Author Archives: News All Around

Writer,Blogger,Historian, Journalist

Aliero: Licensed To Loot Again

By Ibrahim Dangana

Senator Muhammad Adamu Aliero, the former two-term governor of Kebbi State and three times senator representing the Central Senatorial District of the State recently won a pyrrhic victory when a split decision of the Supreme Court granted him the PDP’S ticket to contest for the fourth term.However, his return to the Red Chamber via votes remains even more uncertain than ever. He has been in the eye of the storm after allegations emerged that he serially cornered and diverted at least three gigantic constituency projects worth more than one billion Naira.The Senator representing the Central Senatorial District of the State now in his third term in the upper chamber of the National Assembly was alleged to have used his clout to corner the direly needed developments meant for the District to his farm and that of his crony.According to the list of approved Constituency Projects in the 2017 Appropriation Act executed by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, the projects include the construction of Feeder Road which was awarded to Aliero’s Great Northern International Company (GNIC) at Gante for evacuation of agricultural products from farmlands to towns and cities in Kebbi Central Senatorial District worth N200,000,000.Another project cornered by Senator Aliero was the supply and installation of Central Pivot Irrigation Pumps with sprinklers also in Gante village of Kebbi Central Senatorial District worth #264,000,000.The angst of people in Aliero’s Senatorial District is that Gante village is under Lafagu/Gante ward of Kaoje District in Bagudu Local Government Area of Kebbi State. Aliero’s Labana Farm at Gante is under Kebbi North Senatorial district of Senator Yahaya Abdullahi, the incumbent Senate Majority Leader.The questions on the minds of everybody in the Kebbi Central Senatorial District is how much will be enough to satisfy the Senator and his callous cohorts and when will the dividends of democracy begin to trickle down to the people for whom the projects were meant and who really need them?With the 2023 General Elections just around the corner, the hapless electorate are poised to show Senator Muhammad Aliero the way out. And unless he makes restitution, their next move may be to legally confiscate what rightly belongs to them. Only time will tell. He has been switching from one party to the other. For example, he re-decamped to PDP after spending about a year in CPC in early 2012.. He later moved from PDP to APC in 2014. He and some of his close associates since 1999, like Sani Zauro, who was also former State Chairman of defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) Board of Trustees (BoT) in Kebbi State also quit PDP for APC.Aliero’s futile political peregrinations may best be described by the Hausa adage: ‘shure-shure ba sa hana mutuwa.’ Desperate movements cannot stop death. It is not the court judgement that is important but the counted votes of the people.

Dangana writes from Koko Besse Local Government.

PRESIDENCY 2023: OF NORTH OR FOR NORTH?

By Abdullahi Bayero

On 25th February 2023, Nigerians will vote in a brand new president in one of the most politically charged scenarios since the return of democracy in 1999. On the surface, it seems like a simple four-horse race being run by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (APC), Atiku Abubakar (PDP), Peter Obi (LP) and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (NNPP). In reality, it is an election that could either substantially stabilize the federation or create more cracks in its unity.The choice of candidates in the coming presidential polls is the widest with 18 parties fielding formidable personalities for the top post. Apart from the aforementioned, contenders include Hamza Al-Mustapha (Action Alliance), Sowore Omoyele (African Action Congress), Umeadi Nnanna (All Progressives Grand Alliance) and Kola M.K.O. Abiola (People’s Redemption Party). However, the real race remains between APC’s Tinubu and the PDP’s Atiku.With 54 per cent of the 94 million registered voters in Nigeria, the North remains the key determinant of the winner of the ballot. Whichever way Northern votes swing, a President is always made but the constitution and even the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria requires alliance with at least one of the Southern regions for a clear victory at the presidential polls. This was clearly demonstrated in the First Republic when the Northern People’s Congress formed government in alliance with the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons and in the Second Republic the National Party of Nigeria aligned with the Southeast and South-south.Now Nigeria is possibly more polarized than at any time in the course of its history even during the civil war. The North-South dichotomy which derived from the 1914 amalgamation remains the fundamental fault-line. Separatists such as the outlawed IPOB and Oduduwa Nation have merely raised the stakes by deploying violence. As in the aftermath of the June 12 1993 electoral crisis, boosting the bridge of unity and cooperation across the River Niger is now a necessity and not an option.In the next fortnight, the North will choose between leveraging its votes to bring a desperate northerner to power or pitching its tents with some southerner who helped to return it to the presidency for the last two consecutive terms. In another dimension, northern voters will decide whether a party that played on the sensibilities of the region by jettisoning power rotation deserves to return to power so soon after a disastrous 16-year reign. In other words, voters in the North will be picking between mine-good-or-bad or the right and moral thing to do.Just as enterprising and industrious categorizes Southerners, intellectual and emotional intelligence classifies Northerners whether Christian, Muslim or even animists. It is not in the Northerner’s character to be selfish and self-serving and it is this sense of justice that has sustained the stability of the Nigerian state since its creation. At independence, the North formed the Federal Government not just by numerical strength but the trust and confidence it enjoyed across other regions.History has once more placed us in a perfect position to test our sense of accommodation and our commitment to truth, justice, equity and fairness. By voting for Tinubu and the APC, the North will be true to its grateful character. It would regain its full respect as a champion of national unity and be in a prime position to negotiate for power in the coming circles. With a win, the nation would also be finally rid of the obnoxious perception peddled by religious bigots that a same-faith ticket cannot work no matter the caliber of the candidates.We must not succumb to the temptation of eating our tomorrow today by denying the South presidency and frittering the solidifying political relations between the North and the Southwest. It is time to prove that we are neither hypocrites nor unjust. Nay sayers do not value trustworthiness, have no hope in the future and aim to obtain instant gratification at cost to citizens and country.We must also dismiss those demonizing the Asiwaju as a certificate forger, serial embezzler and an ethnic chauvinist. Some of these same strident missiles were hurled unsuccessfully against President Muhammad Buhari.Tinubu’s pan-Nigerian passion has been proven throughout his political career. In 1992, he led several aspirants from the Southwest to step down for the late Shehu Musa Yar’adua who won the SDP presidential primaries. In 2007, he offered the presidential ticket of his party to Atiku Abubakar and did same for Nuhu Ribadu in the 2011 presidential polls. His quest succeeded with support for the election of President Buhari in 2015 and 2019.The North now has no better strategy than sacrificing its selfish interest to simply retain power in the region. Furthermore, neither the PDP nor Atiku deserve to be rewarded after their inglorious regime destroyed the fabric, institutions and even the few industries in the region. Voting Atiku also means placing a potential threat to Nigeria’s full integration and progress just a heartbeat away from the Presidency.The 25th February presidential polls are a date with destiny. We must unequivocally elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the next President of Nigeria. It is not just the North’s integrity that’s at stake. Our nation’s unity, peace and prosperity may depend on it.

Bayero is a Kaduna-based businessman

PLWDs Storms Kaduna,Pledges To Ensure PDP Standard Bearer Emerges President 

By Mike Odeh James,Kaduna 

Less than two weeks to the Presidential elections, People Living With Disabilities ( PLWDs) have vowed to use their numerical voting strength to ensure that the Presidential  candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, ( PDP) Alhaji Atiku Abubakar wins the February 25th Presidential election 

Speaking at Arewa House in Kaduna, the Director General, (DG) campaign North West, Senator Hayatudeen Gwarzo, who is also the chairman of people living with disabilities, in North West Zone, said that meeting was sensitise and mobilise PLWDs in the North West geopolitical zone ahead of the elections so that they would cast their ballots for Atiku Abubakar and the PDP during the polls

 The Law Maker  explained that Atiku was able to convince them the day he celebrated the world’s disability day with them and promised to give them 5% in his cabinet if he emerges Nigeria’s president from the February 2023 polls.

He said, “we are here to pledge our full support for the presidential candidate of the people’s Democratic Party, PDP, Alh. Atiku Abubakar as our next president because he is the only candidate that identify with us and promised to carry us along once he emerged as our next president.

“We appreciate his efforts to had invited us into his campaign council to ensure his victory and we are not going to let him down. We encourage our people to go to local government and units to make sure we canvass for support from our electorates so we can be able to deliver our unit to PDP.

“We believe in Atiku because he is the only one that knows our plight and even celebrated the world’s disability day with us. He promised us that when he wins, he will give five per cent to people living with disabilities so there is no way we will not support such candidate from top to bottom”.

The Deputy Director PLWDs North West, Mr. Ephraim Balarabe in his own address noted that Nigerians are passing through a lot of hard times under the current administration of the ruling All Progressive Congress, (APC), adding that, APC is campaigning for Atiku through the unfavourable policies that have brought pains to the average Nigerians.

Ephraim then urged PLWDs not to be swayed by the flowery promises of APC Presidential candidate but to be focused on making sure they Atiku is elected as President. 

While reiterating that only Atiku can rescue Nigeria as its next president, Ephraim called on PLWDs, including their families to come out and vote massively for PDP, adding that the government of PDP will give them the enabling environment to explore and improve the quality of their livelihood.

Fani-Kayode All Jelly As DSS Interrogates

Consequent upon his arrest by the Department of State Service (DSS), the former Minister of Aviation and member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, Femi Fani-Kayode went emotional during his first round of interrogation by officials of the security unit on Monday.

Impeccable sources in the Yellow House headquarters of the DSS said that the APC chieftain, who is answering questions on his false alarm about coup, wept as he struggled to explain the details of his claim.

“Fani-Kayode reported to the headquarters this morning about 9 am and was kept at an interrogation room until about noon when officials approached him for interrogation.

“Officials confronted him with the gravity of the offense of treason which he had instigated. He was told that he would be detained because it was imperative for the DSS to de-escalate the potentialities of the threats that he had raised before he could be released. He asked for toilet break a couple of times during the session,” the source said.

“It was at that point that the former minister began to shed tears, telling operative of his poor health conditions and how a prolonged detention would compromise access to his doctors.”

It would be recalled that Fani-Kayode, who is similarly standing trial on allegations of corruption before a Federal High Court in Abuja, had raised an alarm claiming that the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar was conniving with some Generals in the Army to plot coup and thwart the upcoming election.

A press statement signed by Atiku’s Special Assistant on Public Communications, Phrank Shaibu had called on the DSS to immediately effect an arrest of Fani-Kayode for questioning because of the national security implication of his claim.

GAC Motor All-New GS4 Hi-tech, Smart SUV Wins “Car-of-the-Year” At Nigeria Auto Journalists Association Awards

The GAC Motor All-New GS4 on 9th February 2023 won “Car-of-the-Year” at the NAJA annual awards ceremony held at the Oriental Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos.

The event brought together key players from the Nigerian auto industry and media to celebrate the achievements of the nominees and recognize their contributions to the industry, while celebrating excellence and innovation across the entire auto value chain in Nigeria.

The All-New GS4 Hi-tech and Smart SUV stood out as the best of the best in the automotive industry, setting the bar for innovation and design.

The All-New GS4 model is a testament to GAC Motor’s commitment to providing cutting-edge technology and exceptional design to the Nigerian market. Equipped with advanced safety features, state-of-the-art entertainment systems, and a stylish exterior, the All-New GS4 offers a truly unparalleled driving experience.

The vehicle’s spacious interior, cozy seats, and quiet cabin has made it the perfect choice for long road trips and daily commutes.

“We are honored to receive this recognition from the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association. The GS4 model is the result of our commitment to delivering the highest quality vehicles to the Nigerian market.

“This award is a proof of our dedication to excellence and innovation in the automotive industry.” said Jubril Arogundade, GM Commercial and Group Head Communications, CIG Motors Nigeria, Distributor of GAC Motor in Nigeria.

GAC Motor has over the years advanced to a leading automotive brand in Nigeria, a subsidiary of the Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd. (GAC Group), one of China’s largest automakers, GAC Motor remains dedicated to providing innovative and reliable vehicles to the Nigerian market and is committed to improving the quality of life through sustainable mobility solutions.

Re: A Man Spends 38 Months Without Salary In Bauchi : Another wild, illegitimate claim

By Sani M. Lawal

I just stumbled on an article purportedly written by a certain Comrade Mashema claiming to speak for one Haruna Ibrahim who the writer said is a Bauchi state civil servant in the Ministry of Environment and Forestry with registration number PSN821312.

The writer said he was pleading on behalf of the said civil servant for the Governor of Bauchi state and relevant organs of government to intervene and facilitate the payment of his salaries withheld for 38 months.After reading the article, several questions jumped into my mind that called for care and caution and above all suspicions of the motive behind the article and of course the writer. Firstly, the writer, essentially obscure, could not have been pleading in good faith as he claimed by choosing the media option and not through direct contact with the officials concerned.

Secondly, the writer, evidently unschooled, went to town without the necessary background check that could have given him a solid ground to lay his claim upon; instead, of achieving the objective he claimed, he ended up dancing stark naked in the market square and exposing himself as one of those hatchet men at hand to do mischief for a fee. In order to avoid the kind of embarrassment Comrade Mashema subjected himself to with his slanted story, I undertook a fact check before venturing this response as a concerned indigene of Bauchi state.First, it does not require any deep search to recall that the Bauchi state government of Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed did indeed set up a committee under Adamu Gumba verification to verify staff strength for consolidation with the state salaries bill in order to sanitize the civil service. Every genuinely concerned indigene of Bauchi is as well aware that the Gumba Committee had concluded its assignment and submitted a report with far reaching recommendations.It was therefore the verification committee that discovered the said Haruna Ibrahim as a non-verifiable staff and suggested appropriate measures including the suspension of payment of his salaries. In that report, the said Haruna Ibrahim was uncleared as he was discovered to be redundant without defined schedule or even a duty post.

The committee also found fault with Haruna’s claim to be attending school which he failed to back up with evidence of official release issued to him at anytime.All these facts, Mashema overlooked in his writeup in an obvious haste to deliver his dubious assignment.It is important to place on record here, that Bauchi State had in a bid to boost the state’s workforce employed over 4,000 new staff, has been paying minimum wage, and has implemented consequential adjustments and implemented financial benfits of all employees that have been promoted since previous administrations. One wonders therefore, how much is Haruna salary’s could be, that the State cannot pay if not for reasons of his been found to be an illigimate staff.

It also beats one’s imagination that Haruna Ibrahim could only find his voice now after 38 months and even that through a proxy who turned out to be unprofessional. If only Haruna Ibrahim and Gulumba, his self-appointed voice were not up to some mischief, they ought to have taken the matter up with the ministry they claimed or the Office of the Head of Civil Service. Finally, alternatively, Haruna ought to have shown decent remorse by humbly apologizing for the detected misdemeanor and seek reinstatement by the State and the Governor rather than going the wrong way of unwarranted blackmail in the media.

(Lawal a bona fide Bauchi indigene, writes from Azare)

Northern APC Group Attacks Yoruba Leader Over Tinubu Presidential Ambition

….says North will not failed in keeping their promise by voting APC massively

A convener and a leader of a pro All Progressives Congress (APC) group known as Arewa New Agenda (ANA), Senator Ahmad Abubakar MoAllahyidi in a Press conference said Northern people are covenant keepers.

Ahmad in an efforts to replied Chief Ayo Adebanjo (aka Pa Ayo ) a factional leader of Afenifere, a Yoruba socio-cultural group who in Abeokuta said that the northern extraction will not vote for the Presidential candidate of the APC, Chief Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the forthcoming 2023 Presidential election.

He said Pa Ayo does not speak for the north, dispelled his position by saying that North will massively vote for Tinubu in the coming presidential polls slated February 25th by INEC.

“We wish to state that our organization respects elderly persons but, in this case, we disagree with the position taken by Pa Ayo more so as he does not speak for the north and has no such mandate; for his information the north has never failed to keep to its promise; when the north makes a covenant, the north keeps to it.

“The North is the strongest ally of APC in the contest for the 2023 primaries in the same manner that the South West was ally for the victory of the APC in the last two election cycles.

“Northern Governor of APC extraction led the charge for power shift from the north to the south; something the likes of Pa Ayo were unable to do simply because to make a covenant Pa Ayo, is not a northerner, and we cannot remember when we northerners appointed him to convey a message to any one; therefore, his assertion as widely reported is not only false but unfounded and can be better seen as the action of a meddlesome interloper or on a lighter scale the antics of a busy body.” Ahmad said

According to him the group are totally dismayed, shocked, surprised and disbelieve a statement credited to elder in Abeokuta on Saturday Jan 4th 2023, making the rounds in social and conventional media circles in which he (Pa Ayo) was quoted to have said that, it’s a typical of him.

Ahmad while reading a text to journalists in Abuja said ANA is a forum of concerned northerners comprising of academics, serving and former legislators,diplomats, technocrats, development practitioners, women and youth leaders, politicians, artisans, traders and farmers that is positioned to set an agenda for protection of the interest of the North.

By this Ahmad told Ayo that Northerners are leaders of thoughts that their yes is yes and the integrity of ANA as respected individuals cannot be bought over.

He went down memory lane and reminded Ayo and Nigerians that Chief Olusegun Obasanjo became the flag bearer of the PDP and won the 1999 and 2003 presidential elections mainly because of the backing he received from the North.

“In the APC Presidential primaries of 2022, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu scored 1,271votes more than half of the total votes cast in the convention to win the primaries, majority of these votes come from the north; the same north that Pa Ayo said will not support Tinubu

“Given what is unfolding in the South West today Pa Ayo’s attempt to justify his position by saying that his submission is based on fairness justice and equity is indeed laughable because it was said that whoever is coming to equity must come with clean hands. Records have shown that every presidential candidate that Pa Ayo opposes ended up winning the election- Asiwajus’s case will not be different
Just because Pa Ayo has some differences with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu does not in any way mean that the Yoruba race think the same, as we have our doubts that he has the mandate to speak for the Yorubas.

“We warn that this is the time for high wire political activities that usually culminate into tension and suspicion; we call for restrain in all utterances. From our research Pa Ayo’s statement was not driven by any nationalist instinct or principle; it is just a personal vendetta against the personality of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“We advise Pa Ayo to stop taking advantage of African culture of respect for the old to pursue a very myopic, narrow minded and selfish political vendetta, this a pure act of mischief and malice.

“Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has visited many States in the North, made policy statements and made a committal promises to us, if GOD Almighty gives him the opportunity to serve as our next
president, we the northerners will hold him accountable to that.

“Based on the past excellent record of performance and antecedents of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his various callings, the north is comfortable with him. He supported northern presidential candidates in the past; the north has reciprocated this gesture on every occasion; the present situation is no different as the north will repeat the performance by overwhelming support to the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election.”

Eng. Kailani Becomes Ag. DG Amalgamated APC Support Groups

…Vows to Unite Members to Deliver 40 million Votes for Tinubu/Shettima

Ahead of the 2023 general elections,the National Coordinator of Tinubu Shettima Network (TSN), Engineer Kailani Muhammad has been appointmented , Acting Director-General of the Amalgamated All Progressives Congress (APC) Support Groups for the Presidential flagbearer of the Party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and his running mate Senator Kashim Shettima.

Engineer Kailani Muhammad,who is also an APC Chieftain with a huge grassroots support base across the 19 Northern states of the country,promised to use the position to bring all members of the support groups together as a united front to win the election landslide.

In a chat with journalists shortly after a meeting with stakeholders and women groups at his Kaduna Residence, Kailani hinted that the over two thousand support groups spread the 36 states of Nigeria have commenced a door-door campaign to mobilize nothing less than forty million votes for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the February 25 presidential elections.

According to him,the same support groups were able to deliver twenty million votes for President Muhammadu Buhari during the 2015 election and will do same for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his running mate Senator Kashim Shettima this time round.

He spoke further,”Today there are many people in our groups, who don’t believe in the reckless manner the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governed the country.And we still have several Nigerians joining the Tinubu Shettima support groups in order to sustain the good work of President Muhammadu Buhari.”

On issue of Naira swap and fuel scarcity, Kailani thanked Governors of Kaduna ,Kogi and Zamfara States for swiftly filing a case at the Supreme court to secure the order stoping CBN’s February 10 deadline .

“The action has helped to expose all the crooks ,who have conspired with some persons within corridors of power to frustrate the outcome of elections.

“For adequate fuel supply at filling stations , I can authoritatively inform you that the National Nigerian Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL has stepped up measures to ensure enough supply of petrol and within few days the queues will be a thing of past .

He however, urged Nigerians to shun detractors, who hell bent on working against Tinubu Shettima ticket for selfish reasons and come out en masse to vote the APC candidate,who has the best of programmes to deliver Nigeria from shackles of poverty; insecurity,unemployment , dwindling economy and shortage of food supply .

“The essence of the meeting held are to inform and show the whole world that we don’t have any other candidates than Tinubu and Shettima to deliver Nigeria and other candidates contesting under APC platform .

“We have already won the election , we have 21 governors in vault and have 5 PDP Governors supporting us .

It will interest you to know that 27 political parties have endorsed our principal Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and hoping that more persons will join as the election draw nearer.

PETER OBI GETS A BOOST ASAFENIFERE NATIONAL YOUTHS COUNCIL (ANYC) LEADS 147 SOCIAL POLITICAL GROUPS IN YORUBA LAND FOR GREAT ENDORSEMENT FOR OBI

The presidential ambition of Mr Peter Obi further gets a huge boost as Afenifere National Youths Council (ANYC) with coalition of 147 youths social political groups across the entire Yoruba land are finally set to officially declare their unalloyed support for his (Obi’s) presidential candidature as the presidential flag bearer of Labour Party

This was disclosed to newsmen in Abuja, by the National President of the group and the leader of the coalition, Prince Eniola Ojajuni, stressing that “the official public endorsement for Mr Peter Obi as president has been slated for 10 am on Tuesday 14th February, 2023 at Gallant Center located at No 1 A, Jumaat Olukoya Street, Off NNPC Filling Station, Ogudu, Ojota, Lagos State.”

According to Ojajuni, both the presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi and his Vice President candidate, Dr Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed are expected to grace the epoch occasion.

He explained further that all the leaders of the 147 groups have met on several occasions and carried out detail analysis of the major president candidates before concluding to throw their weight behind Peter Obi of the Labour Party for this 2023 presidential election. However, he concluded that detail of their analysis will be made public during the great endorsement.