Kashim Shettima

By Uzair Adam Imam 

Vice President Kashim Shettima has stated President Bola Tinubu’s determination to end the terror caused by criminals in the South East region. 

Shettima also stated that certain people are exploiting the security situation to further their dangerous political agendas. 

He said the criminals are only interested in their own personal gain, and they don’t care about the suffering they cause. 

The Vice President’s statement is a strong condemnation of these criminals and their activities. 

Senator Kashim Shettima made this statement at the Peace in South East Project (PISE-P) launch, hosted by Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu. 

The event was held in Bende, Abia State. Senator Shettima’s remarks were focused on the ongoing efforts to restore peace and security in the South East region. 

Delivering his speech titled “Why We are all Umunna,” VP Shettima said, “His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has been concerned about the extensive economic devastation inflicted by non-state actors on this beautiful region since we took office.  

“He is acutely aware that our commitment to Nigeria’s future remains incomplete as long as we grapple with the sinister operations of economic saboteurs who masquerade as advocates for Ndigbo. 

“That’s why he’s determined to utilize all available resources to ensure that the peace we’re establishing in this region is not cosmetic, and we can’t guarantee it unless all of us see through the falsehoods and propaganda that have become weapons against our unity.” 

He was also quoted to have said, “The problem we are here to solve as a community, as an Umunna, is a creation of self-serving criminals who do not represent the interests of Ndigbo and Nigerians. 

“Mr. President knows this better than all of us, and that’s why he has never held any group accountable for the infractions of law-breaking individuals who identify as their members. This, I believe, is the democracy we have all chosen.”

By Muhammadu Sabiu

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has commended Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, for his prompt response in dismissing two of his aides following a disturbing incident involving a death threat against judges of the governorship tribunal and derogatory comments made about Vice President Khasim Shettima.

The incident unfolded on Thursday when the Commissioner for Lands and Physical Planning, Adamu Aliyu Kibiya, addressed journalists during a special prayer session organized by NNPP supporters.

In a shocking statement, Kibiya issued a threat to the judges of the governorship tribunal, warning that anyone accepting a bribe to manipulate the judgement would face dire consequences.

Simultaneously, during the same prayer session, Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth and Sport, Yusuf Imam, known as Ogan Boye, made a series of derogatory remarks against Vice President Khasim Shettima concerning the impending gubernatorial tribunal judgement.

Barr. Suleiman Gezawa, Chairman of the NBA’s Kano branch, expressed his views on the matter in on Friday during an interview with a Nigerian online newspaper.

Gezawa called upon Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to take disciplinary action against Commissioner Kibiya, emphasising that the statements made did not represent the official stance of the state government.

In a swift response, the State Commissioner for Information, Baba Halilu Dantiye, confirmed on Friday evening that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf had terminated the appointments of Commissioner Adamu Aliyu Kibiya and Special Adviser Yusuf Imam.

Governor Yusuf also issued a directive, instructing all heads of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to confine their comments and interviews to their respective offices.

Chairman Gezawa of the Kano NBA applauded Governor Yusuf’s decisive actions, emphasising the importance of distancing the administration from the careless comments made by his aides.

Gezawa further called upon security agencies to launch an investigation into the death threat issued by Commissioner Kibiya, suggesting that there might be ulterior motives behind the threat.

The swift response by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has been described by many as a clear show of commitment to upholding the integrity of the judicial process and preserving the dignity of public office in Kano State.

By Muhammadu Sabiu 

Vice President Kashim Shettima has made an unusual request, urging his friends and political allies to abstain from placing paid advertisements in newspapers or utilising paid channels to convey birthday wishes as he approaches his 57th birthday on September 2nd. 

In a press statement personally signed by the Vice President, Shettima justified this unique decision by citing the nation’s commitment to responsible resource management and responsive governance. 

In the statement which he posted on his verified Facebook page, he emphasised the importance of diverting resources towards more meaningful endeavours for societal betterment. 

Shettima stated, “In the spirit of our nation’s commitment to responsible resource management and responsive governance, I kindly request that my friends and political allies refrain from placing paid advertisements or using paid channels to convey birthday greetings on my behalf.” 

Instead of extravagant displays of birthday wishes, the Vice President urged those who wished to celebrate his birthday to contribute to the betterment of society by donating to charity organisations dedicated to the collective pursuit of a more humane and functional world. 

He expressed his belief that such contributions could have a more profound impact on society than paid advertisements. 

This move by Vice President Shettima reflects his dedication to principles of responsible governance and resource management, which he has consistently championed throughout his political career. 

As he celebrates another year of life, he encourages others to join him in prioritising meaningful contributions to society over ostentatious displays of birthday wishes.

By Muhammadu Sabiu

Vice President Kashim Shettima applauded Google’s N1.2 billion grant programme for the President Tinubu administration’s one million jobs goal.

The compliment was given by Mr. Shettima on Tuesday in Abuja when he welcomed several executives of Google, a well-known international technology corporation, to the Presidential Villa.

He believes the N1.2 billion award announced to support the Tinubu administration’s digital jobs initiative is admirable and deserving of imitation by other businesses.

“Let’s think outside the box and create more job opportunities. We need to walk the talk. It is easy to pontificate but very difficult to bring all of the ideas to fruition. I want to assure you, this administration is ready to partner with you.

“Nigeria is ready for business. The President that we have now wants to leave a legacy that Nigerians will be proud of many years after,” Mr Shettima said.

By Lawan Bukar Maigana 

An expert in agricultural economics will soon be chairing the National Economic Council, NEC. Kashim Shettima is an economic strategist whose skills in profit and wealth maximization earned him accelerated promotions in the banking industry. 

Apart from the inimitable Jim Ovia, the founder of Zenith Bank, nobody professionally grew faster than the Vice President-Elect, who championed the cause of Zenith Bank’s growth.

Shettima’s eye-catching performance in the banking system endeared him to the then Governor of Borno State, Dr Ali Modu Sharif, who first appointed him as Commissioner of Finance and Economic Development in 2007. He would later become Commissioner of Agriculture as well as Commissioner of Health, and Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

Every transition in Shettima’s life is merit-based. He doesn’t get things on a platter of gold.

The former banking guru is known for his honey badger courage, who never hesitates to attack animals much larger than itself, including lions and crocodiles.

Shettima knew the consequences of standing with his boss, President-elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, at the time, all abandoned him, but the lion’s bravery in him motivated him to stand by what he firmly believed in. His bravery is worthy of emulation because he always hunts big and gets them. 

The former Governor, in his campaign, has explicitly spoken about the issues affecting this country and extensively suggested realistic mechanisms with which the problems of unemployment and insecurity would be addressed. His focus is largely on the youth, the leaders of tomorrow. 

Like Tinubu, who used his global-certified skills in profit and wealth maximization and management to transform a super slum Lagos into Shangri-la, Shettima similarly rehabilitated Borno when he was governor. The state was overwhelmed by insurgents, but he never feared rebuilding and reforming every facility they destroyed. 

Even strategic attacks on his convoy didn’t stop him from travelling to LGAs to give them hope, reconstruct their houses, and sympathize with them. 

Nigeria is suffering from massive unemployment, insecurity, and a poor road network, among other developmental challenges. I am confident Shettima and Tinubu will rewrite Nigeria’s story in the most brilliant way.

Lawan Bukar Maigana writes from Maiduguri and can be reached via email: lawanbukarmaigana@gmail.com.

By Lawan Bukar Maigana

It is now an open secret that the former Governor of Lagos State, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is now Nigeria’s president-elect. For many who may not know, the erstwhile Lagos Chief Executive is not the typical run-of-the-mill Nigerian politician. 

A master political strategist of no mean repute, Tinubu has never lost an election since he started appearing on the ballot. The lessons in his political journey are enormous and worth studying by contemporary politicians, especially young people who aspire to be leaders of tomorrow. 

Tinubu’s political trajectory depicts the importance of building people regardless of any differences. He built builders, and the builders built him. 

Most people, including some members of his party, had thought that he was not going to win the February 25th presidential election because of some varying factors.

But Tinubu, for a minute, never lost hope. He consistently told people that he was going to win. He candidly said, “it is my turn, and I will win.” These were the songs he sang until he won. 

It is a fact known that most politicians fear the “enemies within”, but the reverse is the case with Tinubu as the Aso Rock cabals in President Muhammadu Buhari’s government fear him. He tackled them and moved on. 

The contribution of the people he built in politics to his emergence as president-elect cannot be overemphasized. 

Hours after he was announced as the winner of the keenly-contested election, he first extended his heartfelt appreciation to the Vice President-elect, Senator Kashim Shettima, and the entire northern governors who gave their best to his ascension to the presidency. 

One of the qualities of a resounding leader is his ability to unite people and carry everybody along. That is what Tinubu started with. He called on all presidential contestants to join him in building a new Nigeria for the betterment of all and sundry. Who has ever done that in the history of our nascent democracy? 

Tinubu’s track record as governor of Lagos is a testimony of his effort for the unity and development of Nigeria. He brought capacity hands outside Lagos for the betterment of his people. He has national spread, unlike his Labor Party rival, Peter Obi, who was largely voted by people of the east and a few from the west. 

Obi, being the governor of Anambra, does not take his state as his permanent residence. He lives in Lagos—a state developed by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I expect him to calm down his supporters, conceit defeat and join hands with the president-elect to steer the Nigerian project. 

One of the best ways to advocate peaceful coexistence and give people a sense of belonging is by giving protection to the people you govern, regardless of any differences. Tinubu’s house is a good example. He’s a Muslim. His wife and children are Christians. 

Teeming Nigerians have joined Tinubu to savour his electoral victory in the penultimate Saturday’s presidential election. But the President-Elect knows, more than anyone else, that the journey ahead will be rough, bumpy tortuous. 

He, however, should do all that it takes to actualize the visions of his ‘Renewed Hope’ campaign slogan. It is not for anything that many, including his armchair critics, regard him as a political colossus who has greatly paid his dues in helping to entrench democratic governance in Africa’s Giant.

Lawan Bukar Maigana writes from Abuja and can be reached via email: lawanbukarmaigana@gmail.com.

By Abubakar Usman Almajiri

The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, is more of an albatross to Christianity and Christians. The excessive aggression and confrontational behaviour of its ranks have always caused Muslims to rise, be on the alert, and engage in retaliation or reprisals. The latest in the reaction of Muslims to CAN intrigues is their response to the so-called Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket. 

In this same country, we have seen Generals Aguiyi-Ironsi and Yakubu Gowon rule with a Christian head and Christian 2iC. Not a single person raised an eyebrow. We have also seen a time when Moshood Abiola, a Muslim, contested with a Muslim 2iC and won. 

Today, Bola Tinubu has contested a Muslim-Muslim ticket just as a matter of winning strategy, not a religious sentiment. People within CAN who felt they should be the VP candidates, Babachir Lawal and co, went hey war. They rallied CAN and Christians against that. And they mislead Christians into the idea of a Christian candidacy that has just failed. 

The failure is not even the problem. The problem is in what translates to in the future. Nigerians will now openly engage in religious politics with all the dangers that spell. The atmosphere is already overcharged by that, and almost nothing can be done. 

Let us not forget that CAN, a religious minority in Nigeria compared to Islam, has always banked on the death of Muslim presidents to clinch power. 

President Umar Musa ‘Yaradua died in power under controversial circumstances. He was believed to have been poisoned. In any case, his choice to succeed General Olusegun Obasanjo was made after scrutinising the medical files of serving PDP governors under Obasanjo. The one who is most terminally ill, ‘Yaradua, was opted for. The objective was for him to die in power so a CANist could take over. 

CANists taking over is not a problem. The problem is always how they run governance in the most despicably lopsided manner. A manner that hurts and kills people of the North and Muslims. We have an example in Goodluck Jonathan’s regime. Also, in the Obasanjo regime.

Obasanjo has done the most heinous maltreatment of Muslims before him. He also attempted to extend his tenure beyond constitutional provisions. He attempted to change the constitution to favour his self-succession bid. When that failed, he searched for the most sickly Nigerian governor to hand over to so that power would return to him via his pawn. That happened. The pawn he had in place betrayed him but remained a CAN puppet. 

Boko Haram grew from an Obasanjo strategy to the monster it became under Jonathan. Via fight against Boko Haram, the beautiful and commerce burbling City of Bags was completely burned to ashes by Gen. Ihejerika under Jonathan. A civil war hero, Gen. Shuwa, was murdered cold-bloodedly in suspicious circumstances.

Jonathan, like Obasanjo, used the opportunity of inheriting the presidency under emergent situations to lure serving a governor in a Muslim-dominant state (i.e. Kaduna) with Vice Presidential positions so that their Christian deputies would become governors. 

That happened in Kaduna State with Vice President Namadi Sambo, who chose to accept the Vice-President position, paving the way for Patrick Yakowa. Yakowa ruled Kaduna state in the most lopsided manner. He rigged his re-election bid, and to protect his rule, the entire Muslim side of Kaduna was kept with soldiers and sandbags every inch. We lived like that for years until Yakowa died in a plane crash. Boni Haruna had the opportunity to run Adamawa state similarly. 

There were hues and cries, but I am unsure what happened there. 

CAN now has this strong penchant for having Muslim rulers die in office. The death of Yar’adua was openly celebrated even though he was a perfect gentleman. President Muhammadu Buhari almost died due to a suspicious ailment. The celebration began even before he died. And they kept expecting him to die. They even propounded the theory of ‘Jubril of Sudan’ to assert that he died and was exchanged. That’s how desperate they are. 

The Muslim-Muslim ticket would not have been in vogue it is without the desperate aggressions CAN employs.

I know many people who despised Kaduna’s Muslim-Muslim experiment and are now very happy with the National Muslim-Muslim ticket.

Abubakar Usman Almajiri wrote from Kaduna State.

By Lawan Bukar Maigana 

“Home is wherever you leave everything you love, and never question that it will be there when you return.” – Leo Christopher

My two-week stay in Borno after being away for a year has exposed me to some of Governor Babagana Umara Zulum’s developmental projects across the Maiduguri Metropolitan Council. I have seen the ongoing reconstruction and construction of quality drainages and roads. The expansion of roads at Monday Market, Bulabulin Alinkotoko and Gwange Areas, among other places in the metropolis, is commendable and timely. It has been long overdue. There would be no traffic jams when the projects are completed, and people will have easy mobility within the metropolis. 

The state capital has however been in total blackout for the past two years since the destruction of utility poles along Damaturu road by the Boko Haram murderers. It is on record that the governor has spent a lot of resources on restoring electricity in the town, but all efforts have been consistently sabotaged by the terrorists. Their defeat and displacement have however supported the restoration of light in parts of the metropolis. 

My neighbour told me that they enjoy a minimum of 4-hour power supply daily. That is far better than being in a total blackout which the people endured for years.  

“They mostly restore electricity after Magrib and interrupt it before midnight. That is how we manage it,” he said. 

However,  I have heard many people bitterly complaining about the high rate of unemployment that is becoming a threat to the fragile peace of the state. The state has limited opportunities for youth. It is said that criminal activities likely thrive in places where a larger population of youths are restive and jobless. Therefore, Governor Zulum should introspect and start focusing on job creation. 

My interaction with some young people has made me realise that opportunities are limited in Maiduguri at the moment. One of them told me that even becoming a labourer is now not an easy task. According to him, the only sustainable and reliable job is tricycling.

The very day I got to Maiduguri, I saw campaign banners and posters everywhere courtesy of young people who were either hungry for power for the sake of it or living off godfathers. That is not bad, but it would have been better to invest their youthful energy and time in more productive ventures like learning a craft, acquiring a skill or doing business, each of which can stand the test of time. 

The state government has invested a lot in infrastructural projects which are spread across the state. However, Borno needs a lot of investments in human capital if the state must recover from the many years of destruction caused by the Boko Haram sect. 

In terms of business, the economy is struggling. Families have accused marketers, especially foodstuff sellers, of overpricing. They accused them of hiding under the exchange rate in the country to unjustly increase the price of goods and services in the state. They want the market authorities and state government to work together to ensure that marketers stick to the prices of goods without any corrupt changes. 

Shettima’s Legacy 

This is another opportunity to recall that the immediate past governor of the state, Senator Kashim Shettima, put about seven production firms in different parts of the state, and they were meant to create jobs, eradicate poverty and generate revenue for the government. 

The plants include Tomato Plant, Garri Plant, Water line Plant, Solar Panel Plant, Onion Dehydration Plant, Corn Chips Plant, Plastic Plant and others. Out of all the plants, only the plastic plant is functional, and it has created jobs for an appreciable number of youths in the state. 

Aside from these plants, the state has other abandoned industrial establishments that can help generate revenues for the state as well as create job opportunities for youths. Why can’t we invest in those firms to overcome joblessness? Borno should learn from Kano, Kaduna, and other states that build firms to boost their revenue and provide jobs for their people. Borno state should not only build these factories but sustain them and take advantage of them, not abandon them. 

It is high time Governor Zulum directed his attention towards the establishment and reformation of institutions that can accommodate jobless youths and give their lives meaning. 

The fact that a lot of these firms are already in place, having been built by Senator Shettima, is a huge advantage for the present administration. Aside from the advantages of having those plants fully operational to the state, Governor Zulum should be more interested in sustaining the legacy of his boss and predecessor. 

Lawan Bukar Maigana writes from Abuja and can be reached via email: Lawanbukarmaigana@gmail.com.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Reports from Lagos indicate that the supporters of the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) roamed the state’s major roads and caused a gridlock. 

The supporters were said to have taken the streets as a solidarity rally for the candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. 

The former Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Musiliu Akinsanya, announced on Sunday. 

He said, “Many vehicles struggled to make their way as the crowd occupied a significant portion of the road.

The Daily Reality recalls that this is coming after the supporters of the Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, marched on various streets of Lagos last week.

However, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenged the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) for not having a valid presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections. 

The National Publicity Secretary, PDP, Debo Ologunagba, disclosed this on Saturday while addressing the party’s conference on Saturday. 

However, the challenge appeared to have been unfavourable and did not sit well with the APC and Tinubu supporters. 

By Mohammed Aliyu

The National Peace Committee, headed by the former Head of State, General Abdulsalam Abubakar (retd.) and other elder statesmen would have been more respected and crucial had they played the committee with the grandeur it deserves. Established in 2014, the committee has not achieved anything following its record. As such, its function is nothing but a jamboree, where aspirants meet and share some private moments, thereby deceiving the gullible who trusted them by their words.

The vulnerability of the committee was so evident in 2019 when one of its members was seen dancing with another aspirant and denouncing the other candidate rather than playing neutral by preaching the peace he claimed to be advocating. Such an immodest attitude alone can create chaos, put doubt in the minds of other aspirants, and ridicule the entire process. Again, no need to mention names but a committee like this ought to have credible individuals that are all respected, who are also mindful of their utterances, actions and even public image – by extension, be less controversial.

To revisit the past, in 2015, President Goodluck Jonathan accepted defeat on his own without any influence from any quarter, as he stated in his book Transitional Hours. In 2019, electorates massively voted for President Buhari, yet no crisis was recorded. Still, the committee’s capacity has not been proven, although they claimed to have calmed Atiku Abubakar, who insistently went to court on his own but failed there.

The 2023 election that brought religion into politics is perhaps dosed with fear of violence, and this is the moment that the peace committee may save the country, but will they? The National Peace Committee is the initiation of some individuals that called themselves ‘Elder Statement’, and members were selected without merit. The peace committee is concerned with only the aftermath of election violence and not other forms of insecurity, let alone proffer solutions to lingering critical issues that the country is bedevilled with now and then. Like the present ASUU strike, agitations, persistent farmer/herder clashes, communal clashes, religious intolerance, and other vital issues that threaten national peace and security that may even not allow any election to hold.

To send a message that the peace committee is not credible, in 2019, PDP presidential aspirant Atiku Abubakar failed to attend the accord signing for reasons known to him. Instead, he went after the public ceremony. Bola Tinubu, another aspirant of APC, again failed to attend the September 2022 Peace Accord. Instead, he sent his running mate, Kashim Shettima. All this weakens the credibility and popularity of the committee. The priority given to candidates rather than parties is a clear sign that the peace agreement has lapses that must be corrected if they want to be relevant in the future. Electorates choose a party, not a candidate, even though they are by extension. Candidates are identified by their parties because, without the platform, they are idle. The peace committee must look inward and prioritise party chairpersons during such occasions. That way, they are dealing with an organisation, not an individual.

In my opinion, the National Peace Committee should be changed to the National Council of Elders, and their mandate should be transformed so that it will have a national look and have representatives from all sections of the country. The members should be credible people who are respected. They should advise the government on solutions to bring lasting peace before, during and after the election circle.

However, the interest of the National Peace Committee is not for peace to reign, nor for good governance but for the personal interest of what they may get in the new government. As such, expect nothing but flaws in their shoddy policies. While they are signing the accord in Abuja, I wish my fellow compatriots would do the same locally since we are the anticipated thugs that will cause violence.

Mohammed Aliyu wrote via aliyu.wasilu@gmail.com.