Kano State

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has appointed the Emir of Lafia, Justice (Rtd) Sidi Muhammad Bage, as the new Chancellor of Northwest University, Kano.

The announcement was made in a statement issued by the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, on Friday.

The appointment has been widely praised as a strategic move to bridge traditional leadership and modern academia. Emir Bage, a former Supreme Court Justice, brings decades of legal and administrative experience to the role.

Born in 1956 in Lafia, Nasarawa State, Bage earned his law degree from Ahmadu Bello University and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1981. He served across Nigeria’s judiciary, culminating in his appointment to the Supreme Court in 2017 before ascending the throne as Emir of Lafia in 2019.

Governor Yusuf noted that the selection of such a distinguished figure aligns with the university’s values of excellence and integrity. “His track record of justice and community leadership will inspire our academic community and support the university’s growth,” he said.

The appointment letter was officially presented to the Emir by the University Council Chairman, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar, alongside Vice Chancellor Prof. Mukhtar Atiku Kurawa.

By Muhammad Abubakar

The National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has paid a courtesy visit to Professor S.A.S. Galadanci in Kano, describing the meeting as both inspirational and encouraging.

Ribadu, who was in the city to offer condolences to the Dantata family, took the opportunity to visit Prof. Galadanci, the second Nigerian ever appointed as Adviser on National Security—then known by that title.

In a post shared on his social media handle, Ribadu referred to Prof. Galadanci as a “pacesetter” in the field of national security and a father figure with longstanding ties to his family.

“I was humbled by his confidence in our modest efforts and his profuse prayers for me and our country,” Ribadu wrote.

The visit, he said, provided valuable lessons and motivation as he continues in his current role.

By Anwar Usman

The Kano State government has ordered a temporary stoppage of the importation of metal scraps and waste materials from the Northeastern states, especially those ravaged by the Boko Haram insurgency.

The order is contained in a press statement by Muhammad Dahir Idris, the Director of Public Relations and Enlightenment of the ministry, which was made available to journalists.

According to the statement, the commissioner for Internal Security and Special Services, AVM Ibrahim Umaru (Rtd), gave the directive on Wednesday during a meeting with the leadership of the National Association of Scraps and Waste Dealers, Employers of Nigeria.

Umaru said the order was due to the recent bomb explosion at the warehouse of such scrap materials along the Western Bypass Road and the Kofar Ruwa, which resulted in the loss of lives and properties.

He urged members of the association to take preventive measures aimed at preventing such occurrences and ensure that explosives are not present in scrap materials before they are imported into the state.

“As Kano State will continue to protect your interest and your business, you should come up with a written policy and plans that will boost your business,” the commissioner urged the association.

On his part, the Regional President of the association, Aminu Hassan, informed the commissioner that his association had already ceased purchasing scrap and waste materials from states affected by the Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast.

He assured Umaru that they would continue to be law-abiding business partners, just as he emphasised the need for the Kano State government to support them in improving their businesses.

The president further outlined some challenges bedevilling the association, including the inflow of underage children as scavengers, even as he readily disassociated the group from any form of involvement in the use of children as scavengers in the business.

However, he blamed the parents or guardians of such children and wards for their poor moral upbringing.

Hassan assured the commissioner that his association would not relent in its efforts to prevent the future occurrence of such incidents.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

Renowned U.S.-based Islamic scholar Dr. Yasir Qadhi has paid a heartfelt tribute to Nigerian business mogul and philanthropist Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata, who passed away at the age of 94.

In a message shared via his social media platforms, Dr. Qadhi described Dantata as “a shining star and a legendary icon” in Nigeria, praising his humility, honesty, and lifelong commitment to philanthropy.

“He was one of the most successful entrepreneurs and business tycoons in Africa,” Dr. Qadhi wrote. “Yet everyone knew him to be a humble and honest man… ever-ready to help others less fortunate, never greedy for more.”

Recalling a recent meeting with Dantata in Nigeria, Qadhi shared the late businessman’s parting words of wisdom: “Honesty! Always, be truthful and sincere, and leave the rest to Allah.”

Alhaji Dantata, who declined a political appointment, was never involved in a scandal and was laid to rest in the revered Baqi al-Gharqad cemetery in Madinah, Saudi Arabia.

“Such men are very rare indeed,” Qadhi noted, praying for Allah’s mercy upon him and for his legacy to continue through his progeny.

By Muhammad Sulaiman

Professor Haruna Musa, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) at Bayero University, Kano (BUK), has emerged as the most widely accepted candidate in the university’s Vice-Chancellor selection process, following a keenly observed congregation vote held on Tuesday, July 1, 2025.

Prof. Musa, a Professor of Polymer Chemistry, secured a commanding 853 votes, far ahead of his four contenders in a process described as transparent and credible by participants and observers.

The vote, part of BUK’s Vice-Chancellor appointment procedure, serves as an indicator of community acceptability, contributing 20% to the final selection by the Governing Council.

Other contenders included Professors Mahmoud Umar Sani (367 votes), Sani Muhammad Gumel (364 votes), Adamu Idris Tanko (161 votes), and Bashir Fagge (18 votes).

Presiding over the session, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Sagir Adamu Abbas applauded the maturity and democratic spirit shown during the process, describing the outcome as a “collective victory” for the university.

“The result showcases our institutional commitment to transparency and unity,” he said, urging all candidates to support the eventual appointee.

Electoral Committee Chairman Prof. Muhtari Ali Hajara announced that 1,784 staff members were accredited to vote, with 17 votes deemed invalid and four unaccounted for.

Commending the process, Prof. Gumel, one of the candidates, stated: “The election was fair and credible. The result shows the community’s direction.”

Former Minister of Education, Prof. Rukayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i, and ex-VC of NOUN, Prof. Abdalla Uba Adamu, also praised the outgoing VC and the electoral process, urging continued cooperation for the university’s development.

The final appointment now rests with BUK’s Governing Council.

By Kamal Alkasim

As a passionate observer of our culture and heritage, I am writing this letter from the heart of Kano metropolis. It was driven not by personal interest, but by love for our land, its history, and the legacy entrusted to its leaders.

Your Highness, it is said that to whom much is given, much is expected. As the custodian of a rich cultural heritage, the expectations placed on your shoulders are immense. You come from a distinguished royal lineage: your late uncle, Emir Muhammadu Sanusi I, was a towering figure whose leadership left a deep mark across Northern Nigeria. More recently, your nephew, Muhammadu Sanusi II, carried the same torch, boldly defending the dignity and legacy of the Kano Emirate, even after facing unjust dethronement in 2020.

The legacy of your father, the late Emir Ado Bayero, speaks for itself. He reigned with wisdom and dignity for over five decades. History recalls how former Governor Abubakar Rimi once attempted to depose him, but fate and divine will had other plans. That chapter ended in tragedy, and Rimi never held office again. Your father, on the other hand, continued to serve and left behind an enduring legacy.

Your Highness, the Kano Emirate has stood for over a thousand years as a beacon of leadership, culture, and Islamic scholarship. It deserves a leader who will defend its dignity with integrity, wisdom, and a sense of responsibility that transcends personal or political interests.

Sadly, many believe that under your leadership, the kingdom has faltered. There are concerns that you have allowed yourself to be used as a tool by those with no regard for the unity and peace of Kano. These are strong words, but they come from a place of deep concern and affection for our home.

Leadership is not about holding a title; it is about rising to the moment and making tough but principled decisions in the interest of the people. Leadership is not about clinging to a throne while the city suffers unrest and division. Peace, justice, and unity must always come first.

Your name will forever be in the history books as one of the Emirs of Kano. That, in itself, is no small achievement—one that countless princes before you have dreamed of. But how your name is remembered depends on what you do with the responsibility now entrusted to you.

Let Kano rise again—not as a battlefield for political power plays, but as the most peaceful, united, and respected state in Nigeria and beyond. Let the Emirate return to being a symbol of honour, not controversy.

May God guide you to lead with justice, dignity, and wisdom—for the sake of our people and the generations to come.

Kamal Alkasim is a Concerned Son of Kano.

By Saifullahi Attahir

In life, every valuable thing has a cost, and a price must be paid. As the saying goes, nothing good comes free. This is true in almost all walks of life.

Looking at human history from time immemorial, man has always cherished being known, popular, heard, and respected. This is one of the powerful factors behind the human search for power, influence and riches. And to be fair to the modern age, this is not a new thing in human history.

But in our insatiable search for popularity and prestige, we must be mindful of what we are trading in exchange for. This article offers some advice on how a celebrity can navigate life without much temptation from his newly acquired status.

As billionaire Microsoft founder Bill Gates stated, success is a lousy friend. It deprives many of the original energy, enthusiasm, discipline, hard-working spirit, and humility that catapulted them to success in the first place. Successful people easily become complacent and trapped in their orbit of self-entitlement.

Once a man becomes successful, a binge of arrogance and self-entitlement starts appearing. He begins to stop listening to experts, observing and learning, and soon, he stops improving. Over the long run, unknown to him, those attitudes he had abandoned are the fabric behind his success. 

One thing we should all know: every man who was on a path to utilise his talent, produce something magnificent, and become successful, whether in sports, leadership, business, entertainment, professionalism, music, writing, or any creative talent, must have met with a bunch of critics.

From the day you become a celebrity, your activities will no longer be secret: your outfits, marital affairs, social life, assets, family, and movements. You will bid farewell to some level of privacy, and life will never be the same again. 

Many people are not prepared for this stage of their lives. Many great men, especially celebrities, were lost in this ocean of deception and falsehood. You would now focus more on pleasing people: good outfits, even at the cost of debt, new skin, costly living just to show off, and new fake friends.

On another dimension, the kind of social pressure met is unimaginable: constant calls, constant meetings, constant online presence, just to satisfy your fans or followers. This demand is so consuming that many celebrities hardly cope with it. Stories of celebrities taking drugs and injections are not a new thing. Few celebrities sleep without the aid of pills. Many celebrities lost the battle to alcohol and toxic heroin and were unable to find peace. 

A popular Hausa songwriter, Aminuddeen Ladan Ala, once described how difficult it was to become a celebrity in his famous album “Shahara”. Only phone calls were enough to drain your energy, plus the number of expectations by loved ones seeking your attention. Many celebrities would become friends with highly influential people whose offers they can’t easily turn down. You would be invited at any hour without much consideration for your schedules and health, and turning such invitations down would be described as arrogant to your fans and followers.

This is more common among those who made it in life at a very young age. The majority of these young celebrities squander their fortune. They return to square zero without proper guidance, discipline or genuine counselling. Many celebrities become depressed, psychotic, and destitute.

Well-grounded and sustainable success requires a solid foundation of time, perseverance, and smart decisions. Unfortunately, many celebrities, especially in the music, sports, and entertainment industries, lack such foundations, hence the many sorrowful celebrity stories. Uncountable stories of suicide, crime, divorce, and bankruptcy are always in the papers.

Although I’m not much of a football fan, I always admire the lifestyle of one player called Lionel Messi. Messi was among the greatest and most successful football players of all time, a record breaker in many aspects, but still one of the most humble people on earth. Lionel Messi has all it takes to be arrogant and showy, but he was disciplined enough to maintain his zeal, energy, humility, and enthusiasm. This principle has helped him throughout his football career. He didn’t allow his initial success to distract him from achieving more. 

This attitude of self-entitlement has destroyed many players. Just after a season or two of trophies and achievements, they began to disobey, fight, and become distracted by amusement and glitter. Many celebrities started to lose focus on their primary goals; they became carried away by displaying their newly built homes, newly bought luxury cars, newly made friends, or newly made beautiful girlfriends.

These celebrities become attention seekers on social media platforms. They always engage in trivial issues and display wealth or status, adding to their load of enemies. They have forgotten that their primary goal was to hone more of their talents, score more goals, produce more beautiful songs, deliver more as leaders, maintain their positions in class, and profit more as business individuals.

Another destructive attitude of some celebrities was engaging in a competitive war with their rival colleagues. After being recognised by their followers, they began to install software to envy anyone trying to catch up with them. They subscribed to slander and a war of words to denigrate their rivals to maintain their status. Smart champions never engage in such an attitude; they recognise their God-given talent as a favour from their Lord and offer gratefulness by being humble and respecting their positions even if time changes and they lose their status to the new generation.

Smart celebrities respect others below them; they never act in desperation for money or status; they are philanthropists with their wealth; they are less pompous and showy; they invest and diversify their sources of income; they still make time for their families and core friends; and they always have learning minds and listening ears.

We seek Allah’s guidance in every step of our journey, Ameen.

Saifullahi Attahir is the President of the National Association of Jigawa State Medical Students (NAJIMS) National Body, and he wrote this piece from Federal University Dutse. He can be contacted via saifullahiattahir93@gmail.com.

By Uzair Adam 

The Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, witnessed a mammoth gathering on Thursday as thousands of supporters lined the streets to welcome him back from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where he had gone for the Hajj pilgrimage.

The Daily Reality gathered that what is ordinarily a 30-minute drive from the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport to the Kano State Government House took several hours due to the massive turnout of well-wishers who accompanied the governor’s convoy amid chants, music, and the waving of red caps — the symbol of the Kwankwasiyya Movement.

Commending the solidarity and support shown to the governor, the AKY Go Again Movement, in a statement on Sunday, expressed deep appreciation to the people of Kano, political and non-political groups, and government officials for their overwhelming participation in the reception rally.

The statement, signed by Hon. Ramadan Yusuf on behalf of the group, described the turnout as a clear demonstration of loyalty and love for Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and a reaffirmation of the strength of the Kwankwasiyya Movement under the visionary leadership of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

“We organised this grand reception to show appreciation for the impactful and transformative leadership of Governor Yusuf, and to publicly declare our unwavering support for his continuity in office beyond 2027,” the statement read in part.

The group said Governor Yusuf’s people-first leadership style, dedication to restoring dignity in governance, and delivery of key developmental projects have set Kano on a path of progress and prosperity.

It added that the AKY Go Again Movement will continue to serve as a strategic platform to mobilise grassroots support, highlight the administration’s achievements, and promote the ideals of progressive leadership espoused by the Kwankwasiyya philosophy.

The statement listed key members steering the movement, including Alhaji Tijjani Hussain Gandu (SSA Mawallafa), Hon. Sadeeq Kote (Chairman), Hon. Abdullahi Sarki Fulani (SSA, Kano State Censorship Board), Hon. Abubakar Muhammad Inuwa (SSA on Reformatory Institutes), Hon. Sulaiman Mukhtar Bichi, Hon. Ramadan Yusuf (SSA on Media Monitoring and Innovation), Hon. Aminu Yanmedi, Hon. Yakubu Kubaraci, and Hon. Shamsu Kura.

The movement prayed for Allah’s continued guidance and protection for Governor Yusuf as he continues to serve the people of Kano State.

By Fatima Ishaq Muhammad

Kano, known for its deep Islamic practices and royal traditions, witnessed a historic and uneasy moment during the 2025 Eid-el-Kabir celebrations as two rival Emirs led separate congregational prayers in different parts of the city.

This development demonstrated the woeful crisis over the leadership of the Kano traditional Emirate, which, indeed, remained one of the most powerful traditional institutes in northern Nigeria.

Moreover, on one side was Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II, reinstated in May 2024 by the Kano State Government after being dethroned in 2020. Aminu Ado Bayero was installed as Emir on the other side after Sanusi’s removal. He still maintains that he remains the rightful occupant of the royal seat.

During the Eid celebrations, Emir Sanusi II led prayers at the Kofar Mata Eid Ground, traditionally recognized as the seat of the Emir’s religious leadership.

Meanwhile, Emir Aminu Bayero held his prayers at a different location, with loyalists gathered around him. For the first time in recent memory, Kano experienced two major Eid congregations, each holding up to a divided royal allegiance within the ancient city.

This unprecedented situation did not happen in isolation, but it resulted from the recurring tussle over the Kano Emirate, rooted in politics and personal rivalries.

Sanusi II’s removal in 2020 by the administration of former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje was widely termed as punishment for his massive outspoken criticism of the government.

His reinstatement by the current government of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has been challenged in court by Bayero’s supporters, creating legal and political uncertainty over who the legitimate Emir of Kano is.

The split Eid prayers skyrocketed across Kano and beyond, symbolizing the Emirate’s division and disunity of authority.

What should have been a day of religious unity became a visible sign of division in the state’s leadership. Thankfully, no major disturbances were reported, though tensions remain high.

Adding to the complexity of the situation, the traditional Durbar festival, which usually follows the Eid prayers, was banned by the police for security reasons.

The ban disappointed many residents, as the Durbar is integral to Kano’s cultural identity and economic life.

As the legal battles escalate, many residents and observers fear that the division within Kano’s traditional leadership could escalate unless a clear resolution is provided by the courts or through dialogue among key stakeholders.

For now, Kano remains a city with two Emirs, two congregations, and a divided loyalty, awaiting clarity on the future of one of northern Nigeria’s most important royal institutions.

Fatima Ishaq Muhammad via fatimaishaq021@gmail.com.

By Uzair Adam 

Former Chairman of Wudil Local Government Council, Abubakar Abdullahi Likita, on Monday slumped and died during the funeral prayer of his close associate, former Dala Local Government Chairman, Mahmoud Sani Madakin Gini, in Kano.

Likita collapsed while the Janazah prayer was ongoing, causing panic among mourners. Efforts to revive him failed, and he was confirmed dead shortly afterwards.

A close associate, Abubakar Musa, told journalists that Likita’s funeral prayer will take place on Tuesday at 10:00 AM at his residence in Bompai, Kano.

It was gathered that Likita was in the same vehicle with the 2023 Kano State governorship candidate, Dr. Nasir Yusuf Gawuna, on their way to the funeral.

It was earlier reported that Madakin Gini died in a car crash along the Kaduna-Abuja highway on Monday.

The deaths of the two prominent political figures have thrown Kano’s political scene into mourning, especially among those who served under the Shekarau-led administration.