known on Saturday, May 14, 2022.

According to the Press Statement signed by the Commissioner, violators of the ban will be prosecuted.

“The Kaduna State Government, in consultation with security agencies under the umbrella of the Kaduna State Security Council, has placed a ban on protests related to religious activity throughout the State with immediate effect,” part of the statement reads.

Mr Aruwan argued that the ban becomes imperative owing to security reports that some unpatriotic elements want to thwart the peace of Kaduna State by organising a series of protests in support of and against a recent happening in one of the Northern Nigerian States.

The ban is coming after a protest organised in Sokoto State for the release of the alleged murderers of one Deborah Yakubu turned violent.

The terse statement further warns that the security agencies in the state will not condone any protest wearing the garb of religion.

“Security agencies have thus resolved that any attempt by individuals or groups to disrupt the peace and stability of the State, by way of religious protests, will not be condoned. Such protests will be promptly halted and conveners prosecuted.”

By Sumayyah Auwal Usman

As the 2023 elections draw near, the two big parties, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), parade several contenders for the Kaduna South Senatorial seat. 

Being one of the strongest senatorial zones for the PDP since 1999, the aspiration of APC bigwigs from the zone is challenging PDP’s dominance. As a result, political pundits opined that next year’s senatorial election in the zone will be a fierce contest between PDP and APC.

For the APC, political observers believe that the expression of interest of Honourable Bulus Banquo Audu is receiving a massive boost in the zone. He’s believed to be one of the most experienced and most politically savvy APC politicians in Southern Kaduna that could defeat other contestants and amass votes for APC in the forthcoming election.

As a grassroot politician, Bulus played a critical role when APC won the seat of member House of Representatives in Kachia/Kagarko Constituency in 2019. Recently, his political influence paved the way for a more remarkable outcome for APC in the last local government elections. He wields enormous influence among the Christian communities in the zone.

Investigations revealed that the recent mass defection of members of the PDP to APC in the zone is not unconnected with Hon. Bulus’ senatorial ambition. One major determinant of which party wins an elective position at the end of the day is the choice of the party candidate. With the changing political atmosphere in Southern Kaduna, any party that makes the mistake of presenting a weak candidate or person with questionable character will undoubtedly lose the election.

By Dauda Idrees

I woke up to the rather sad news of Muhammad Sani Dattijo’s withdrawal from the race to Kashim Ibrahim House of Kaduna state and couldn’t help but start chanting supplications as though I’ve lost a loved one. Although, as careful political observation, I’ve seen that coming almost two years ago, the impact of this news on me was unlike anything I’ve ever imagined. 

Whatever political calculations that led to this conclusion have not done justice to the youths of Kaduna state, considering the exuberance with which they came all out campaigning for their comrade pro-bono. Many have never met him in person but are up-to-date with all he does through social media platforms. 

Being in the forefront of the Kaduna Urban Renewal Development Project from 2015 to date, it’s undeniably agreed that he’s the right candidate that would effectively carry the project to completion, as evidenced by the development plan he presented from the early days of his campaign. But, sadly, the political radar did not point in our favour. I doubt if any other candidate has presented any plans, he has for the state yet. 

Governor El-Rufai made it clear in his criteria for selecting the new emir of Zazzau that the emir’s relatively youthful age and his international network gave him an upper hand over other candidates. So naturally, we expected this same criteria to be applied in choosing his successor, but we can see that political office is not the same as a traditional title.

So, while we pray that Dattijo’s political future be bright, we’re also worried that the youthful fury with which he does things now might be dampened by age in years to come when the kingmakers deem him old enough to run for the governor’s office.

One may argue that he started falling out of favour when he called Muhammad Sanusi II, the governor’s close friend, “former emir,” which is valid. However, the truth is that there is still that reluctance to release the mantle of leadership to the youth even in Kaduna, the self-proclaimed youth-friendly state.

Although his name “Dattijo” is a perfect match for the  Senate, which Hausawa call “Majalisar Dattawa”, it is sad to hear that Kashim Ibrahim House is losing such treasure to the Red Chambers because he’s not a Dattijo by age. He’s Dattijo by heart. Either way, we thank Allah and pray that he gets to represent not just Kaduna youth but set an example that all young people if given the right opportunity and mentorship, would get things done in a way that the older generation wouldn’t have thought possible. 

Dauda Idrees wrote from Kaduna via idreesdauda.a@gmail.com.

By Mallam Musbabu Magayaki

I took this picture after seeing some unidentified gunmen not far away from us on Monday, April 25th, 2022, while plying the dreadful Birnin Gwari-Kagara and Kontagora roads. The road is full of uncertainty about the unavoidable fear of bandits. Fortunately, we arrived home safely (glory to God). Nonetheless, our hearts’ continued to rewind the dangerous nature of the road in a flashback format.

However, after spending a horrendous one-hour journey that looked like an eternity waiting for help, we were escorted by vigilantes and police officers stationed at Udawa-Buruku villages, particularly for travellers, with a fare of N1000 for each car. They would arrange all the cars in a straight line after collecting the charge of N1000 from each car’s driver for him to be part of the convoy. 

As we began the terrifying 30-km journey, the security operatives operating on the road arrived. They told us glad tiding of seizing three bandits’ motorcycles (TVS-like), which they distributed to three groups as a spoil of war: one for the vigilantes, one for the military personnel, and one for the police officers.

While plying, everyone was anxious and confused, saying various forms of supplications for fear of bandits’ retaliatory attacks. But, thank God, despite the dangerous nature of the short journey through the almost impenetrable bushy forest, we arrived safely in Buruku.

We thanked God and hailed the vigilantes who risked their lives to save us from any bandits’ attacks that might have come at us. 

I recommend that the Kaduna and Niger state governments for empowering those vigilantes in their regions with modern weapons. They are genuinely trying, without compromise, to safeguard the lives of innocent travellers. 

Mallam Musbabu Magayaki wrote from Sabob Fegi, Azare.

By Sumayyah Auwal Ishaq

Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufa’i of Kaduna State has finally ended months of speculations and permutations with the endorsement of one of his long time allies, the incumbent senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Uba Sani, to succeed him as Governor in 2023 under the All Progressive Congress (APC).

This comes barely two months after Governor El-Rufai announced that his successor would be selected from the core team of his administration since 2015.

It was learnt that the former Commissioner of Budget and Planning, and a strong contender for the gubernatorial seat, Muhammad Sani Dattijo, had been asked to pick up the senatorial expression and nomination form for Kaduna Central.

Senator Uba Sani’s endorsement is bound to encounter some stiff resistance within APC in Kaduna State as other aspirants have already purchased the nomination forms.

By Sumayyah Auwal Ishaq

The management of Kaduna State University (KASU), Kaduna, has decided to back out of the ongoing strike embarked upon by the Association of Staff of Universities Union (ASUU) as the resumption date for academic activities is announced.

The resumption notice, which is contained in a statement by the institution’s Academic Secretary, Barrister Abdullahi Zubairu, said that “the University will continue its academic activities for the Second Semester, 2020/2021 Academic Session on Monday 9th May 2022”. 

The Daily Reality learnt that the management has decided to resume in order to avoid stoppage of salary from the Kaduna State Government. The ASUU Chapter in KASU may likely clash with the management about the new development in the institution. 

Recall that ASUU has condemned the Federal Government’s handling of the negotiation on its demands and nonchalant attitude towards the ongoing strike.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

A young ustadh identified as Muhammad Sani Lawal passed away on the night of Saturday, April 23, 2022.

Abdull-azeez Ahmed Kadir, a Nigerian journalist and the General Manager of Liberty TV and Radio, reported the incident on his Facebook timeline. 

Kadir described the young man’s death as how many Muslims would want their end to be like, calling it the “Best Death”.

Kadir posted thus:

Muhammad Sani Lawal, a young Islamic scholar, died last night in Samaru Zaria in a manner many Muslims beseech Allah to take their lives. He died not just in the Holy Month of Ramadhan, not just in the last ten days that hosts the Night of Majesty, not just in prayers, but Ta’ajud, in sujud while also leading the prayer at night.”

Kadir prayed to Allah to rest the soul of the deceased. The post has garnered many positive reactions while the story goes viral on mostly northern Nigerian social media space.

By Uzair Adam Imam 

Another Kano businessman, Umar Sani, aka Magaji, was killed by suspected bandits after collecting ransom from his relatives.

Magaji, who hailed from Fagge LGA in the Kano metropolis, was said to have been kidnapped alongside five others on the highway en route to Buruku.

The bandits who spoke after they collected the ransom confirmed the murder of Magaji to his relatives. 

Our reporter gathered that the bandits called back on Thursday demanding another N20 million from his relatives despite killing the businessman. 

Hussaini Sani, an elder brother of the deceased, confirmed the death of Magaji to journalists. 

He said, “Nine of them were kidnapped along the Kaduna-Birnin Gwari road while on their way to Buruku. They later released three of them but withheld six.

“After some time, negotiation started with the families of the six people, and we later agreed to pay them collectively, only for us to see five of them coming back.

“When we asked them about the whereabouts of our brother, they confirmed to us that he was killed by the abductors. We called them (abductors) using the number they used for the negotiation. They insisted that our brother was still alive and even went ahead to demand another ransom before they would release him.

“When we insisted that we must hear our brother’s voice before paying something again, they opened up to us that he was really killed, saying he was trying to escape. But his released colleagues said he was killed intentionally,” he added.

The Daily Reality reported how bandits killed a 39-year-old businessman, Yahya Hassan Musa, hours after receiving a N6m ransom.

Musa, who hails from Kano, was roamed and kidnapped in a forest around the Mopa area of Kogi State, and the bandits reportedly demanded N10m naira before slashing it to N6m at a later date.

By Uzair Adam Imam 

The mother of the missing social media critic, Abubakar Idris, aka Dadiyata, has passed on at sixty-six. 

The Daily Reality gathered that the deceased died at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna, where she was being treated.

Family members, Aminu and Usman, confirmed her death to journalists, adding that the deceased was rushed to the hospital where she had finally died. 

Usman said, “She was okay when she went to bed. However, she woke up at midnight, and she couldn’t talk. She became unconscious and was rushed to the hospital.”

Dadiyata was reportedly taken forcibly by unknown men on August 2, 2019, at his residence in Kaduna. However, until today, all attempts to trace his whereabouts have been fruitless.