₦airaland Forum

johnie:
I don't know why, but the charater, Asterix comes to my mind whenever I see the Croatian football player Luka Modric.

I learnt the German words, Achtung, Blitzkrieg, Schnell and others from the WW2 war comics. Also about D-Day.

Uncanny Tales and Strange Tales had very strange themes. I still think about some of their stories and just wonder.

There was an edition in which the main character was a smooth talking man who could talk his way out of any tight situation he found himself.

He got into trouble quite often and when charged to court would prove his case eloqeuently.

Eventually he died and along with others appread before a throne to be judged. Turned out that in that realm, people dont speak!

The following are characters from British comics (I can’t remember the names of the publications):
Hotshot Hamish
Mighty Mouse
Billy (of Billy's boots)
Denis the Menace

There were a few VERY good Nigerian comics as well. Unfortunately, I can't remember their names right now.

Hotshot Hamish! That was the other football comic. I think it became part of Roy of the Rovers at one point.

There are many of these comics that I remember, but can't remember them very well.

Pootle:
they do. when he was alive he told them not to, even cars or property gifted to him he turned it down or never used them, he also avoided functions both political or social

Remember that he didn't use official cars, both when he was governor and minister. He used his private car, a Toyota Crown (or was it Cressida?) and he lived in his personal house at Ilupeju.

THE GREAT JAKANDE SCHOOL DEBATE

This is my November 5th, 2014 post. The Tolu School Complex is one of the "Jakande Schools".

Lagos State has always been blessed with very good governors. In my view, the best are:

Mobolaji Johnson (Itoikin Bridge, planning the Ring Road system [including Eko and 3rd Mainland bridges], Badagry Expressway, etc)

Lateef Jakande (LTV, Lekki Expressway, Lasu, Low Cost Housing Estates, etc)

Raji Rasaki (Adiyan Waterworks, completion of 3rd Mainland Bridge [Babangida ordered his secretary not to allow Rasaki into his office again, because Rasaki was always disturbing him about the 3rd Mainland Bridge], Lagos Horizon Newspaper, Opebi-Oregun Link Bridge, etc)

Mohammed Buba Marwa - Eko FM, LASUTH, Direct Labour Agency [which patched the roads that were left in a state of disrepair by Mr. No Bitumen ], Marwa Gardens, Eko FM, Operation Sweep


Bola Tinubu (Lasambus, BRT, Kai, Office of The Public Defender, Lagos Emergency Points, Millenium Schools, Lasuth, LASTMA, reconstruction of roads that were left in a state of disrepair by Mr. No Bitumen and patched by Governor Marwa, etc).

Raji Fashola (Okota-Itire Link Bridge, Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge, Lasu-Iba Road, Lasmi Cabs, Traffic Radio, LRT, Lagos HOMS, expension and modernisation of the Lekki Expressway, Lagos State Security Trust Fund, etc)


Governors Otedola, Akhigbe (Ikeja flyovers), Mudashiru (rehabilitation of Jakande schools), Kanu, Lawal and Ukiwe also did well. I won't rate them as the best, but I'll say they did very well.

The lone exception is Colonel Olagunsoye Oyinlola (Mr. No Bitumen) who did absolutely nothing. He sat and watched as Lagos roads became filled with ginormous craters, hills and valleys. Awolowo Road was an eyesore at this time.

However, if you tell some people that Governor Johnson did a lot, they will direct your attention to Eko Court and the armed robbery edict. If you tell them that Governor Rasaki was an action governor, they will remind you of Maroko and Ilado. If you tell them that Marwa was very popular, they will tell you that he served Abacha, that Operation Sweep killed many innocent people and they will ask you where he got the money with which he started his airline (some will even tell you that he was one of the people that delivered the parcel bomb to Dele Giwa's house and they will also remind you about Bagauda Kaltho's death). If you tell them that Tinubu transformed Lagos from the huge refuse dumps and bad roads of the 1990s to a clean place with smooth roads, they will tell you that Tinubu owns the whole of Lagos. If you tell them that Fashola brought back sanity to Oshodi and continued the progress started by Tinubu, they will tell you that Fashola is elitist.

But the argument that I find most fascinating and which was revived upper Sunday, is the debate about the tenure of Lateef Kayode Jakande (LKJ).

I believe that Baba Kekere is one of the best governors that Lagos has ever had (you'll see why in a minute), but I also acknowledge his flaws. However, it's very difficult for most people to assess him objectively. They either love him dearly or hate him passionately.


LKJ implemented the progressive/welfarist manifesto of the UPN to the letter. The LSTC was still running at the time that Jakande was governor and he converted some of the LSTC buses (including some of the air conditioned buses) into Scholars Bus, buses that were specifically designated to convey primary and secondary school children to and from school for free.

He utilised the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC) to build low cost houses/flats, which low and medium income people could buy via a mortgage scheme (they paid back in instalments over a 10-25 year period).

Jakande endeared himself to the people by using his private car, a Toyota Crown (or was it a Cressida?) as his official car, rather than one of the long wheel base mercedes limousines that were common at the time. (He used that same car as his official car when he became Minister of Works in the Abacha Government, but his motorcade looked funny to me because the official Peugoet 505 Evolution that was meant to be his official car was often driven behind the Toyota).

Governor Jakande revived the Lagos Metroline plan which had been abandoned by the previous military government. The system had been originally planned by United Nations experts that were advising the Federal Government in the 1960s, but successive governments were not serious about it. Governor Jakande was very serious about it and the right of way had already been demarcated by the time he was removed from office.

He established the Lagos Television (LTV), the only state tv station (the previous state and regional tv stations had been taken over by the Federal Military Government in the mid-1970s). The NPN controlled Federal Government quickly established a youth oriented tv station on the exact same frequency (NTA2 Channel 5) and LTV was eventually forced to move to Channel 8 (it was forced to move again in the 1990s, when the Federal Government reserved the VHF frequency band for only Federal Government owned stations. It eventually settled on Channel 35).

He also established Lasu, a multi-campus university that was modelled after the University of California multi-campus system.

But, the most controversial policy of the government (and the policy that was the subject of Sunday's debate) was the education policy.

The Federal Military Government had taken over private primary and secondary schools in the 1970s. Part of the reason for the take over was the fear that most of these schools were, in one way or another, controlled by foreign organisations and people, such as foreign missionaries and that it was dangerous to leave the education of Nigerian children in the hands of foreigners. These primary and secondary schools were handed over to the states by the Federal Government (the Federal Military Government also took over regional/state owned universities and still owns and manages those universities today).

Governor Jakande decided that every child must attend school, that they (and their parents) must spend little or nothing to get an education and that this must be done on budget (that is, the government must also not overspend in order to achieve this). So the government created numerous schools (I don't think any government in the history of Lagos has created as many schools as Jakande did).

The scholars buses ferried children to and from school free of charge and the government also reached agreements with publishers to supply books to the schools at no cost to the students.

I took some of those books from one of those students at that time and below are pictures of one of those books.

www.nairaland.com/attachments/10485552_101209415112779724628382974985295233809545n_jpegf25c7149db0ded952da615210e0b0c92

www.nairaland.com/attachments/10485553_1054885415112786091294413277182517401698560o_jpeg9a86eea7fd3015de841be594b17c80e7

You can see that it has the Seal of the Lagos State Government on it. This notice is stamped on some of the pages of the book - "Property of the Lagos State Government. Not for sale" (the notice on the pages of another book reads - "Property of the Lagos State Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Not for sale" ). The name of the particular school was also stamped on the books and it was a huge offence to sell those books.

One of my favourite parts of the policy and one that was hated by many students, is the part that was known as Center. Basically, students from schools in a particular area or neighbourhood would congregate at a centre in which they would be taught woodwork, home economics and other hands on subjects.

So, how can anyone have a problem with this policy?

1) Multiple schools: - Remember that most of these schools were seized from their original owners, most of whom were european missionaries. The missionaries believed in total, all-round education. They believed that it was important to educate the mind, body and soul. So most of those schools had large football fields, cricket pitches, basketball and tennis courts, chapels and mosques and even swimming pools. They also had farms for agricultural science and facilities for music, arts and drama.

Jakande was determined to get as many people as possible into school, so he built new classroom blocks on those sports facilities. Several schools were built in the same compound. You had "Government College, School 1", "Government College, School 2", "Government College, School 3" (sounds like a nollywood movie, doesn't it?) and so on and so forth. Many of the schools (classroom blocks) were built so close to each other that they were poorly ventilated. If you go round Lagos, you'd see a lot of these schools that were established between 1980 and 1982.

Someone complained, "What kind of schools were those? They had no laboratories, no sports facilities, no libraries, just blocks of badly built classrooms".

The original owners and ex-students of these schools were also very upset that their school compounds were being broken up in this manner (a visit to Igbobi College or Maryland Comprehensive Secondary School will give you an idea of what happened. The Aunty Ayo School system was divided into 3 schools!).

2) The buildings: - The quality of the new buildings was also another source of concern. I watched a documentary on Jakande's birthday, in which the project coordinator explained what happened. Jakande told her that he wanted X number of classrooms built at Y amount. She went, did her study and came back and told him that it was impossible. He replied that he had faith in her and he knew that she could do it and restated that he wanted X number of classrooms built at Y amount. That she should find out where she can make savings. So she went back and made some adjustments. Rather than using glass window panes, they used wood. They made other similar adjustments and were able to build X number of schools for Y amount.

This was one of the things that infuriated people the most. One of my friends on Sunday complained that, "I can never like that guy. I don't know why people are trying to whitewash and launder his image. That guy built chicken sheds in my school and called them classrooms!"

Many of those classroom blocks were very basic. Some had no coat of paint, some had wooden windows, no fans, no electricity, etc.

Governor Mudashiru, who took over from Jakande, had to spend a lot of money to upgrade some of the classroom blocks.

3) Interview: - Like I said earlier, the missionairies and the colonial government believed in total education. They believed that they should not only educate the mind, but that they should also develop the body, social skills, behaviour and spiritual needs of the child. So there were sports activities, plays, musical performances, etc.

Thus, prospective students were interviewed and investigated to determine their suitability, not only academically (which would have been determined by the entrance examinations), but also in terms of character.

Jakande's policy dictated that school districts were divided into catchment areas. Principals of secondary schools had to accept students from specified primary schools in their catchment areas (so long as the student passed the G2 primary school leaving certificate exam [one of the easiest exams you could ever take). It was also very difficult for the principals to expel these students, except the student failed promotion exams twice.

The result was that many unruly students were admitted into these schools. Discipline broke down. It became quite normal to read stories in the newspapers about students beating up teachers and even principals. This was also one of the reasons why the old Principals Cup Competition was suspended. Extreme violence often accompanied these football matches. Secondary school students went to school and football matches with axes (known as UTC), cutlasses and other dangerous weapons.

4) Carrying capacity: - The policy led to a dramatic increase in school enrollment and this put a huge strain on facilities (despite the rapid increase in schools and classrooms). Most schools, pre-1979, had a student-class ratio of 25 or 30 students per class. This changed during the Jakande era and it was not unusual to see classrooms with 60 to 100 students.

5) Shift system and boarding facilities: - Jakande's aim was to provide education to as many people as possible, so it was very strange that he abolished the shift system.

Pre-1979, people who were unable to get an education when they were younger and those who could not make it into the regular morning session because of space constraints, could enroll in the evening school system. Most schools had both a morning and an evening session (usually using the same school buildings, but sometimes using separate buildings). Jakande abolished that system and the morning session became the only session. For example, the facilities that were used for St Gregory's College's evening session became the Government College Victoria Island (GoCoVi). The shift system was initially created by the civillian and military governments of the 1960s, when the launched "universal education" policies. The facilities overstretched the existing facilities, so they had to introduce a shift system.

Jakande also abolished the boarding school system. The government planned to demolish the hostels and build classroom blocks where the hostels previously stood.



Now, certain families have a tradition of attending the legacy schools in Lagos. The legacy schools include:

CMS Grammar School, Methodist Boys High School, Methodist Girls High School, Anwar-Ul Islam Model College (formerly Ahmadiyya College and before that, it was known as Saka Tinubu), Anwar-Ul Islam Girls High School (formerly Ahmadiyya Girls College), St Gregory's College, Holy Child College, Baptist Academy, Kings College, Queens College, St Finbarr's College, Our Lady Of Apostles Secondary School, Maryland Comprehensive Secondary School, Aunty Ayo International School, etc. (All of these schools, except Kings and Queens College, were taken over by the State Government. Aunty Ayo was divided into 3 and 2 of the schools were taken over by the State, while one remained private).

I know a family which has had at least one member in a particular school every decade since the 1920s. I know another family in which the tradition is so strong that the children are brought back to Lagos, from wherever they are in the world, to attend a particular school (or its sister school). These families were very angry at the way that Jakande was "destroying" "their" schools. The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Anthony Okogie, launched scathing attacks against Jakande in the newspapers. He also instituted several lawsuits against the Lagos State Government. The families made several attempts to stop the LASG's attempt to "destroy" their schools. The Old Boys of Igbobi College stopped funding the school at a point, because they were depressed by what was happening to it.

It became an insult to be referred to as a Jakande boy or Jakande girl (they were synonymous with the word "thug" ) or for someone to say that you attended a Jakande school.


However, like my other friend would point out, this policy enabled many people who would probably have been uneducated and a problem to society, to get an education, get a job, feed their family/be independent and contribute to Nigeria's development. Cricket pitches, football fields, etc are a small price to pay in exchange for that.

Once upon a time, when I was a kid, there weren't enough primary and secondary schools in Lagos. Students had to attend school in shifts. Some students went to school in the morning while others went to school in the evening (so that the authorities could use the same classrooms for many different students).

Governor Lateef Jakande was determined to change this situation. He built schools and classrooms in every available space. This brought him into conflict with a lot of people that claimed that he took their land and built schools on them.

The Tolu School Complex in Ajegunle was one of the many complexes that contained many schools that Jakande built.

There'll be more about the debate about Jakande'a policy in the next post.

The Tolu School Complex fell into disrepair over the years. Area boys congregated in the area, the buildings were not maintained and the facilities were not upgraded.

The photo below (of the Tolu School Complex) is from my 2023 thread.

Church Boy P @ChurchBoyPee

Has been there with about the same number of schools since at least the 80s. Ojoku, Temidire, Express, Olodi, Reservation, to mention a few. Very sad remembering the number of kids that died there (late 80s to mid 90s) as a result of inter-school violence. Olodi Apapa my hood.

https://x.com/i/status/2041505158194950600

Church Boy P @ChurchBoyPee

Really? That's your take? Even after I still praised Lagos govt for reviving the schools? Tolu school complex had multiple people dying almost every Friday at least from 1987 till around 1996 when Marwa became governor and shut down that school complex for a full year+.

https://x.com/i/status/2041550721150067060

Kalu Aja @FinPlanKaluAja1

wowed and impressed.

"Tolu Schools Complex is the biggest school Complex in Nigeria! It has 36 schools, 16 Junior, 15 senior, and 5 primary schools inside an 11.73 hectares of land in Ajegunle Lagos."

https://x.com/i/status/2041462573145735606

Tolu is the name of a community in the Ajegunle area of Lagos.

Before the upgrade, many of the buildings were in poor condition. Today, the entire complex has been rebuilt and expanded, marking its most significant transformation since it was established over 40 years ago.

New classroom blocks have been added to reduce overcrowding. The facilities now include a football pitch, sports courts, a health centre, a fire station, and essential services like solar power and improved water systems.

There is also a clear focus on inclusion. Dedicated buildings for students with disabilities have been introduced, along with lifts to make movement easier within the complex. A vocational centre is now in place, offering training in practical skills such as tailoring, plumbing, and masonry.

With an ICT hub and a central laboratory, students are better positioned to engage with science and technology in a more hands-on way.

Overall, the project creates a more supportive and functional learning environment for a densely populated community.

Focusing on the first E in our THEMES+ agenda, which is Education and Technology, the Tolu Schools Complex in Ajegunle sits on nearly 12 hectares and serves about 20,000 students across 36 schools, both primary and secondary.

Before the upgrade, many of the buildings were in… https://t.co/S0ChlCL0Hk pic.twitter.com/qxHMbRFLIZ

— Babajide Sanwo-Olu (@jidesanwoolu) April 6, 2026

Previous threads

Peter Obi Would Solve Insecurity In One Week - Morris Monye
https://www.nairaland.com/8452377/peter-obi-solve-insecurity-one

"Obi Or Nothing’ Not Helpful, ADC Warns Supporters Against Divisive Politics
https://www.nairaland.com/8605753/obi-nothing-not-helpful-adc

Calling Obidients Divisive Shows Fear Of Accountability - Obidient Movement 
https://www.nairaland.com/8606989/calling-obidients-divisive-shows-fear


I Am Running For President, Not Vice President - Peter Obi
https://www.nairaland.com/8589291/running-president-not-vice-president


2027: I Will Step Down For No One - Atiku
https://www.nairaland.com/8594266/2027-step-down-no-one


Atiku Has Already Stepped Down For Peter Obi - Blessing Chimezie Ezeokoli
https://www.nairaland.com/8590403/atiku-already-stepped-down-peter

We Negotiated For Peter Obi Presidency In ADC, Nothing Less - Oseloka Obaze
https://www.nairaland.com/8591940/negotiated-peter-obi-presidency-adc

My Candid Advice To ADC: Avoid Another Wike Scenario - Dele Momodu
https://www.nairaland.com/8594088/candid-advice-adc-avoid-another


Peter Obi Presidency A Joint Project Of All Nigerians - Yunusa Tanko
https://www.nairaland.com/8592556/peter-obi-presidency-joint-project

Demola Olarewaju Analyses What Will Happen In The ADC
https://www.nairaland.com/8590616/demola-olarewaju-analyses-what-happen

'If Obi Becomes Running Mate To Anyone, I Will Work Against That Ticket' - Aisha
https://www.nairaland.com/8466673/obi-becomes-running-mate-anyone

I’ll Withdraw Support If Peter Obi Runs As VP In 2027 – Pat Utomi
https://www.nairaland.com/8591335/ill-withdraw-support-peter-obi

We Won't Take It Lightly If Peter Obi Doesn't Get ADC Ticket - Mama Pee
https://www.nairaland.com/8594480/wont-take-it-lightly-peter

Anyone Who Insults Obi Or Atiku Do Not Mean Well For Nigeria - Atiku's Team
https://www.nairaland.com/8602988/anyone-insults-obi-atiku-not

Atiku Head And Shoulders Above All ADC Candidates - Baba-Ahmed
https://www.nairaland.com/8604187/atiku-head-shoulders-above-all


2027: I’ll Run As Presidential Candidate – Peter Obi Rejects VP Role
https://www.nairaland.com/8611107/2027-ill-run-presidential-candidate

Peter Obi Isn't A Primary Candidate, He's A General Election Contender - Tanko
https://www.nairaland.com/8612504/peter-obi-isnt-primary-candidate

I Have Not Stepped Down Or Retired From Politics - Atiku Abubakar
https://www.nairaland.com/8644455/not-stepped-down-retired-politics

Activist Aisha Yesufu has said she would strongly oppose Peter Obi if he becomes president and decides to serve beyond a single term.

Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Monday, Yesufu emphasised that Obi must honour his repeated promise to serve only one term if elected.

“If Mr. Peter Obi gets into office and decides to do more than one term, I, Aisha Yesufu, said it here, I will oppose him with everything in me because he gave his word, and if he has given his word, he has to stick to his word,” she said.

She noted that Obi’s position on a single-term presidency predates the 2023 general election, stressing that she had personally engaged him on the matter.

“And by the way, he didn’t start saying it after the 2023 election. He was saying it before the 2023 election,” she said.

Recounting her interaction with the former Anambra governor, Yesufu disclosed that she had initially questioned the feasibility of the pledge but later sought a direct reaffirmation from him after the election.

“After the 2023 election, when he repeated it, I sat down with Mr. Peter Obi, and I said to him, I need your word on this… Is it true? You’re going to do just one term,” she said.

According to her, Obi reaffirmed his commitment during the discussion.

“He said, Aisha, I told you even in 2023, and I still mean it, because I said I’m going out and I’m telling people, this is what you have said, and I’m putting my name on it. I don’t joke with my name. I don’t joke with my integrity when I say something, I mean it,” she added.

Yesufu maintained that any attempt by Obi to renege on the promise would be resisted.

“He said he gave his word. He can’t come back and say that he’s going to do more than one term. We will fight him there,” she said.

She, however, expressed confidence that Obi would remain true to his commitment, describing him as “a man who keeps his word.”

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2026/04/aisha-yesufu-vows-to-oppose-peter-obi-if-he-exceeds-one-term-promise/

Photo: Peter Obi, Aisha Yesufu and Yunusa Tanko

Lagos Junction @LagosJunction

Lagos State Government deploys 500 additional LASTMA officers ahead of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s project commissioning, to ease traffic congestion.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is in Lagos for the commissioning of key projects, beginning in Ikeja on Wednesday, April 8 2026, and continuing on Thursday, April 9, with additional project commissioning in Ajegunle.

These activities are expected to cause traffic diversions and possible gridlock across affected areas, as movement will be restricted along major routes during the commissioning.

To manage the situation, 500 additional personnel of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) will be deployed to major roads and critical corridors to ensure smoother traffic flow throughout the period.

Residents are urged to cooperate with relevant authorities and comply with traffic advisories and security guidelines that will be issued ahead of the exercise.

Alternative routes will be announced in due course.

https://x.com/i/status/2041414934026727782

Lagos Junction @LagosJunction

Temporary road closures across Opebi–Allen (Ikeja) and Ojota on Wednesday, 8th April 2026, and Olodi Apapa, Ajegunle, Eko Hotel axis, and Victoria Island on Thursday, 9th April 2026, as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu moves around Lagos to commission key projects.

Temporary road closures have been announced by the Lagos State Government for April 8 and 9, 2026, to allow for the commissioning of key infrastructure projects across the state.

On Wednesday, April 8, traffic will be affected around Opebi–Allen (Ikeja) and Ojota during the commissioning of the Opebi-Mende Link Bridge between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.

On Thursday, April 9, closures will impact Olodi Apapa and Ajegunle areas between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. for the commissioning of Tolu Schools Complex, while traffic around Eko Hotel and Victoria Island will be affected later in the day from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Motorists are advised to plan ahead, use alternative routes, and cooperate with traffic officials as measures are in place to manage traffic and reduce delays.

https://x.com/i/status/2041574975224627625

SHURLAR @Shurlar_09

PLAN YOUR MOVEMENT

President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR is set to commission a number of Key Infrastructural Projects executed by the Lagos State Government on his Two-day visit to Lagos State on Wednesday 8th April 2026 and Thursday 9th April 2026.

The Projects are:

WEDNESDAY
The iconic Opebi-Mende-Ojota Link bridge

Lagos State Geographic Information Service (LAGIS) Building, Alausa

The Lagos State Multi-Agency Complex, Alausa

The mid level Agro food Hub, Abijo, Ibeju Lekki, Lekki-Epe Expressway.

THURSDAY
The Regeneration and full Upgrade of the Tolu Schools Complex, Ajegunle

Maracana Stadium, Ajegunle (consisting of 19 mini football pitches)

Whatever your plans within and around opebi to alausa on Wednesday and around Ajegunle/Apapa axis on Thursday should be rescheduled to avoid traffic delays.

#Eko oni baje oooo

https://x.com/i/status/2041487187124822104

Oliwaseun Osiyemi is the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation.

Oluwaseun Osiyemi @seunosiyemi_

LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT
 
MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION
 
TRAVEL ADVISORY – PARTIAL
LASG ALERTS MOTORISTS OF ROAD CLOSURES FOR COMMISSIONING EVENTS ON 8TH AND 9TH APRIL, 2026

https://x.com/i/status/2041498010664808874

Background

Salihu Tanko Yakasai (Peacock @dawisu) was the special adviser on new media to Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano. Like his father Tanko Yakasai (who was Shagari's presidential liaison to the National Assembly), he is very outspoken. He doesn't hesitate to speak his mind. This has often gotten him into trouble (just like his father often got into trouble).


He annoyed some Kanawa because he defended his boss, Abdullahi Ganduje during the dollargate scandal.

He also annoyed some Kanawa because of his criticism and mocking of the former Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, when the Emir had problems with Governor Ganduje.


He was suspended from office in October 2020 for criticising President Buhari over the End SARS protest.
Governor Ganduje Suspends Salihu Yakasai For Criticising Buhari Over #EndSARS

He was reinstated a few weeks later.

However, he was sacked in February 2021 and detained by the DSS for criticising President Buhari again and asking him to resign after some school children were kidnapped by bandits.
Ganduje Sacks Salihu Tanko Yakasai Over "Unguarded Comments"

Salihu Tanko-Yakasai: SSS Confirms The Arrest and Detention Of Ganduje's Ex-Aide

"Asking Buhari To Resign Is Not An Offence, Release Tanko-Yakasai" – Falana

His father said that his son was just beginning his journey and he stated that he was arrested 10 times. Salihu Tanko Yakasai then joked that he had 9 more arrests to go.

Some activists complained when he was listed as a speaker at the Soro Soke Summit in 2021
"Activists" Complain As Dawisu Is Listed As A Speaker At 'Soro Soke' Summit


Salihu Tanko Yakasai resigned from the APC on March 21, 2022.
Salihu Tanko Yakasai Dumps APC.

He once again called for President Buhari's resignation on March 29th, 2022 after an attack on a train on the Kaduna-Abuja Line.
Salihu Tanko Yakasai Calls For President Buhari To Resign

In May 2022 he declared his intention to run for the governorship of Kano on the platform of the PRP.
Salihu Tanko Yakasai (Dawisu) Declares Intention To Run For Governor Of Kano

Politics Without Bitterness As Ganduje And Dawisu's Convoys Greet Each Other.

And in August 2023 he returned to the APC. He said that the national chairman of the APC, Dr Ganduje, had invited him back to the APC to consolidate on the gains that he has made.

Salihu 'Dawisu' Tanko Yakasai Returns To APC In Kano

However, in recent months, especially after Ganduje was removed as APC chairman, he has become a big critic of the Bola Tinubu Administration. He claims that the Tinubu Administration only favours southerners and that the north should kick it out of office

South-West FEC Meeting: Salihu Yakasai Criticises Lopsided Projects Distribution


Jungle Justice: The Hypocrisy Of The Southern Nigerians By Salihu Tanko Yakasai


Appointments: Kogi and Kwara are Not Part Of The North - Yakassai

He even had a massive exchange with Bashir Ahmad (the former spokesman of President Buhari). He was questioning why Bashir supports a southern government and stating that President Tinubu only caters to the south and that he will lose the north.

(He often criticised President Buhari for not finishing his projects in the north. He said that a southern president would abandon the projects)

Salihu Tanko Yakasai Defects To ADC


Salihu Tanko Yakasai Visits Atiku Abubakar

By Peacock @Dawisu

How Tinubu Won and Lost the North

By Salihu Tanko Yakasai

The story of the 2023 presidential election cannot be told without the North. It was central to the emergence of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, not just in votes, but in trust, alliances, and calculated political risk taken by influential Northern actors at critical moments.

Before the primaries, Tinubu’s network in the North was deep and deliberate. He had strong ties with figures like Aliyu Wamakko and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, alongside key APC governors such as Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Nasir El-Rufai, and former Governor Abubakar Badaru. These were not ceremonial relationships - they translated into real political leverage.

At a time when resistance within the ruling party threatened his ambition, these Northern allies stood firm. They backed him through the primaries, even when it meant confronting entrenched interests, or the so-called cabal within the Presidential Villa. Northern governors went as far as meeting late President Muhammadu Buhari to demand clarity on succession. His neutral stance opened the door, and they walked Tinubu through it.

Then came the election season. Policies like the naira redesign, widely seen as an attempt to weaken Tinubu’s chances, were openly resisted by some of these same allies. Their support was not passive - it was active, visible, and costly.

Beyond politics, Tinubu also secured the backing of influential Muslim scholars. The Muslim-Muslim ticket became a rallying point. Clerics framed it as a matter of religious duty and mobilized support, even from the mimbar during Friday prayers.

By the time the votes were counted, the numbers told the story. Tinubu, a Southern candidate, drew the bulk of his strength from the North - 63%, compared to 36% from the South. The North invested in him, and delivered.

But what followed has been a different story.

There is now a growing sense among many of those same Northern allies that the relationship has not translated into inclusive governance. Complaints of exclusion and lack of consultation are widespread. Key figures who helped deliver victory now appear sidelined.

Nasir El-Rufai’s exclusion from the cabinet raised immediate questions. Abdullahi Ganduje was also passed over for executive office, later given the party chairmanship - a role many saw as compensation rather than strategy, and one he eventually exited. Developments involving Abubakar Malami have only deepened perceptions of political distancing and quiet retribution.

Even within government, there are signs of strain. Ministries are underfunded, with allocations falling far below approved budgets. The Minister of Health publicly stated he received just N38 million for capital projects out of a N200 billion proposal. Behind the scenes, some ministers are reportedly funding their roles from personal resources, while others appear better supported. It raises a simple question - what exactly are the priorities?

Religious backing is also shifting. Clerics who once campaigned vigorously are now more critical, especially on issues of trust and fairness. Concerns around INEC and the appointment of a perceived biased umpire have only heightened tensions, with some openly threatening to withdraw support.

A related dimension that is quietly reshaping sentiment in the North is the growing push of what many describe as a “Christian genocide” narrative. While insecurity remains a national crisis, there is increasing resentment in core Northern states where communities have borne some of the heaviest losses over the years. From banditry to insurgency, large swathes of the North have experienced sustained violence affecting predominantly Muslim populations. This has led to a perception that the framing of the crisis is selective and, at times, politically motivated. For many, it raises deeper questions about fairness in national discourse and reinforces a feeling of being misunderstood or deliberately misrepresented

In a region where perception and identity are tightly linked to political behavior, this narrative is gradually eroding goodwill and complicating the president’s standing among groups that once offered him strong support.

Beyond perception, the broader handling of insecurity has also come under serious scrutiny. Expectations were high that a government built on such a strong coalition would move decisively to restore order. Instead, many communities across the North continue to face persistent threats from banditry, kidnappings, and insurgent activity. The response has often appeared reactive rather than strategic, with limited coordination and little visible improvement in outcomes. For a region that invested heavily in Tinubu’s emergence, the inability to significantly curb insecurity has become one of the most tangible measures of disappointment.

On infrastructure, the contrast is hard to ignore. Many in the North point to slow progress on inherited projects and the absence of major new ones, while the South West, particularly Lagos, has seen approvals running into trillions. Apapa and Tin Can ports alone have attracted multiple funding rounds worth N4.5 trillion. Whether fully accurate or not, the perception of imbalance is taking root - and in politics, perception matters.

Appointments have further fueled this narrative. Critics argue that key positions are concentrated within a narrow circle, with many of the most strategic roles going to individuals from the president’s ethnic base. Even when appointees are drawn from Northern states like Kogi and Kwara, the pattern raises questions about whether geography is being used to mask preference.

Taken together, the message is clear. The North that mobilized, negotiated, and delivered is now reassessing its place.

So the real question is no longer how Tinubu won the North, but whether he is steadily losing it. Beyond those who have publicly distanced themselves, many others remain outwardly loyal while privately disillusioned.

In politics, winning is only the beginning. Coalitions must be managed, not assumed. In 2023, the North made Tinubu’s victory possible. As the next cycle approaches, whether that support holds - or collapses - will depend on whether those alliances are rebuilt or allowed to fade.

End!

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More photos of Prime People and Vintage People.