₦airaland Forum

donbachi:
we are working at that,still at the grassroot level,nationwide.mobilizing and harmonizing.

donbachi:
freedom of association led us nowhere..youths,should come together and liberate themselves from all these agent of bad governance.

samincredible44:
I have no problem with a Yoruba man becoming president but I have a problem with old corrupt politicians like tinubu and ouk planning towards presidency.

donbachi:
Youths...all dis things wey we dey talk,no dey enter una ears..make we join hands,elect youths into all elective offices.

Editor

January 7, 2021

The Verdict By Olusegun Adeniyi

Once again, Nigerian professionals between the ages of 25 and 40 are emigrating abroad. Those who are married go with their families. Economic upheaval at home and an almost out of hand national security challenge explain why these young citizens choose to vote with their passports. But this is also a global phenomenon. Whether in Africa, Asia or the Americas, we are dealing with what Patrick Gilligan has described as the ‘No Nation’ Generation whose members “are breaking ties with their birth countries and seeking a more affordable and better standard of living overseas.”

The leading countries in which most of these professionals seek to reside, going by the latest MoveHub global survey, are the United Kingdom, Australia, US, Spain, Canada, France, New Zealand, Germany, Ireland and Portugal. At number 16, the only African country on the list is South Africa. According to the survey, “the majority chose better job prospects as the main reason to move country” which then reveals that “young people are moving abroad for profound reasons, to advance themselves and their career in a hospitable environment, rather than for the change of weather.”

In the case of Nigeria, dwindling opportunities resulting from mismanagement of our affairs amid a population growth that far exceeds our resources has compelled many of our young citizens to look abroad. As I said in my 1st October 2016 Platform Nigeria presentation, confronted with a dilemma of having roamed the streets for several years after graduation without job prospects, many have re-examined their options. Even those supposedly meaningfully engaged suffer all manner of indignities from places of work where they are paid miserable wages. With these challenges, as I reasoned in that intervention, our young professionals now pose the same question popularized by the four Biblical lepers in 2 Kings, chapter 7, verses 3 and 4: “Why are we sitting here until we die?”

For these compatriots, the most preferred destination is Canada, essentially due to its easy path to citizenship. Canada, by the way, supported—both in cash and kind—the efforts of civil society groups like the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) to confront the tyranny of the late General Sani Abacha in the nineties. So, the country has always been friendly towards Nigeria. The main attraction of course is that obtaining Canadian citizenship provides access to job opportunities. More crucially, their law allows for multiple citizenship so you are not required to renounce your Nigerian root in the process. Besides, a Canadian Passport also enables citizens to travel to many countries without having to obtain a visa.

With an estimated population of 37,742,154 people and a density of four persons per square kilometre (given its 9,093,507 square kilometre land size), Canada is always going to need more people. To underscore that need, the United States has a population density of 36 persons per square kilometre, which means a Canadian has nine times the size of land available to an American! But Canada has approached immigration in a strategic manner by attracting the best around the world, regardless of colour or creed.

Meanwhile, it is a legitimate aspiration for our young citizens to seek better prospects abroad. But I am concerned about a growing trend on social media. The moment someone secures their papers to emigrate, they will denigrate, abuse and curse Nigeria before they depart or after they get to their ‘promised land’. It is not a wise thing to do. I made this point in my September 2017 lecture at BAZE University, Abuja on ‘Leadership and Responsibility in the Age of Social Media’, where I warned the audience to be well aware that the things they document in a moment of exuberance or anger could come back to haunt them. And I cited two examples from my experience as presidential spokesman to make the point. So, to our young citizens, please explore possibilities to seek greener pastures abroad. But don’t throw darts at the country of your birth on your way out.

‘Nigeria is a useless country’ is a standard refrain. Some of our young citizens who emigrate have perfected the art of detaching themselves from the nation as a shared patrimony. Yet regardless of whatever may be their frustrations with Nigeria, critical stakeholders should take responsibility for lost opportunities and the challenge of national retrieval. That of course requires leadership and political will. Unfortunately, this tragic gap has bedeviled our nation repeatedly for more than six decades. Even at that, we can look at the emigration drove in different ways.

Nigeria has one of the most educated and enterprising Diaspora populations across the world. At home, we have a population of young people. Not only are many countries in Asia and Europe ageing, some are also now declining in numbers. In the year just ended, for instance, South Korea recorded more deaths than births for the first time in their history. In 2020, only 275,800 babies were born while 307,764 persons died. At some point, these countries would have labour shortages and might seek migrants. Only the prepared in terms of quality education will be able to take advantage of such opportunities when they eventually come. The real problem is that we are breeding liabilities, not assets, since the majority of our young population are lacking in education or basic skills. It is worse in the northern parts of the country where bandits, Boko Haram and other criminal networks have combined to make schools unsafe for children, thus effectively mortgaging their future.

At all levels, and in practically all sectors, we are running a system that is rigged against our young people. Some universities are yet to complete the 2018/2019 academic session! On Monday, Bayero University, Kano (BUK) officially announced the cancellation of the 2019/2020 academic session. Others may not want to admit it but there is hardly any federal university in Nigeria today that has not lost at least an academic calendar to recent ASUU strikes. But no matter the frustration with the system, resentment against the government should never translate into hate for one’s country. Our young people must begin to differentiate between Nigeria and the government in power, even though I also understand the trigger. At every epoch, public officials and their supporters have behaved as though they have a monopoly on patriotism. They will defend Nigeria—which they equate to the government they serve or support—until the baton changes hands and then they also begin to disparage the same country they once opportunistically defended. In essence, Nigeria has always been the scapegoat for the failings of its leaders.

While I am not advocating that we blind ourselves to our problems, it is important to recognise that Nigeria is more than the physical space. Besides, the country many of our young citizens are emigrating to were built by people. To that extent, the pent-up anger and negative energy being unleashed against the same Nigeria that must have provided them (or their parents) some ladder in terms of the opportunity to properly emigrate is not right. And nobody should write off Nigeria. We may be down today; we are certainly not out. Our incredible array of talent in different fields still abounds. Despite our challenges, many will still choose to stay.

I have a story with which I constantly ‘harass’ my wife. In 1995, while we were still courting and I was an assistant editor at the Sunday Concord, she brought me an American Diversity Lottery form for us to fill as a way we might migrate to the United States if successful. More out of pride than any serious conviction, I told her to forget me in such an arrangement. To counter her disappointment, I said: “A time will come when you will not have to go to their embassy before you secure the Visa to any country of your choice.” She replied: “Enu e ti po ju (you fanatise a lot),” and we laughed over it. As it turned out, for her first trip to the United States in 2003 (at a period I was editor of Sunday THISDAY), the only thing that took her to the American embassy was her finger print. The then Public Affairs Officer (PAO) at what was called United States Information Service (USIS) at the time—now Public Affairs Section of US Consulate General—in Lagos, Dr Atim Enaida George (currently a postdoctoral fellow at the Center for Black Studies Research, University of California at Santa Barbara) gave my wife a ‘Referral Letter’. For all her other trips since then, she has outsourced the responsibility of obtaining her visa to me. And with that, I have also had to keep reminding her of my 1995 ‘prophetic declaration’!

But I could take that calculated gamble 26 years ago because the fundamentals of our country were still strong. Our estimated population was 107 million, the national security situation was relatively okay (without insurgents, bandits and kidnappers terrorising our lives) and graduates were still getting jobs. Although we also had economic challenges at the time, most were attributed to military rule with the expectation that once we ushered in the democracy we were fighting for, our fortunes would change. Sadly, things have not turned out that way. Now, were the offer of the American Diversity Lottery form made today and I was a struggling journalist at age 29, not only would I jump at it, I would probably be exploring opportunities to emigrate to other countries as well. This is the point we should never miss in this conversation.

Globalization has created a generation of virtual citizens. Attachment to nation space and cultural roots now counts for less than material fulfillment. Young Nigerians who emigrate to more prosperous countries where they are guaranteed basic livelihoods and their children can access good education do not necessarily love Nigeria any less. But they are full of anger and disappointment with successive governments that continue to betray the hopes of our people. That is the challenge at hand. It is hard to wean back the loyalty and patriotism of youth who leave injured by the betrayal of a nation they call theirs but which fails to provide them a fighting chance to prove themselves or justify their skills and training.

All factors considered, the task of repossessing the souls of our new Diaspora citizens is still one of responsible and accountable governance. It is therefore in the enlightened self-interest of critical stakeholders in both the private and public sectors to begin to change the current narrative by making the country work for all Nigerians rather than just a privileged few. To our young citizens who seek greener pastures abroad, my admonition remains the same: Emigrate if you must. But never give up on Nigeria.
...

• You can follow me on my Twitter handle, @Olusegunverdict and on www.olusegunadeniyi.com

IamAtikulate:
We are not slittery things. We don't stab at the back.

Herdsmen are terrorist and terrorist don't deserve that respect

comshots:
What is special about the train?Is it free for the public?

FarahAideed:
This man is among those that deceived Nigerians to vote Buhari

FarahAideed:
Which Nonsense Big fish ? This man is a self-centered short sighted man ...this man's legacy is Terrorism and Buhari

By Raji Adebayo On Dec 24, 2020

IBADAN – Crisis rocking the South-West zone of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) got deepened as a member of the Caretaker Committee in the zone, Mrs Funmilayo Ogun, has described the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde as an accidental governor and a mistake that the PDP will no longer make.

She said it was sad that the PDP handed its governorship ticket to a petty and immature character like Makinde, adding that there are better and committed people in the Oyo State PDP than the governor, a product of coalition who has betrayed the trust of those who ensured his electoral victory.

The caretaker committee member pointed out that the governor was in the defunct All Nigerians Peoples Party (ANPP), in 2007 and 2011 as well as Social Democratic Party (SDP), in 2015 and only returned to PDP in 2018.

She said those who elected Makinde as governor in Oyo State did not elect him to be Premier of the South-West, vowing that the caretaker committee will never have anything to do with him since he has chosen not to respect the party, acting as if being a governor makes him bigger than the party.

The PDP chieftain said it was strange that Makinde, a governor elected under the platform of the PDP is openly going against the decision of the National Executive Committee (NEC), the highest decision-making organ of the party after the National Convention.

Mrs Ogun argued that by choosing to relate with individuals not recognised as State Chairmen of PDP in Ekiti, Osun and Ogun States, Governor Makinde is only saying that he is more powerful than the party NEC and that as far as he is concerned, decisions of the NEC are not biding on him.

She said it is a matter of concern to her that Governor Makinde could refer to the State Working Committee of the party in Ekiti State as “factional” despite being part of the NEC meeting where the congresses in Ekiti and others States were approved.

“I hate to say this, but Governor Makinde has not acted true to his office as a governor under the platform of the PDP. He is petty and immature. His commitment to the PDP is suspicious and as someone whose love for the party has remained unwavering, I doubt if he is not working for those APC governors, who gave him money for his election.

“It is my opinion that next time, our party should be mindful of promoting people like Governor Makinde, who was never stable in the party for once.

“If he had failed in his bid to get the party ticket in 2018, I am sure he (Makinde) would have moved to another party just as he did in 2015, despite the plea that he should take Senate ticket.”

ON DECEMBER 24, 2020

Mr Oseloka Obaze, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in 2017 Anambra election, has tested positive for the coronavirus disease.

Obaze, also a former Secretary to Anambra Government (SSG), announced COVID-19 status in a statement on Thursday in Awka.

He said he went for a pre-travel test and the result showed he was positive for the virus.

The former SSG said he had quarantined himself and called on those he came in contact with recently to also self-isolate.

“I underwent a routine pre-travel COVID-19 test on Tuesday and today, I received the result, which indicated that I tested positive for COVID-19.

“Prior to that, I had no symptoms whatsoever and was disciplined about my COVID-19 preventive protocols.

“I’m quarantining and following the recommended treatment regiments.

“I have reached out to those I might have been in contact with recently to inform them to self-isolate.

“COVID-19 is real. I urge everyone to take it seriously,’’ he stated. (NAN)

Vanguard News Nigeria

The bill, which was published online on Tuesday, gives former presidents and their families immunity from prosecution for crimes committed during their lifetime.

…Ex-SGF being sponsored by Igbo's enemies, says Ohanaeze

December 22, 2020

By Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo has lambasted a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim following his comments that the Southeast will not allow Delta and Rivers-speaking Igbo to pick Igbo’s Presidential slot in 2023.

The Secretary-General of Ohanaeze, Dim Uche Okwukwu, said Anyim was not qualified to speak for Igbo’s 2023 Presidential ambition having supported former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar to contest against President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.

He described Anyim’s statement as retrogressive, provocative and divisive alleging that the former Senate President was being sponsored by enemies of the Igbo to sow seeds of discord among the people.

He challenged Anyim to showcase his contributions for the advancement of Igbo course despite all the high offices he had occupied in the name of Igbo.

Okwukwu said: “On moral and ethical ground he cannot talk about Igbo Presidency for 2023 because he is a member of the PDP that supported Atiku in 2019 to become President. The question I ask Pius Anyim is if Atiku had warned the election, would he be talking about Igbo Presidency in 2023?

“I Dim Uche Okwukwu led a delegation to endorse Buhari in presidential villa in 2019. I am competent to talk about the Igbo Presidency. What we are talking about is a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction and not a Nigerian President from the Southeast”.

Explaining further, he said: “Southeast and South-south divide Igbos into two. If Egbema is divided into two between Rivers and Imo, Ikwere is divided between Imo and Abia, Ohaji people are Ikwere people. So what is his own definition of Igbo? Is it Igbos of the Southeast?

What role did Anyim play to please Ndigbo as secretary of the federation? Let Anyim show us what he did in securing the completion of the second Niger Bridge. Let him tell us what he did to rehabilitate the Enugu-Onitsha road, The Port Harcourt, international Airport, the Akanu Ibiam International Airport and the Sam Mbakwe international airport, the port Harcourt-Enugu expressway”.

He said many people were qualified to contest Igbo Presidency in 2023 adding that Amaechi, Ngige, Okorocha and a host of others were all qualified for the ticket.

He said: “Amaechi is qualified to run for the Presidency. He has huge political experience. If he steps forward and contest the APC primary and win he will be supported. Ngige is qualified, Ogbonnaya Onu, Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Rochas Okorocha and others are qualified.

“Anyim cannot redefine Igbo. The Anioma, Ika people in Delta, the Ikweres, the Ogbas, the Oyigbos, Etches in Rivers State are Igbos. The Asari-Ndoki in Akwa Ibom are Igbos. He doesn’t have the mandate of the Igbos to speak.

“I am in a better position as secretary general to speak and I am speaking authoritatively. He is from Ebonyi with 13 local government areas what is the voting strength of Ebonyi and what can he bring to the table in terms of the election?

“What he saying is provocative, retrogressive and absurd. He doesn’t know that the 10 Igbo-speaking local government areas in Rivers have more votes than the people of Ebonyi put together.

What is the vote in Ebonyi that he will create this kind of problem to provoke Igbo-speaking people of Rivers. This is how they cause confusion and deny Igbos. Any time we are getting to the Promised Land the likes of Anyim will step out and become Amalakites for Ndigbo.

“Why is he saying this kind of thing at this crucial and delicate moment when Ndigbo has come out to speak in one voice. Who is sponsoring him? I can tell you that Pius Anyim is being sponsored by the enemies of Ndiigbo, those that don’t want Igbos to produce President in 2023.

“What has he ever done to unite Ndiigbo. He has never visited Rivers State. Does he even know where Ndiigbo reside in Rivers State? Does he know where Igbos are in Delta state? Anyim should not cause problem for Ndiigbo”.

Also, former President Goodluck Jonathan’s kinsman and social commentator, Wisdom Ikuli, said it was the turn of the South-south to complete its tenure at the Presidency.

He said Jonathan was qualified to run and called on Igbos to be grateful to Jonathan for giving them a priority in appointments during his first term.

Ikuli said Igbos would not lose anything if Jonathan returned to Aso Rock in 2023.

Chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State yesterday said that Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde is not the leader of the party in the Southwest geo-political zone.

Also, former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose said leadership should be earned, adding that it is not a title.

The former governor also said former Ondo State Information Commissioner Dr. Eddy Olafeso should be the next PDP National Vice Chairman (West) as previously agreed in Makinde’s house at Ibadan, capital of Oyo State.

Fayose spoke in Lagos when key chieftains of the party paid a solidarity visit to him.

The delegation was led by Senator Nicholas Tofowomo, who represents Ondo South District in the National Assembly.

In the delegation were Olafeso, former House f Representatives member Lad Ojomo, former House of Assembly membe Niyi Ogunboye, Chief Ibini Oyedele, Chief Tunde Akindehin, Pastor Larry Ogunmusere, Ife Akinsoyinu, Sola Ebiwonjumi, Olusola AdewoAdeolu Akinseye and Ebenezer Alabi, who delivered Senator Ayo Kinyelure’s goodwill message.

Other party chieftains on the visit are Saka Lawal, Dr. Kunle Akindele, Idowu Ogunmade, Rasheed Elegbeleye, Olu Arowolo, Kehinde Adeboyejo, Benjamin Olumekun, Julianah Adegbayibi and former party chairman Ebenezer Alabi, who delivered a goodwill message from Senator Ayo Akinyelure.

Fayose noted that he had received delegations from four Southwest states, hailing the chieftains for not sitting on the fence.

He said: “It is dangerous to sit on the fence. I don’t play to the gallery.”

The former governor chided supporters of the Oyo governor for calling him an “APC man,” wondering why he was not labelled as such when he supported Makinde and mobilised for his victory in last year’s election.

Fayose described himself as a senior politician who was governor when Asiwaju Bola Tinubu was governor of Lagos State and the late Dr. Olusegun Agagu ruled Ondo State.

He said he had completed two terms before Makinde was elected, adding that he is not hungry politician.

Fayose said: “Tell the baby governor that the way up is the way down. Let Makinde pug feeding bottle in the mouth of his dogs. You are called a leader because you earned it, not your title.

“Can I be an APC man and be fighting Buhari? I was governor at 42. He is governor at 51. I don’t deserve an insult from Makinde.

“Governor Makinde is not my leader. He is my follower. Respect should beget respect. I have been a warrior. They thought I will be with EFCC now. But, I am surviving.

“If you from Ondo don’t support Olafeso again, I will stand by him. They went to Ondo to create division. They should promote inclusion. We agreed on Olafeso under the canopy in your house. Oyinlola was there. He is now reconciliation chairman. What are you reconciling?

“If you respect yourself, we will give you double respect. If you dont give respect, we will drag you on the floor.”

Senator Tofowomo described Fayose as a credible leader of the PDP in the zone, stressing that he is very accessible, a grassroots operator and a defender of fairness, equity and justice in the party in the last 17 years.

He lamented that certain party leaders in the region were bent on ‘rubbishing’ Ondo PDP, despite its contributions to the growth of the platform.

Tofowomo said: “Fayose’s intervention is to end the injustice. I thank you for supporting Eddy Olafeso for the national vice chairman. Wherever you go, Ondo PDP will follow you. Olafeso has what it takes to lead us in the Southwest. When we were in the university 40 years ago, I was one of the boys that carried his posters.”

Ojomo described Fayose as a great and faithful leader worthy of pride, adding that he is a fighter for justice.

He lamented that Ondo PDP was suffering from lack of effective leadership and unity of purpose.

In his view, those blocking the aspiration of Olafeso were festering their self-serving interests.

Ojomo stressed: “Fayose is fighting colonialism in Ondo PDP. We have an opportunity to get the national deputy chairman. Why are some people asking for national organising secretary or ex-officio member?”

Alabi said those against Fayose suffered from ignorance, pointing out that his detractors were jealous of him.

He said while Makinde contributed to the Ondo PDP electoral efforts last year, the chapter is indebted to Fayose for his consistent support for the chapter at all times.

Olafeso praised Fayose for his role in the growth of the party in the Southwest, recalling that he mobilised for the party during the Osun and Oyo governorship elections.

He said the former governor is a man of limitless energy and vociferous campaigner against injustice.

Noting that Fayose has led by example, Olafeso said 15 of 18 local government chairmen of the party in the Sunshine State were in support of Fayose.

He said Fayose is a hero of Southwest PDP who has supported fairness and equity in the party.

Olafeso lauded the former governor for supporting the pre-existing zoning and sharing formula for the distribution of party offices in the zone.

He said the group led by Fayose will win proposed zonal congress next month.

ON DECEMBER 20, 20202:21 PMIN NEWS

By Omeiza Ajayi

Governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC have assured of their determination to continue to support the President Muhammadu Buhari administration in stamping out insecurity, declaring that Nigeria must remain one indivisible and indissoluble sovereign nation under God.

Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum PGF and Governor of Yobe state, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku Bagudu stated this in a statement issued Sunday in Abuja.

The governors who also celebrated the rescue and return of hundreds of students abducted from the Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina State, said “their rescue, once more attests to the capacity and competence of Nigerian security agencies to protect, defend and secure the country”.

Part of the statement reads; “Given the important role of our security agencies and other non-governmental leaders in the process that rescued our Kankara school children, it demonstrates that efforts to resolve our national security problem is a responsibility that require united, resolute and prompt responses.

“We therefore appeal to all Nigerians to rise up to this responsibility and work for more effective and efficient responses to every security problem facing our dear nation as a united people.

“We call on our security agencies to reinforce their capacity to protect and defend lives and properties of all Nigerians in every part of the country. On our part, as Governors elected on the platform of the APC, we will continue to work under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR to bring to an immediate end this new phase of insecurity in the country.

“We will ensure that, as leaders, we are able to work in harmony with all governors, political and non-political leaders for the restoration of peace across all parts of the country, irrespective of any difference. Nigeria belongs to all Nigerians and must be secured as ‘one indivisible and indissoluble sovereign nation under God’ as affirmed by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic, as amended”.

Vanguard News Nigeria

December 19, 2020

It is no longer news that the bid of Senator Ibikunle Amosun, former governor of Ogun State to have his preferred candidate, Chief Derin Adebiyi, returned as the state chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) failed as the Governor Mai Mala Buni-led National Caretaker /Convention Committee declared Yemi Sanusi caretaker chairman for the next six month.

Amosun’s camp and that of Governor Dapo Abiodun have been in a fierce struggle for the control of the state APC. The two have been backing different claimants to the chairmanship of the ruling party. While Sanusi enjoys the support of Abiodun, Adebiyi has the backing of Amosun and his camp. Not only is Adebiyi in court challenging his removal from office, he had also been running a parallel executive committee loyal to the former governor.

Thus, when indications emerged penultimate week that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party may dissolve all organs of APC from ward to national level, the Amosun camp was agog with tales of how the Senator had sealed a deal that would return Adebiyi to office.

So widespread were the tales that the Abiodun/Sanusi camp was tense. So confident was the Amosun crowd that when incumbent state party chairmen were invited to Abuja to be sworn in as caretaker chairmen last week, Adebiyi wasted no time in registering his presence.

Sanusi, too, was present. At the end of the day, Adebiyi left the venue of the event hurriedly while Sanusi waited and was sworn in as the authentic helmsman of Ogun APC. He returned to Abeokuta during the week to swear in a 36-member caretaker exco.

While supporters and allies of the governor are all over the place rejoicing, the Amosun camp has quietly gone underground.

…elects officials

December 17, 2020

By Fanen Ihyongo, Kano

A mild drama played out on Thursday as a faction of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Kano state, led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aminu Wali, expelled former Kano Governor, Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, from the party for alleged “anti-party activities.”

The group also accused the former Defence Minister and 2019 PDP presidential aspirant (Kwankwaso) of “gross violation of constitutional orders of the PDP.”

The Wali faction announced the expulsion of Kwankwaso, leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, shortly after a Congress brought into place a new leadership of the faction.

For a long time, the Wali faction and Kwankwasiyya Movement had been in leadership tussle for the soul of the PDP in Kano.

The court recently held that the caretaker committee put in place by the Kwankwaso faction was the legitimate leadership of the PDP.

The ruling prompted the Kwankwasiyya group to elect party officials on Monday.

Shehu Wada Sagagi was elected chairman; Dankaka Hussaini Bebeji became deputy chairman while Jamilu Abubakar Dambatta emerged Secretary of the party.

Not satisfied with the High Court verdict, the Aminu Wali faction approached the Court of Appeal to upturn the ruling by the lower court.

Besides expelling Sen. Kwankwaso from PDP, the Wali faction also elected 39 new executives to pilot the affairs of the opposition party in Kano.

The new executives elected by the Wali factional PDP have Muhammina Bako Lamido as State chairman of the party while Garba Abdullahi Gezawa is Secretary.

Delegates from the 44 local government areas and 448 Wards of the state, making a total of 8,717 delegates, showed up for the congress which was held at the Kano Foundation House.

Newly elected chairman, Muhammina Bako Lamido, said they conducted fresh congress because, constitutionally the tenure of the old executives have expired.

He recalled that they had formed the ‘Interim Executives’ in 2018 when Kwankwaso joined the party, insisting that they remain the authentic leadership of the opposition party in Kano.

“Kwankwaso cannot lead or speak for our party because he lacks legal powers to do so. You can check whether his Movement has Wards, Local Governments and State Executives; they have been alone and alone, and they remain so.”

Commenting on the recent Court judgment that recognised Kwankwaso faction as the authentic party leadership, Lamido said they have appealed the Judgement, “and as such the status-quo remains until the determination of the upper Court.”

A former governor of Lagos State, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has succeeded in causing confusion among political pundits in Kano State with his recent impromptu visit to the city on December 4.

At the time of writing this piece, tongues were still wagging on the motive behind the visit. People who chose to attribute it to politics were out rightly warned by the Jagaban of APC even before he was airborne from Kano that his coming to Kano had no political undertone.

He told newsmen at the airport that he was in Kano to attend the wedding Fatiha of his friend’s daughter, Sheikh Bashir Omar, whom he held dearly. However, after he was accompanied by the Kano State governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, to the reception which held at Marhaba Events Center at Nassarawa GRA, he described the marriage solemnization as timely.

He said he personally developed a personal hubby of attending gatherings like that as a fulfilment of religious requirement and as a way of bridging the gap and building strong relationships between him and fellow Nigerian Muslims.

Tinubu made bold to say that he placed premium on the existence of Nigeria as one indivisible entity and would work towards maintaining its corporate survival at all costs.


He maintained that those praying for divisive tendencies must not be given a single chance to orchestrate their devilish motives, saying the country is far above any single individual or group.

He added; “Those insisting on breaking the country are small minded, true Nigerians must work hard to keep the unity of this country no matter what.”

Tinubu, who said the unity among Nigerians would put her detractors to shame, said the development and growth of the nation were of paramount importance to all. He hailed the father of the bride, Sheikh Bin-Uthman, for his efforts as a committed Islamic scholar and contributing his quota to the development of Nigeria in all spheres of life.


He said he was given little time but despite the short notice he decided to abandon his tight schedule to intimate Governor Abdullahi Ganduje that he was coming to Kano even if the governor was not going to be in town.

Tinubu emphasised that we must work hard for the unity and development of the country, because the dividers would not stop in trying to divide the country, but if there is unity, they would not achieve their goals.

“The unity of the country is one of the cardinal areas that should be accorded more priority at all times,” he said.

But Tinubu’s encounter with some clerics later turned the visit to appear political as they gathered to openly back his presidential ambition when he met them in the house of Sheikh Abdulwwahab Abdallah, the leader of Ah’lusunnah Wajamma”a in the state during a private.

The ulamas and some juma’at mosque imams out rightly supported the idea that if Tinubu comes out to contest they would support him as that would be a pay-back time considering what he did for them when Buhari was at the peak of his presidential campaign.

Sheikh Abdulwwahab Abdallah said; “We collectively put pressure on Tinubu to support Buhari no matter what and since he had done that for us we have no reason to turn our backs against his presidential ambition.”

On his part, Sheikh Abdulgafar, who represented the Kadiriyya Movement at the meeting, said he agreed with the idea of paying Tinubu back whenever he decides to contest the presidential election as a way of paying him for what he did for them when Buhari needed their support.

He said politics is about give and take, hence the group had no alternative than to back him to achieve his aim of developing Nigeria.

He said it was time to pay him back for what he did for Muhammadu Buhari in 2015, whom they said had tried severally to clinch the presidency but failed until Tinubu joined forces with him.

The visit thus turned into something beyond marriage solemnisation to real politicking, leaving many confused.

Immediately after the ceremony, Tinubu proceeded to the Alfurqan Jumma’at Mosque where he met with the chief imam, Dr Bashir Omar. He also met with Dr Ahmad Datti whom he described as an old friend and ally.

His meeting with Dr Ahmad did not last more than 10 minutes before he proceeded to Sharada Phase 2, where he met with the congregation of all the imams and the ulamas representing Tijjaniyya, Qadiriyya and Izala sects and above all council of ulamas under the leadership of Sheikh Ibrahim Khalil.

Speaking to Tinubu, Sheik Shehu Shehu Maihula said: “It is indeed on record and in our minds what you did for President Muhammadu Buhari in 2014, this is somebody who tried all he could to clinch the presidential seat but failed severally not until you joined forces with him he was able to emerge victorious.”

Shehu Maihula of the Tijjaniyya sect added: “You, Bola Tinubu, brought Buhari the Muslim and Christian South to mend fences with the North for him to achieve his long time ambition. That’s why we are determined to pay you back this time around.”

With the visit, Tinubu has laid a solid foundation for himself and when the time comes he will be expected to reap from what he has sown.

nothingspoil70:
There was something like this somewhere in Kaduna founded by one guy and his oyibo wife; last year, when Boko boys aka bandits visited them, apart from a lot of visitors who lost their lives, the oyibo woman did not live to tell the story. If you love your life, stay away from such places in the north for now

AbijaJ:
They will show the woman Pepper. She probably doesn't trust them hence her voicing out. They might end up not giving her anything out of the settlement sef. The family fit no even send the deceased while he was alive.