President Muhammadu Buhari

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

The children of the late Mrs Kudirat Abiola have sued the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari at the ECOWAS Court of Justice sitting at Abuja over the assassination of their mother. The deceased’s children sought different reliefs from the court and a compensation of ten million dollars.

Mrs Kudirat Abiola was allegedly murdered on June 4, 1996, by the military junta of General Sani Abacha while her husband, Moshood Abiola, famously known as MKO Abiola, was in prison at the behest of the Nigerian government

According to reports, Khafilia Abiola, Moriam Abiola and Hadi Abiola are sueing for themselves and on behalf of the other children of the deceased

The Daily Reality gathered that the suit filed on Tuesday and marked ECW/CCJ/APP/62/2022 was filed on their behalf by human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana.

The plaintiffs are challenging the “violation of the fundamental human rights to life and dignity of human person of the late Mrs Abiola.”

However, as at the time of filing this report, the court is yet to fix a date for hearing of the case

The Plaintiffs are seeking the following reliefs from the ECOWAS Court:

1. A DECLARATION that the killing of Mrs. Kudirat Abiola by the armed agents of the defendant in Lagos on June 4, 1996 is a violation of her rights to life and dignity guaranteed by articles 4 and 5 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and articles.
2. A DECLARATION that the refusal of the defendant to charge Sergeant Barnabas Jebila (a.k.a. Rogers) Mohammed Abdul (a.k.a Katako) and Aminu Mohammed Sergeant Barnabas Jebila with murder for the brutal killing of Mrs. Kudirat Abiola in Lagos on June 4, 1996 is a violation of her rights to life and dignity guaranteed by articles 4 and 5 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and articles.
3. AN ORDER directing the defendant to charge Sergeant Barnabas Jebila (a.k.a. Rogers) Mohammed Abdul (a.k.a Katako) and Aminu Mohammed with murder for the brutal killing of Mrs Kudirat Abiola in Lagos on June 4, 1996.
4. AN ORDER directing the defendant to pay the sum of $10 million to the Applicants as compensation for the unlawful killing of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola.”

President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration had on June 6, 2018 changed the Democracy Day annual celebration from May 29 to June 12. This was done to honour the sacrifices of the Abiola’s family and commemorate the democratic election of MKO Abiola on June 12, 1993.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture, has fired the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, for blaming President Buhari over the lingering security issues in the country.

Mohammed added that it was under the watch of PDP that Boko Haram insurgency started in 2009, adding that the party more or less nurtured the insurgents to the monster it later became.

Abubakar was reported to have expressed surprise over the continued presence of Boko Haram during his campaign outing at the weekend.

He said: “Let me quickly react to the statement credited to His Excellency, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who has reportedly expressed surprise at the existence of Boko Haram.

“The former Vice President was quoted as saying he could not honestly understand the Boko Haram phenomenon, and wondered why Boko Haram continues to operate.

“Well, I think His Excellency didn’t need to look far to get the answers to his questions. He should simply ask his party, the PDP, under whose watch the Boko Haram insurgency started in 2009. For six years until 2015, when our administration assumed office and inherited Boko Haram, the PDP more or less nurtured the insurgents to the monster they later became.

“Alhaji Atiku should ask his party why it allowed Boko Haram to operate freely, bombing cities, motor parks, schools and other soft targets unrestrained. Alhaji Atiku, who was then residing in Abuja before porting to his new abode in Dubai, should ask his party, the PDP, while it allowed Boko Haram to bomb the police headquarters, the UN Complex, a shopping mall and motor parks in Abuja with so much ease.”

He added: “His Excellency may want to know that today, thanks to our patriotic troops, military objectives have almost been achieved in theNorth East, the home region of Boko Haram, thereby creating conditions for Stabilization Operations to take place.

“Despite the very large Joint Operational Area, Boko Haram Terrorists have been cleared from most of their strongholds while remnants are being restricted to the Tumbus/island around the Lake Chad that are difficult to access.

“The former Vice President may want to know that both kinetic and non-kinetic activities employed by the military have seen the terrorists surrendering in droves, thereby freeing large spaces for normal socio economic life to resume.

“The good news this year is that a bumper agricultural harvest is assured, as farmers were able to carry out extensive farming, which has not been possible since the beginning of insurgency/terrorism in the North East.

“While on the campaign trail and throwing political jabs, we advise His Excellency Alhaji Atiku to note the popular idiom that people who live in glass houses should not throw stones,” he added.

By Muhammadu Sabiu

President Muhammadu Buhari has asked other higher educational institutions to emulate the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, in combating the problem of sexual harassment of female students by academics.

At the 46th convocation of the university in Ile-Ife on Saturday, Buhari warned that the future of bright young females in higher education institutions across the nation must not be left in the hands of sexually irresponsible people who were disguising themselves as academics.

He also praised OAU management for its aggressive approach to combating sexual harassment and other forms of harassment without considering the victims.

The president was represented by the Director of Academic Planning, National Universities Commission, Dr Abiodun Saliu.

He was quoted as saying, “I will be failing in my duty as Visitor if I do not commend the Council and Management of this great citadel of learning for dealing, very decisively, with cases of sexual harassment.

“In fact, this university deserves commendation on the way and manner it is tackling sexual and other related harassments headlong without minding whose ox is gored.

“I want other institutions of higher learning to emulate OAU in summarily terminating the appointment or dismissing any lecturer who uses or is using his advantageous position to sexually harass our young, unassuming, innocent and impressionable girls.”

He also warns that the lives of female students must not be entrusted to the so-called lecturers.

“We cannot continue to entrust the lives of our promising young girls into the hands of some sexually reckless individuals who are masquerading as lecturers on our campuses,” he said.

By Ibrahim Garba.

Since the announcement of the success of oil discovery by the Muhammad Buhari-led administration through Nigeria National Petroleum Company, NNPC Ltd., people from different parts of the country rejoiced over the milestone achievement.

However, the development came with many controversies by the citizens who are, in one way or another other, have a direct or indirect connection to the development that is from some groups of people and individuals from the host community.

Immediately after the ground-breaking ceremony, which was attended by his Excellency President Muhammad Buhari, Bauchi State Governor Bala Muhammed, the Group Managing Director NNPC Mele Kyari, among other dignitaries in Nigeria, an argument broke between the neighbouring states, Gombe and its mother state Bauchi, about who owns the Kolmani oil well.

Besides, Bauchi may be right to claim the ownership of Kolmani oil because the oil well is located in Barambu, a village under the Alkaleri local government area of Bauchi state. Bauchi cites the presence of their governor at the breaking ceremony as one of the reasons that they own the oil well.

Gombe state, on the other hand, has more than a reason to claim the ownership because of their closeness to the point where the oil was drilled. Therefore oil as liquid stuff cannot just be for Bauchi alone.

Unfortunately, farmers operating within the host community of MaiMadi, Kwaimawa, among the other 7sevencommunities, complained that they were not paid for the damage done to their farmlands during the oil drill.

Among them, one claimed the ownership of the Kolmani oil well, which according to him, was inherited from his father and yet to be compensated. Also, the report indicates that workers who served during the seismic operation were not adequately paid but only promised to be paid on unspecified dates.

Farmers and other people from the host community should be well informed about the operation of that kind to seek entitlement associated with the oil drill operation in their localities.

With the allegations above, one must note with dismay challenging the Public Relations section of that particular for failing the Social responsibility service expected to render to those communities.

Above all, what Nigerians need to know is how much we need to poster national development above our interest to build Nigeria of our dream. We should also learn from the experience of our people down the south. There is a need for cooperation and mutual understanding between the two states, the farmers, and the entire host community to benefit from such a remarkable achievement. 

Ibrahim Garba writes from Bauchi.

By Muhammadu Sabiu

Yakubu Dogara, the former speaker of the House of Representatives, has rejoined the main opposition party a few days after endorsing the Peoples Democratic Party’s Atiku Abubakar for president. The defection is the latest political move by the lawmaker in his consistent opposition to the same-faith ticket of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).

On Monday, the former legislator was welcomed into the party at a rally in Lagos State for the presidential race.

Note that this is coming just 48 hours after Dogara and several irate northern APC officials expressed their support for the former vice president’s presidential candidacy.

This is not the first time the former speaker changed his party, as it’s less than a year since he dumped PDP for APC at the Presidential Villa Abuja.

By Muhammadu Sabiu

Atiku Abubakar, the former vice president and presidential candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), claimed that Nigeria had veered off its path toward unity and prosperity under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari.

In a statement released by his campaign group on Sunday, Atiku said that for Nigeria to be great, it must be inclusive and united.

He continued by saying that a nation needs strong leadership that is willing to carry out the mission if it is to be united.

In the former vice president’s words, the approaching general elections are a rescue operation to save the country’s spirit.

The statement partly reads, “The ruling party, APC, has taken us adrift, and we are far off the course to the purpose of unity and prosperity.

“That is why you and I must work assiduously together to ensure that we recover Nigeria.

“Saving the soul of Nigeria must begin with denying the APC your vote in 2023. They have failed us woefully and must be punished for that.

“But it’s not enough to vote out the APC. We must coalesce into the PDP – the only viable party that has the capacity to dislodge the failed ruling party”.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

Aminu Muhammad Adamu, the detained critic of the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, has apologized to Aisha Buhari and thanked the people who stood for him on social media.

Following Aminu’s release from detention, he took to his Twitter handle on Saturday to apologize to the First Lady and thank his supporters for their supports.

Aminu, a student of the Federal University Dutse, Jigawa State, was arrested for trolling Aisha Buhari on Twitter. He was then secretly arraigned and remanded at a correctional facility in Suleja, Niger State.

Aminu in his tweet said, “I would like to use this medium to express my sincere apologies to those I’ve hurt especially our mother, Aisha Buhari it was never my intention to hurt your feelings and insha Allah I will change for the better. However, I’m also grateful for your forgiveness, thank u mama😊🤝.”

Aminu also thanked those who supported him in another tweet. He noted that his ordeals amount to a lessons for everyone

“I would also like to use this medium to express my heartfelt gratitude toward those that helped me go through the darkest hours of my life, man cannot escape his destiny but my incidence should serve as a lesson to all of us. Thank you all and one love❤️🌹.” He said

Aminu’s arbitrary abduction and consequent detention was condemned by international human rights organizations, media influencers and many people nationwide.

By Muhammadu Sabiu

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has demanded that the Wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, Aisha Buhari, apologize and give compensation for the arrest and detention of Aminu Adamu, a final-year student of the Federal University, Dutse, whose tweet berated the First Lady.

This was said in a statement released Saturday and signed by Comrade Kehinde Damilola Simeon, Chairman of the Joint Campus Committee (JCC) for Ogun State.

According to the students’ body, it was an abuse of power for Aisha Buhari to order Adamu’s arrest and incarceration for nearly two weeks.

The Daily Reality recalls how security personnel detained Adamu for reportedly tweeting an offensive remark about the first lady.

The statement reads, “We consider that the meeting of the President with Aminu after his release from detention is not enough.

“Madam Aisha Buhari should apologize publicly in at least four daily newspapers. Aminu and his family should be compensated for the inhumane condition the first family had thrown them into in the last few days.

“These principles are what we consider as the fundamental basis for demanding the release of the unjustly victimized Nigerian student, Aminu Adamu, who had only said nothing but the truth, which is visible to all”.

By Lawan Bukar Maigana 

Truth be told, Aminu Adamu’s post is not libellous if we look at it from a legal perspective because it is true that all leaders (including their families) feed on the sweat of the masses. And that is not a crime because the nature of their offices gives them the privilege. 

A political officeholder must feed just like every other person. The only difference is that the poor don’t have a budget for food, unlike those leading us. So, it is proper for a poor man to say that he feeds his leader, although not directly. 

Recently, N7.20 billion was earmarked for the maintenance of Villa facilities out of its N21.137 billion total budgetary proposal for the 2023 fiscal year, and it planned to spend N1. 96 billion for the purchase of vehicles (all in the money paid in tax by the masses.) 

The details of the 2023 budget show that President Muhammadu Buhari and the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, planned to spend the sum of N3.57 billion on feeding and travelling expenses. N2. 6 billion of the vast amount was for the President’s office, while N77. Eight million was for the office of Osinbajo. Is it a lie that leaders feed on the money of the poor? 

I believe these and others are the figures Aminu saw, which provoked the tweet that landed him in trouble. But the seemingly intolerant Aisha Buhari saw it and deemed it hurtful. Many see her decision to order the arrest, torture, and arraignment of Adamu, a final-year student of the Federal University, Dutse, as unconscionable because it has caused incalculable damage to her reputation. Everyone has been insulting her due to what many see as her overreaction. 

Her decision has further angered thousands of young Nigerians who are already angry with her husband’s administration which consequently metamorphosed into insults that were way more grievous than Aminu’s post. 

Nigerian youths have enough reasons to be angry with Aisha’s husband. There is much hunger in the land. Security and the economy are not in good shape. To make matters worse, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the federal government have, in the last year, conspired to frustrate the lives and future of undergraduates. 

Mrs Buhari got the context all wrong. Aminu may be right after all. 

After all, it is true that they feed on the country’s resources which can easily be translated into “masses money.” She took his post personally because she is a professional beautician, and it is embarrassing for her to gain weight because weight hides beauty (according to some ladies). 

Generally, women don’t like body shaming. They take offence when told they are getting fatter because they fear that they may become unattractive to their husbands or men in general. Perhaps, that was why she overreacted. Again, her size increase may not have been due to any enjoyment but to an undisclosed illness, which will naturally make the tweet pain her even more. But she should have ignored him as a mother and fighter for women’s rights and youth inclusion. 

I have never justified immorality on social media platforms. Still, the overbearing action taken against him by the Mother of the Nation is unjustifiable and condemnable, even though he hurt her feelings.

The Aisha Buhari-Aminu Adamu situation is a lesson for all and sundry. We can say many things that we believe have no legal implications but can still get us in trouble. Therefore, we need to caution ourselves. 

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

By Mubarak Shu’aib Hardawa

With the 2023 general election underway in a matter of weeks, it turns out that William Shakespeare was right about sound and fury, signifying nothing: All the ObiDient social media noise and online activism will ultimately amount to zilch, zero, and zip. And here’s why!

The ObiDient online movement is still ongoing but packed significantly less of a punch, especially in the Northern part of the country where Obi needed to do a lot of backbreaking work to sell his candidacy. The fan base alone cannot push a candidate to the glory. Suppose there’s one general rule about winning Presidential Election in Nigeria. In that case, the candidate must have the luxury of time, money and a bare-knuckled brawler, which Mr Obi is trying to midwife at the moment. 

Remember in 2015, when President Muhammadu Buhari was contesting against then-President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan? Despite commanding the respect of the masses, he had to make an alliance with some political parties and run to the support of Atiku Abubakar et al. to make it to the finish line. That’s the trick Mr Obi wants to get up his sleeve by romancing Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State. But, unfortunately, it is a  move many ObiDient find uncanny, as some reactions suggest in the aftermath of his meeting with the Rivers State Governor. 

In a piece titled “I think this romance is dangerous”, Princewill ODIDI, a staunch ObiDient and a public figure, wrote: “Obi’s romance with Wike and the likes is gradually killing the ObiDient message of change.” He added, “I strongly feel as a leader of Labor party, Obi is playing a dangerous game. When the chips are down in February next year, all these guys will abandon Obi and return to their parties.”

I have never been one to jump on the ObiDient-hate bandwagon, but the fact is that Obi has to form allies with the people you, again and again, castigate if he means business. That’s politics for you. I’m saying this with neither glee nor sorrow, merely as an absolute political fact. The Obi’s goose is cooked.

But whether romancing with those whom ObiDient consider ‘corrupt’ affects his popularity among the fan base is another thing altogether. After all, the former PDP  vice-presidential aspirant has reshaped the Labor party in his image and still commands the loyalty of a deeply devoted core of die-hard fans, for whom he can do no wrong. 

Money, mo what? Money. Money plays a significant role in Nigerian politics. The last gubernatorial election held in Osun State was mainly seen as a repudiation of the claims that money isn’t a factor. ‘You no dey give shi-shi? Nigerian politics is not for you! You have to spend, spend and spend. Downplaying this fact is defined as “perilousness.” 

Although I understand criticism such as this one pointed at Obi’s way, among the ObiDient is like criticising Jesus in a rural evangelical church. I guarantee you; it would change no views. 

But these are hard pills which Mr Obi should make his supporters swallow. And that’s what real politics is. Breaking the duopoly of APC & PDP will cost not only Shi-Shi but also Bullion vans. I hope that didn’t ring a bell, Lol.

So rest in peace, ObiDients, it’s been a wild ride, but it looks like the world will finally return to normality again. And as much as it’s been fun, sooner or later, Mr Obi will be out of the closet by choosing between you or the power brokers.

Mubarak Shu’aib Hardawa wrote from Misau LGA, Bauchi State, Nigeria, via naisabur83@gmail.com.