Author Archives: News All Around

The Coalition of North-East Elders Forum (CNEF) said the Senator representing Borno South Senatorial District and the Chief Whip of the 10th Senate, Senator Ali Ndume’s twenty years in the National Assembly has neither helped Borno State nor the northern region that has been bedevilled with incessant attacks by insurgents and bandits.

The group, which took a swipe at the lawmaker, over his recent outburst about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ‘s administration, asked why a lawmaker who has not been able to use his position as ranking officer in the Senate to tackle the security challenges in his state and region have the moral right to question the leadership prowess of the President.

Senator Ndume did attack the administration of President Bola Tinubu, saying it’s run by kakistocrats—those deemed the least qualified and most unscrupulous citizens—and kleptocrats, who are merely in power to steal.

But in a reaction to the outburst,the group in a Press Statement signed by the Coordinator, Alhaji Ali Ibrahim Sheriff , said it is overtly shocking that Senator Ali Ndume who has been in various committees in the Senate over the past two decades and from a State worst in terms of insecurity could be so insensitive and trivial to personalize issues of governance.

The statement further reads: “During the days of President Buhari, why did he choose to be silent in the midst of heightened problems of insecurity; pervasive hunger, looting of public funds and bad Governance?

“He must account for total sum of money recieved for Constituency projects and intervention funds allocated for members of his Constituency over the twenty years period in the National Assembly.

” If leadership is as easy as that ,we make bold to ask, all these years, how many Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) has he trained; educated and empowered with funds allocated to him?

“Ndume is nothing but a liability and economic burden to the good people of Borno State and entire country.”

The group which called on northerners to shun what it termed , “Ndume divisive vituperations” ,vowed to mobilise citizens of his Constituency in Borno State to stop his re-election bid in 2027.

Samuel Abah

The Northern Awareness Network (NAN) has strongly condemned the baseless accusations made by the Katsina Elders Forum against Defence Ministers Badaru Abubakar and Bello Mohammed Matawalle. The Network described the accusations as morally indefensible and politically motivated, highlighting the significant progress made in the fight against insecurity under the current administration.

In a statement issued by its spokesperson, Salihu Suleiman, the NAN emphasized the commendable progress made by the military forces under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, with essential support from Defence Ministers Abubakar and Matawalle. The Network’s statement underscored the significant strides taken towards enhancing national security, which must not be overshadowed by politically motivated narratives.

The NAN called upon the Katsina Elders and other stakeholders to refrain from politicizing security issues and instead unite to support ongoing efforts to ensure peace and stability. The group emphasized that security is a collective responsibility that transcends political affiliations and urged all citizens to look beyond political differences and prioritize the overarching goal of a safer and more secure Nigeria.

“We call on the Katsina Elders Forum to recognize the progress made and to work collaboratively with government bodies to further these gains, rather than undermine them with unfounded accusations,” Salihu Suleiman added. The Northern Awareness Network remains steadfast in its support for the current administration’s security strategies and urges all citizens to prioritize the goal of a safer and more secure Nigeria.

The Arewa Economic Advancement Promoters has described the appointment of the new Managing Director of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, as a “masterstroke from President Bola Tinubu”.

In a media statement in Kaduna at the weekend, Chairman of the group, Adamu Ahmed, said Dantsoho’s appointment was a resounding triumph of merit over mediocrity”.

Adamu commended the President for the choice of Abubakar, saying, “the NPA now has a highly qualified and experienced maritime professional, as the new Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA)”.

The group explained that the appointment of Dr. Dantsoho, as the new helmsman of NPA, has sent a clear signal that the Tinubu administration is committed to excellence and determined to drive the nation’s maritime sector to unprecedented heights.

“With a Doctorate degree in Maritime Technology from Liverpool John Moores University, United Kingdom, and a Master’s degree in International Transport from Cardiff University of Wales, United Kingdom, Dr. Dantsoho is a consummate professional with a wealth of experience spanning over two decades in the maritime industry”, the statement explained.

Before his appointment, Dantsoho had served in various roles in the Nigerian Ports Authority, including Assistant General Manager, Technical Assistant to the Managing Director, Port Manager, Onne Port, and Principal Manager, Tariff & Billing.

The group noted that President Tinubu’s reliance on merit in making this appointment “has also been widely commended by stakeholders in the maritime sector, who see it as a bold statement of intent to transform the sector and unlock its vast potential.”

The group then added: “With Dr. Dantsoho at the helm, the NPA is poised to enter a new era of excellence, marked by efficiency, productivity, and innovation. The appointment has inspired confidence in the sector, and expectations are high that the nation’s ports will soon become a model of efficiency and competitiveness.”

Dantsoho is expected to apply his vast experience to a string of reform policies to drive NPA to an enviable international status.

Mike Ujah

The National Forum of Ex-Councillors of Nigeria has vowed to take drastic measures against former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, over alleged misappropriation of ₦423 billion. The forum’s National Chairman, Ambassador Awal Kasim, made this declaration at a press conference in Kaduna on July 11, 2024.

According to Kasim, the forum will embark on a series of protests and legal actions to compel the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to arrest El-Rufai and his indicted commissioners. The protests will take place in Kaduna and Abuja, and will be attended by members from 19 northern states and all 36 states, respectively.

Kasim accused El-Rufai of squandering Kaduna State’s resources and causing hardship for its people during his eight-year tenure as governor. He also criticized El-Rufai’s handling of the judiciary, saying he turned it into a “good for nothing institution.” The forum demands that El-Rufai and his commissioners be held accountable for their actions.

In a surprising twist, Kasim revealed that the forum has received intelligence that El-Rufai and his cohorts are planning to flee to Libya, where they have allegedly stashed billions of naira in secret accounts. He appealed to the EFCC and ICPC to place El-Rufai, his family, and the indicted commissioners on Interpol’s watch list, to prevent them from escaping justice.

The forum’s chairman expressed disappointment that El-Rufai has forgotten his past actions, including demolishing houses, churches, mosques, schools, and markets, causing hardship for the people of Kaduna State. He called on all lovers of democratic dividends to support the current governor, U

By Ibrahim H. Tinja

… Rep Fatima Talba Canvases Support

… Seeks Male Counterparts’ Understanding

The member representing Nangera/Potiskum Constituency in the House of Representatives, Reps Fatima Talba has thrown her support to the bill and Canvases understanding of the male Counterparts.
While seconding the bill, she appealed for the understanding of the male Counterparts not to kill the bill as its dangerous for future of women in the country.
According to her the bill is not to take over their seats, adding that “ours is to complement their efforts, if given support their female children may fall victims in the nearest future”, she said.
Hajia Fatima recalled that women constitute over 65 per cent of the population of the country and most votes casted come from them.
She posited that “i don’t know why you are not too friendly on the afternoon to women”, saying that one day you will leave that seat for someone else. She said that you are only giving us special seat not taking over your own seat. She seriously appealed to the male Counterparts to allow the bill to see the light of the day. Taking the opportunity of the support, Mr Kalu put the bill to a voice vote. The deputy speaker ruled in favour of those in favour of the bill even though those against it were mire.
The bill was referred to the House Committee on Constitution Review, statutorily chaired by Mr Kalu.
A similar bill on the creation of extra legislative seats was introduced in the last Assembly, but the lawmakers rejected the bill.
It was one of the five gender bills introduced in that Assembly.
One of the bills sought to grant citizenship to foreign-born husbands of Nigerian women.
Another bill sought to allocate 35 per cent of political positions based on appointment to women.
Following the rejection of the bills, women’s groups barricaded the entrance of the National Assembly in protests at the time. The then leadership of the House had promised to revisit the bills but failed to do so till that House adjourned sine die.
The passage of this bill is one of the items on the legislative agenda of this current Assembly.
According to the document, the bill was to be introduced before the end of 2023. The lawmakers are already behind schedule.
The bill, among others, proposes to amend sections 48 and 49 of the constitution to provide one special seat reserved exclusively for women jn the Senate and House of Representatives for each state of the federation and the FCT.

Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, on Friday, commended President William Ruto of Kenya for sacking his entire cabinet following widespread anti-government protests by Gen-Zs.

Frank in a statement in Abuja said the action of Ruto which was in fulfillment of one of the demands of the protesters has shown him as a listening President who is ready to embrace new ideas in moving Kenya forward.

He said: “We commend President Ruto for taking this action in the interests of Kenya. We commend him for listening to the Gen-Z protesters. His decision to sack his ministers is no doubt for the greater good of Kenyans.”

He encouraged Ruto to take further urgent steps to implement other demands of the protesters “because they mean well for him and his government in particular and Kenyans in general.”

He appealed to him to release all protesters arrested during the demonstrations who are currently being detained by the police and other security forces as well as compensate families whose loved ones were shot dead by security agents and the injured.

He implored Ruto to capitalise on the opportunity now availed him by the youth upheaval and protest to rebuild and reunite Kenya.

“He must realise that listening to the protesters and implementing their demands does not mean he is a weak president,” he said.

Frank who is the United Liberation Movement for West Papua’s Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, added: “We urge him to bring on board young people that can make impact in the lives of the ordinary Kenyan in his new cabinet.

“He now has an opportunity to correct past mistakes which he is already doing and we want other leaders from the continent to emulate what Ruto has just done by always lending listening ears to the cries and demands of their people.

“We equally pray that President Bola Tinubu’s administration has seen what happened in Kenya and that they are ready to take the steps Ruto has taken by cutting down the present over bloated cost of governance and withdraw their pernicious economic policies or risk the Kenya-style uprising in the country.”

He equally urged the protesters to see the positive results of their action as a win-win for all sides and pardon Ruto for whatever missteps he must have done and work with him for a better Kenya “since the President appears to have learned his lessons and shown remorse by implementing their demands.

“The young people of Kenya have shown that power truly belongs to the people, not to anybody, or individual.

“Listening to the protesters has shown that the voice of the young people counts and that the President is a true leader who is neither weak nor blinded by the allure of power.

“That the President has harkened to the masses of Kenya who elected him into office shows that he is ready to toe the path of reason and work in the interest of the generality of Kenyans moving forward,” Frank said.

He noted that whatever the protesters had done was done in the interest and for the progress of Kenya and not to destroy or destabilise the country.

Going forward, he urged Ruto and the Kenyan Government to consult widely and consider the best interest of Kenyans before taking any decision that may negatively affect the people.

Arewa Progressive Forum for Good Governance (APFGG), said the son of former Kaduna State Governor, Bashir Elrufai and his fellow co- travelers cannot Stop Northerners from re-electing Tinubu come 2027.

Bashir Elrufai via a post on his social media handle did attack President Bola Tinubu and his father’s successor, Governor Uba Sani, predicting that both will be voted out of office in 2027 for ”non-performance”.

But in a reaction to his attack on the President in a statement signed by Mal Ibrahim Musa Bichi, the Chairman , the group which described Bashir Elrufai as ‘disrespectful and mannerless’ alleged, ,”The boy is simply speaking the voice of his couchy father,who is accused of misappropriating 423 billion naira state funds”.

According to the statement, his anger no doubt stemmed from the fact that his father was denied ministerial position.

It explained, “Those who understand politics know that Tinubu has built a political structure over the years that is helping him to move Nigeria forward in the right direction.And we don’t see reasons to fight an administration that is determined to make the country a better place .

“We want the likes of Bashir Elrufai to know that the real voters within the north will support Tinubu, because they are fully aware of the President’s efforts via his Renewed Hope Agenda to tackle the challenges of insecurity and economic hardship caused previous administrations”.

While stating that Bahir and his co-travelers are children,who have history of lack of home training ,the group dared Elrufai to contest the Presidential election in 2027.

“If your father has the capacity and popularity, why hide under former Rivers State Governor ,Mr Rotimi Amaechi and not personally contest the highly coveted seat of President in 2023 .

“We are challenging he, Elrufai to pick presidential ticket and contest against Tinubu and see who the north will vote .” It declared.

By Suleiman Abbah

The unfolding political scenario in Nigeria, particularly in Zamfara State, is indeed fraught with intrigue and danger. The plots against President Tinubu are thickening, as desperate elements attempt to undermine his administration and derail his chances of securing a second term in office.

The situation in Zamfara State is alarming, with a surge in violence and political unrest, fueled by attacks from armed groups resulting in the tragic loss of innocent lives and the displacement of countless others. These attacks are not isolated incidents but rather a calculated effort to destabilize the region and cast a shadow of doubt on the President’s leadership.

It is clear that there are individuals or groups working tirelessly to undermine the democratic process in Nigeria. Through propaganda campaigns and deceitful tactics, they seek to create chaos and sow seeds of doubt among the populace. This level of political desperation and corruption poses a serious threat to the stability of the country and the integrity of its leadership.

Senator Abdulaziz Yari and Bello Mohammed Matawalle, the Minister of State for Defence, key allies of President Tinubu, are at the center of this battleground. Their loyalty to the President and the fear ignited by their recent reunion into a formidable force have made them targets for those seeking to destabilize the APC and cast doubt on Tinubu’s leadership.

These attacks are not random but a calculated effort to tarnish the President’s reputation, weaken his hold on power and undermine his chances of a return for a second term. At the core of these sinister plots are a bankrupt group of northern political elites determined to destabilize the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the North, beginning with Zamfara, with the goal of weakening influential figures like Yari and Bello Matawalle.

Matawalle, who have played pivotal roles in building and sustaining the party in the North-West region, and fought an almost impossible battle to secure the North-West for Tinubu in the 2023 election. In the intricate world of politics, the maneuvering and scheming of power-hungry individuals can often lead to disastrous consequences.

The recent developments in Zamfara exemplify the calculated maneuvers of power-hungry individuals who often fail to foresee the disastrous consequences of their actions. The anti-Tinubu plotters have identified Kabiru Marafa and Sani Jaji as potential pawns in their failing game against Yari and Matawalle and the established leadership.

However, Marafa and Jaji lack the credibility, political clout, and strategic vision needed to mount any credible challenge to the current leadership. Their history of opportunism and lack of loyalty to any political ideology make them unreliable and ineffective leaders.

Kabiru Marafa, a political lightweight with a track record of unreliability and incompetence, is a wrong choice for the plotters to pin their hopes on. Marafa’s lack of credibility and political clout make him a weak and ineffective leader, incapable of rallying any substantial support or influence in Zamfara.

His history of jumping from one political party to another, driven by personal ambition rather than principles or ideology, further undermines his reputation and reliability as a leader. In essence, Marafa is a liability rather than an asset to any political faction seeking to challenge the status quo in Zamfara.

On the other hand, Sani Jaji, a virtually unknown entity with no discernible political base or credibility, is an even more puzzling choice for the plotters to entrust with the task of leading a supposed faction in the APC. Jaji’s lack of experience, influence, and political acumen render him an ineffective and insignificant player in the political arena.

Without a solid foundation of support or a track record of achievement, Jaji is ill-equipped to mount any credible challenge to the established leadership in Zamfara. The decision of the anti-Tinubu plotters to rely on Marafa and Jaji in this game therefore reveals a profound lack of understanding of the complex dynamics of politics and power.

Rather than identifying capable and charismatic leaders with a genuine following and a strategic vision, the plotters have settled for individuals who lack the necessary qualities to effectively challenge the incumbent leadership in Zamfara. This shortsightedness is likely to backfire, as Marafa and Jaji are unlikely to garner sufficient support or legitimacy to pose a real threat.

It is clear to any impartial observer that these individuals lack the requisite skills, experience, and popular support to mount a credible challenge to Yari and Matawalle’s influence in the APC. Their ineptitude and lack of political acumen render them incapable of effectively executing the nefarious plans of their puppeteers, who are themselves operating from a position of weakness and desperation.

The selection of Kabiru Marafa and Sani Jaji reflects a fundamental miscalculation on the part of the plotters. By entrusting the leadership of a supposed faction to individuals with

…Group Slams Elrufai ,Aides for Criticising Assembly Probe Report

… Says they are Shameless , Disrespectful

Coalition of Kaduna based political groups under aegis of Good Governance and Accountability Forum(GGAF) have described former Governor of Kaduna State ,Mal. Nasir Elrufai and His former Commissioners as Shameful individuals for accusing the State Assembly of fabricating figures of the recent probe .

Apparently angry at the recent criticism of the State Assembly’s probe, the group averred that Elrufai must be arrested and compelled to give account of the funds siphoned and misappropriated during his days as Kaduna Governor.

In a press statement signed by the Coordinator of the Forum,Comrade Muhammad Jibrin , ” El-Rufai’s administration embezzled over N423 billion, but Some former Commissioners who served under him, claimed the Assembly’s report was tainted with bias, riddled with inaccuracies with intensions to inflict reputational damage on the former Governor and his government.

However the forum in statement said at this critical period and with the tension stirred up due to the wanton looting of state treasury,it is laughable that Elrufai and his former aides couldn’t provide evidence to counter the allegations of the wanton fraud and misappropriation of funds.

The statement further reads : ” Though the Commissioners who spoke at a press conference in Abuja described the Kaduna State House of Assembly report as tainted by bias, riddled with inaccuracies and intended to inflict reputational damage on the former Governor and his government, but we ask them to counter the allegations with facts and figures.

“It is unfortunate that under Elrufai’s eye ,coordinated looting of the State funds through phoney contracts and looting were done and these aides who know the truth have come out twice now to defend an open truth.

“We can authoritatively say from our findings that the Kaduna State House of Assembly, in line with its constitutional mandate has done a thorough job to unravel the humongous debts incurred by the immediate past administration without commensurate projects.

“On a sad note , it is unfortunate to a historical state such as Kaduna is battling a huge debt burden due to the financial mismanagement by Elrufai’s government.

“The overt corrupt acts by aides and cronies from outside the State cannot be overlooked,thus we asking the anti-graft agencies to swing into action and do the needful with a view to serve as deterrent to public office holders.”It stated.

“We want to announce that the forum has concluded arrangements to formally submitted a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) ; Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission on the allegations of misappropriation of funds by ex-governor Nasir El-Rufai.

Abdul Bako Safana

The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) has strongly condemned the kidnapping of two Kaduna-based journalists, Alhaji Abdulgafar Alabelewe of The Nation newspaper and Alhaji Abdulraheem Aodu of Blueprint newspaper, along with some of their family members.

In a statement issued on Monday, AYCF President General, Alhaji Yerima Shettima, described the incident as “totally unacceptable” and called on relevant government authorities and security agencies to take immediate action to ensure their safe release.

Shettima expressed concern over the targeting of journalists, who he described as a “key sector of society” providing essential information for growth and development. He appealed for intensified efforts to end the “barbaric incidence” and ensure the journalists’ safe return to their families.

The AYCF leader also called on individuals to intensify prayers for the journalists’ safe release, especially for the wife of Abdulraheem, who was initially kidnapped and dumped in the bush due to her health condition.

The incident has sent shockwaves through the journalism community, with many calling for the immediate release of their colleagues. The AYCF’s condemnation and call to action add to the growing pressure on authorities to address the situation.