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The gradual erosion of governance at the local government level and the attendant collapse of both physical and administrative structures are leading legal experts and civil society organisations to pose serious questions about Nigeria’s democratic credentials with visible threats to constitutional orders.
The ongoing political battle between the Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and a faction of the state assembly over the tenure of local government chairmen has also exposed the extent to which virtually all the states have gone to undermine the constitutional order, with local government elections dependent on the whims of the governors rather than the law.
Defence and security experts who spoke with LEADERSHIP Sunday backed a recent assertion by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, that insecurity in many parts of the country, particularly the north, is linked to the absence of local government administration.
Stakeholders who spoke with LEADERSHIP Sunday identified corruption and political dominance as the major incentives pushing governors to disregard the constitution, and Supreme Court rulings and even resort to the deployment of violence in their efforts to control local council authorities and finances.
At stake is trillions of Naira of local government funds. Between January and May 2024, all three tiers of government shared N5.759 trillion from the federation account. The 774 LGAs received N1.416 trillion on this figure.
LEADERSHIP Sunday estimates that the 774 LGAs could collect as much as N3.39 trillion in the whole of 2024.
In January 2024, the LGAs got N288.928 billion, N278.041 billion in February, N267.153 billion in March, N288.688 billion in April, and N293.816 billion in May.
Investigations and expert opinion sought by LEADERSHIP Sunday also show that the effects of weak or absent local authorities is all-encompassing, undermining democracy, fueling insecurity, breeding corruption and raising tension between state governments and the general public on the one hand, and between the states and the federal government on another.
Findings by our correspondents show that virtually all of the present state governors have at one point or another appointed caretakers in breach of Nigerian laws and against Supreme Court rulings. Some, like Osun governor, Ademola Adeleke, have gone as far as sacking elected local government chairmen.
But Anambra could take the prize for illegality as our correspondent reports that local government elections were last held in 2014, a decade ago.
In Rivers State, where the debate has been about which of two wrongs will make a right, the tenure of the elected local government chairmen expired on June 17, 2024.
The governor immediately replaced them with caretakers, while the state assembly insisted it had extended their tenure through a a questionable piece of legislation.
States that have conducted LG elections within the last three years include Sokoto, Kaduna, Plateau, Yobe, Ebonyi, Enugu, Kebbi, Niger, Adamawa, Oyo, Katsina, Ekiti, Borno, Gombe and Edo.
Lagos last held LG elections in July 2021, but does not plan to hold another until 2025, exceeding the three years mandated by law.
In other states, local government elections were last held in Kwara State in 2017, 2018 in Imo, December 2020 in Kogi, October 2020 in Akwa Ibom, May 2020 in Cross River, and June 2021 in Jigawa, with no signs of elections holding soon.
Bauchi State last conducted local government elections in October 2020. In Abia, too, the last election was in 2020, while in Delta, it was in March 2021.
And while the federal government has tried various means to restore constitutionality and autonomy to the local government system, some legal luminaries have disagreed with the approach.
Several Senior Advocates of Nigeria are sharply divided over the suit filed by the federal government against the 36 states of the federation on autonomy for the 774 LGAs in the country.
The attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and minister of justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, had dragged the state governments to the Supreme Court over illegal control of LGs by the state governors.
Specifically, the suit is seeking full autonomy for local governments as the third tier of government in the country.
FG has no locus filing suit for LG autonomy – Awa Kalu
Dr Ahmed Raji, SAN, a former Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, in about five states including Kano; Chief Awa Kalu, SAN, Professor of law and former Attorney-Genetal of Abia state, and Barrister Paul Omoluabi, a constitutional lawyer, all took different positions on the federal government’s suit at the Supreme Court.
While Prof Kalu said the Association of Local Government of Nigeria, ALGON, should have been the legally recognised body to file the suit and not the FG, Dr Raji said since parties have surrendered themselves before the court, the apex court should be allowed to determine the matter one way or the other.
Prof Kalu said, “The proper court to go to, to decide the suit one way or the other is the Supreme Court. The federal government has no locus filing suit on behalf of LGs; why can’t the LGs speak for themselves; after all, they have an umbrella, ALGON, that can do that on their behalf.”
But Dr Raji said, “This case has been submitted for determination, and judgement is being expected, and as a senior lawyer, I should not anticipate what is going to be the judgement of the court. If it is not yet subjudice, it is within my right to comment but being a counsel who has taken a petition and has taken the matter for determination, it would be grossly irresponsible of me to make comments that would try to over-reach the decision of the court.”
On the conduct of LG election, Professor Kalu said the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has no business with LG elections. He also condemned governors that withhold LG funds.
He said, “It is all propaganda; INEC has no business with local government election; it has not even been able to handle its own primary responsibilities well and you still want to hand over another one to it. It is pure propaganda to say you want to hand over LG election to INEC.
“There is no lacuna in the law guiding local governmnent election; it’s all propaganda. There is a Supreme Court judgement that talks about the state having something to do with the running of the local government. There is a Supreme Court judgement to that effect. The Supreme Court made it clear that you can’t be in Abuja and be conducting LG elections in the states.”
Raji on his part said withholding LG funds could lead to anarchy.
According to him, the drafters of the law did not envisage a vacuum in local government administration.
He said, “It is not contemplated that there will be a vacuum; the drafters of our laws did not anticipate that there will be long vacuum after the departure of one regime before another regime comes in. So to find the justification for it may be difficult, but under the doctrine of necessity the governor may be right to put caretaker government in place, but under the constitution, there should be a democratically elected local government but where election is impossible due to disease outbreak that may result in an election not being held, then, the state law will have to provide for a means to keep the government wheels running, but it is not in the contemplation of the law that you can say a tenure is over and there is a gap for one or two years.”
On the conduct of LG elections by INEC, he said the call became necessary because it is believed that the governors are not doing the right thing, as regards the conduct of LG elections.
He said rather than ask INEC to conduct LG elections, the loopholes should be blocked and state independent electoral commissions (SIECs) strengthened to conduct credible elections.
“The reason for this is, it is believed governors are just “messing” up with SIECs; where is the assurance that INEC will fare better?
“I think we need to deepen democracy. If there is anything which the state commission is doing which is not proper, I think we need to block the loopholes and see that they are up and doing because over-centralisation has its own problem.
“I think the monitoring should be more and the judiciary should intervene decisively where there is no semblance of election in any state in respect of the local government councils, so maybe if one or two of them are made examples”, he said.
He also spoke on the attitude of the state governors to withhold LG funds in contravention of the law.
To him, the issue has been put to rest by the Supreme Court in the case between AG Lagos State vs AGF.
He said it is grossly illegal for a governor to withhold funds meant for LG administration.
He said withholding funds meant for the running if govermnent affairs at any level could lead to anarchy.
Constitutional lawyer, Barrister Paul Omoluabi, quoted Section 162(3) of the 1999 Constitution which states:
“The amount standing to the credit of the local government council in the Federation Account shall be paid directly to the local government council.”
He said, “Section 162(4) of the Constitution allows the president to withhold funds from the Federation Account if a state or local government fails to comply with the provisions of the Constitution or any law enacted by the National Assembly.
Ungoverned Spaces Fueling insecurity
Security experts have attributed rising insecurity in the country to the absence of effective local government administration and called for local government autonomy.
The experts said effective local government administration would identify brewing security threats and tackle them to avoid their escalation.
Maj-Gen James Nyam (rtd) said the local government area security committee are formed to identify brewing threats and solve them.
“We have 774 LGAs in Nigeria by the Constitution of The Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended). Among the administrative structure of the LGAs, there is an LGA Security Committee which is composed of the LGA chairman as chair, representative of the Armed Forces, the Police, DSS, traditional and religious institutions and other critical stakeholders such as union leaders and CSOs where they exist in that LGA.”
He said the committee serves as a veritable tool identifying all forms of insecurity brewing in the LGA, tracking the sources, isolating them and tackling them.
He, however, said the dislocation of LGAs by state governments had created a vacuum where nobody is carrying out that responsibility.
Speaking further, he said the absence of local government has excluded a lot of Nigerians from political participation, thereby leaving a large population idle.
“Secondly, the LGAs offer the largest platform for inclusiveness and political participation at the grassroots. When you dislocate the LGAs, inadvertently, you are excluding majority of Nigerians from political participation. They are then left idle and the only thing that might result from that situation is insecurity…That is what we currently have in Nigeria in very exponential proportions.”
He identified corruption as the reason for the failure of the LG system.
“It is all due to corruption. We have allowed state governors to take charge of local government funds and they are not ready or willing to let go. It’s my hope that the suit filed by the federal government, pursuant to reinstating LGA autonomy, is the right way to go and, if successful, would assuage or address, majorly, our prevailing security challenges!”
On his part, Brig-Gen Sani Usman (rtd) said an effective local government administration will help address security challenges since most of the challenges are local.
“I have been saying the autonomy and effective functioning of the local government is one of the most critical aspects of fighting poverty, corruption and, most importantly, insecurity in the country. Therefore, there is a very strong link between those issues and local governance. The bulk of the security challenges are local and the solution is local. For example, banditry and kidnapping in the northwest, to the large extent, were due to the mishandling of herders-farmers clashes which could have been mitigated at the local level”.
Governors Behind Failure In LGs – CSOs
Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) working to ensure local government autonomy have accused state governors of causing the failure of the local government system.
They, however, say that scrapping the LG system will not resolve the issues of insecurity and underdevelopment.
The CSOs argue that only financial autonomy will address the problems in the local governments.
According to the CSOs, the collapse of LGs is due to the governors hijacking their funds and not allowing them to fulfill their mandates.
The national team leader of Engaged Citizens, John Mutu,
Highlighted that the lack of financial autonomy and administrative autonomy is the root of the problem.
Mutu stressed the importance of LGs managing their resources and being accountable to the people.
He expressed concern that if the governors appoint caretaker chairmen, they will only be accountable to the governors and not to the people at the grassroots.
Mutu, who previously served as the deputy national team leader of PERL-ECP, a governance programme funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO), stated that caretakers appointed by the governors at the local government level should not exist.
He explained that the constitution does not provide for caretakers in the absence of elections.
Mutu suggested that the head of administration in the local government, who is the LG secretary, should take charge until elections are conducted.
“If there are no elections, the natural succession should be the most senior civil servant,” Mutu said.
Meanwhile, CSOs and other stakeholders advocating for local government autonomy have organised a one-day planning and reflection meeting in Abuja.
This meeting aims to assess their successes in advocating for local government autonomy and leverage the ongoing constitution amendment.
The CSOs and organised groups believe that the clamour for local government autonomy and independence will ultimately be achieved.
[Leadership]
Farming communities suffering from bandits’ and terrorist attacks in Shiroro, Munya and Rafi LGAs of Niger State are paying millions of naira “dialogue fee” to their killers with a promise to allow them access to their farms for cultivation.
Speaking with our correspondent, the farmers said despite the millions of naira they had been paying since the beginning of this farming season, attacks had continued.
A farmer in Shiroro, Salisu Baba, said, “Farming is the only occupation and means of livelihood that we have. And we are now hungry. All these humanitarian support people talk about cannot take us anywhere. We want to go back to our communities to engage in farming. We are hungry and impoverished in IDP camps; even our children are not well-fed. That is why when bandits ask for dialogue we do agree because we are eager to go back home. It is almost 10 years; we cannot go to our farms.”
It was gathered that before the attacks the communities produced maize, millet, sorghum, soybean, yam and cocoyam in commercial quantities, attracting buyers from as far as Lagos, the Eastern part of the country and the Republic of Niger.
A farmer who preferred anonymity said, “Majority of us are in IDP camps in Erena, Gwada, Sarkin-Pawa and Kuta. Many of our relations are in captivity. We have completely lost access to farming.”
Meanwhile, recently the Niger State Commissioner for Homeland Security, Brigadier General Bello Abdullahi Mohammed (Rtd), disclosed that the government was planning to construct temporary resettlement centres for the IDPs pending when the situation improved.
He warned the victims against returning home without the government’s directive.
The President of Lakpma Youth Forum, Babangida Zaharadeen Kudodo, told our correspondent the victims paid “dialogue fee” amounting to millions to be allowed to cultivate lands.
He said, “They (bandits and terrorists) do come and ask for dialogue fees so that there would be a consensus between them and the villagers. They tax them certain amounts of money which they would pay to them so that they would be allowed to farm.
“The Lakpma axis is suffering from insecurity in Shiroro LGA. So, anybody seen farming now is definitely paying tax to the bandits or terrorists.”
He added that, “Farmers pay tax because they are out of options, because we all know how things have been very difficult for our people. Even when they run to IDP camps, how would they cope? People used to fetch free firewood but they have now come to the town to buy firewood, and there is no money to buy it with the current cost of living in the country.
“So, they feel that if terrorists can tax them as much as N10m, N15m and even N20m, communities prefer to just go and gather the money and give them so that they would allow them access to their ancestral lands to continue with their farming activities.
“But despite that they pay taxes, that doesn’t stop the bandits and terrorists from attacking them, killing them and kidnapping others. So, maybe if one group had taxed them and they paid, another group would not know. So, other groups will still come and kidnap people and even kill them.”
However, in Munya, a local government official confirmed to our correspondent on condition of anonymity that bandits called for a dialogue to allow the affected communities to go to farm, but said they did not collect any levy from the farmers.
He said, “One of the conditions the bandits gave was that they would allow residents access to their farms but that if the farmers see them passing to other places, they should give them cover. But our people have rejected the move.”
[DailyTrust]
The House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence recently stirred the hornet’s nest when it asked the Federal Government to purchase two new aircrafts for President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima.
Nigerians went wild with anger when the committee’s recommendation came to the public knowledge.
The recommendation was contained in a report of the committee’s investigation into the status of the aircraft in the presidential air fleet.
“The committee is of the strong and informed opinion that considering the fragile structure of the Nigerian federation and recognising the dire consequences of any foreseen or unforeseen mishap that may arise as a result of the technical or operational inadequacy of the presidential air fleet, it is in the best interest of the country to procure two additional aircrafts as recommended.
“This will also prove to be most cost-efficient in the long run, apart from the added advantage of providing a suitable, comfortable, and safe carrier befitting of the status and responsibilities of the office of the president and vice-president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the report stated.
The committee was mandated by the lower chamber of the national assembly in May to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the aircraft in the presidential fleet to ascertain their airworthiness and technical status.
The assignment followed a motion by the House Committee Chairman on National Security and Intelligence, Satomi Ahmed.
According to reports, Ahmed’s motion followed reports of faulty aircraft in the presidential air fleet, a development that forced the President to use a chartered plane from the Netherlands to Saudi Arabia during his recent trip abroad
There was a heated debate on the floor of the House when some lawmakers suggested that the President should travel via commercial aircraft or by road.
But in the end, the Committee was given the assignment to investigate and report to the House the condition of aircrafts in the presidential fleet.
To be on the same page, Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, Shehu Buba Umar, also supported the recommendation by the lower chamber’s committee.
Ever since the news broke out, Nigerians have been speaking against the move, with many saying the President cannot continue to spend money on luxury and ask Nigerians to be patient with the government.
Others are saying that even if the government wants to buy new aircrafts for the president and vice president, it should not be at this critical period when most Nigerians find it extremely difficult to feed once a day.
Recall that the Organised Labour and the Federal Government have been at loggerheads over a new national minimum wage.
While Labour is pushing for N250,000, the government said it could only afford N62,000 due to economic constraints.
Now, some persons are questioning the rationale behind the move to acquire new aircrafts when the government said it cannot pay a beggarly sum of N62,000 to workers.
Reacting to the development, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, through its national Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba said there was no moral justification to ask Nigerians to make further sacrifices when the leaders don’t care whether the people survived or perished.
Stressing that the government must live by example by cutting luxury items, he said the citizens have been making sacrifices since the advent of the Tinubu administration on May 29, 2023. He argued that asking Nigerians to make further sacrifices amounts to telling them to commit suicide.
“If the government is so reckless in spending, then it has no moral justification to ask the citizens to sacrifice. In any event, the appropriate word is to say to the government, ‘let the poor breathe.’ That would be the right word to say to them.
“There are millions of families in this country that could not celebrate the very special celebration of Eid. They couldn’t celebrate it because they couldn’t afford it.
“So, for the government to nurse such plans shows they are disconnected with the realities on ground, which is that people are dying on a daily basis because they cannot afford food.
“People are dying on a daily basis because they cannot buy medicine. People are dying by reason of the fact that they are frustrated and they commit suicide on a daily basis. And the government seems to be disconnected and averse to the reality in the nation.
“Our own advice as a party is that the President should live by example, by first of all, ensuring that the corruption and the excessive maintenance of their luxury appetites are cut.
“We have said it severally that the government must stop pursuing and funding their luxury appetites. And it comes in the form of vehicles, the nature of vehicles and the number of vehicles.
“The government has no moral justification. Indeed, Nigerians have been sacrificing. They have been sacrificing from day one; since May 29, 2023 when this government came in.
“It started with the rash and ill-thought programme of removing fuel subsidy. Nigerians have been suffering on the basis of that. They have been paying more on electricity tariff, and paying more on multiple taxes being imposed on them.
“These people are suffocating. Telling them to sacrifice more is like saying go and commit suicide. That is what they are saying. It is the government that should sacrifice now. The leadership should show examples.
“And if there is any plan at all to purchase an aircraft, then President Tinubu should perish the thought. Number one, the British Prime Minister flies British Airways. At the last count, we have about seven or nine aircrafts in the Presidential fleet. Former President Muhammadu Buhari came and said he was going to sell all of them; instead of selling, he acquired more,” he said.
Also reacting, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, through its spokesman, Mr Benson Upah accused the Federal Government and the ruling elite of prioritizing luxury over the needs of the Nigerian people.
He said: “When it comes to the comfort of members of the ruling political elite, there is no limit to what the state can do. But, when it comes to the basic necessities of the ordinary Nigerian, they begin to use a calculator.
“As long as the ruling elite consider themselves over and above every other citizen, every need, and every necessity, there will continue to be hunger and anger in the land.
“There is always enough for the pleasures or the passions of the ruling political elite, but never enough for the necessities of the citizenry. Purchasing a presidential jet cannot be a necessity for now, given the complaints or comments from the ruling political elite. It cannot be a priority for now.”
He cited examples of other countries where their leaders fly commercial planes just to save money for their countries.
“We have many leaders, including the Kenyan president, and others, who fly commercial planes,” he said in a statement.
Reacting through his official X handle, former governor of Anambra State and Labour Party, LP, presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Mr. Peter Obi said the plan to acquire new presidential aircrafts was unacceptable and a clear show of insensitivity to the suffering of the people.
He advised the government to focus on alleviating the sufferings of Nigerians rather than wasting money on such luxuries.
He said: “At a time when our country is on the front page of global newspapers for facing its worst economic crisis, marked by high inflation, a falling currency, and widespread poverty, the government is contemplating buying new presidential jets. This demonstrates extreme insensitivity to citizens’ struggles.
“With rising insecurity, poverty, hunger, and homelessness, this decision highlights the disconnect that is apparent between the government and the people.
“It is unacceptable as the situation in the country today more than ever before demands a more compassionate use of resources, and prioritising citizens’ welfare.
“It’s on record that our presidential jets have an average age of 12 years, purchased when most Nigerians could afford basic necessities. Now, as our country faces significant challenges, including a high debt profile, our citizens are in even greater need. Instead of adding to our luxuries, we should be focused on alleviating their sufferings, and finding solutions to their problems.
“For long, our bad leadership has made our priorities as leaders to be at variance with the needs of the society, which is why we are now headed south as a nation.
“To elucidate further, despite dropping down to the fourth largest economy in Africa, with a GDP of $252 billion and a per capita income of $1,080, with huge debt burdens and borrowing to service debts, yet, we are spending $15 million for our Vice President’s residence, while the USA, the world’s largest economy with a GDP of $25 trillion, about 100 times our GDP, and a per capita income of $80,000, about 80 times ours, still houses their Vice President in Number 1 Observatory Circle, a house built over 100 years ago, and whose value is less than the $15 million we are spending on our VP’s residence.
“A reputable real estate company reports that the US Vice President’s official residence is valued at about $7.5 million today.
“While we had earlier refurbished the old VP’s residence with $2 million, the over 100-year-old US Vice President’s house has only undergone wide-scale renovations twice, funded by taxpayers’ money in 1993 and 2021. Every new US VP is free to finance any minor refurbishing from his funds.
“It’s, therefore, time to stop this impunity, insensitivity, and shamelessness and refocus on the needs of our people.
“We must prioritise education, healthcare, and lifting our citizens out of poverty. Let us work together to build a nation that truly serves its people, not just the interests of a few. Let’s rise to the challenge, and build this new Nigeria which is now more possible than ever before.”
President of the Middle Belt Forum, MBF, Dr. Pogu Bitrus, cautioned the president to be more sensitive to the plight of Nigerians and not indulge in extravagant expenditures.
According to him, “He’s supposed to live by example. If the economy is okay, he can buy a presidential jet, and no one would raise an eyebrow. But, given that the economy is in a bad shape and he knows it, he should be sensitive enough not to spend money on things that are not necessary.”
“However, if he can justify to Nigerians that the current jet is in such bad shape, and that his security is at risk if he uses it, we can understand. But, no one has given us such an explanation. As far as we are concerned, it is just one of those extravagant expenditures,” he told DAILY POST.
For the president of the Arewa Youths Consultative Forum, AYCF, Alhaji Yerima Shettima, the idea was insensitive to the current economic hardship in the land.
“I am totally not in support of any new aircraft at the moment. Rather, he should stay at home and work or manage the available ones.
“Let us be honest with ourselves, this is not acceptable and Nigerians must not be in support of this idea.
“This is a clarion call; Nigerians must resist and condemn this move. We are just recovering from the SUV for National Assembly members and they are now talking about buying a private jet. No, this is wrong and unacceptable,” he said in an interview with DAILY POST.
[DailyPost]
- He was never Emir of Kano, says gov’s spokesman
Kano State governor, Abba Yusuf, yesterday insisted that the dethroned Emir, Aminu Bayero, must vacate the Nasarawa Palace where is currently staying.
The governor’s Media and Publicity Director General, Sanusi Bature, said the Nasarawa mini palace is a graveyard which Bayero must vacate for necessary renovation. He spoke on Arise News television on Friday.
He disclosed that Aminu Ado Bayero was never an Emir of Kano, but only an Emir of the eight metropolitan local government areas which have been abolished.
Speaking on the notice given to Emir Bayero to vacate the Nasarawa palace, Bature said the property being occupied by Bayero is not a palace or mini palace but a graveyard for Kano emirs which also serves other purposes as well and would require renovation.
He said, “The Nasarawa palace we are talking about is not a palace. It is actually a cemetery for late Emirs of Kano, not a palace. Another part of it is used as a guest house for very important visitors of the palace. It is where the emir used to rest for a short while when he is coming back from an annual festival during the Sallah celebration.”
Bature expressed concerns over the safety of Bayero staying in the Nasarawa palace.
He said: “Aminu is living in a graveyard. He forced himself into that property. We want to renovate it so it can be used for its original purpose and for Bayero’s safety from the defective structure.”
Regarding the deposition of Emir Aminu Bayero, Bature clarified, “Aminu Ado Bayero was never an Emir of Kano. He was appointed Emir of eight metropolitan local governments of Kano city.”
Bature pointed out that with the repeal of the 2019 Emirate Law which had created additional emirates like Bichi, Karaye, Gaya, and Rano, Bayero’s jurisdiction no longer exists as originally intended.
“With the revision of the law under one united Kano, the emirate that Bayero served does not exist again. The main emirate was bastardised by Abdullahi Ganduje under the 2019 Emirate Law which created Bichi, Karaye, Gaya, and Rano emirates.”
Clarifying the reason for Bayero’s recognition as the 15th Emir of Kano state, he said, “Bayero was 15th Emir of Kano but his jurisdiction is not for the 44 local governments of Kano. It’s just only for the eight metropolitan governments which are now abolished and the judge in his ruling affirmed the validity of the law.”
He emphasised the historical significance of the emirate, stating: “The emirate of Kano predates Nigeria and its constitution.”
Bature criticised the actions of the previous administration under Ganduje, accusing it of politicising and undermining the emirate’s integrity. He asserted, “His excellency, Abba Yusuf, promised to restore the lost glory of the state during his campaign, and he is only fulfilling his promise.”
The governor’s spokesman also discussed legal matters surrounding the emirate, mentioning ongoing appeals and jurisdictional challenges.
“We have filed an appeal at the appellate court and will pursue this case rigorously. It’s a fight to finish,” he asserted.
Bature affirmed the reinstatement of Sanusi II as Emir stating: “Emir Sanusi II was duly reinstated under the new emirate law that unified Kano under one emirate.”
Meanwhile, the police yesterday faulted the Kano State government, particularly Governor Abba Yusuf, on their stand on the emirate crisis.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a police officer said the governor caused the entire crisis because of his “arrogance and abuse of court orders.”
The respondent, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), queried the governor and his aides for insisting to evict Aminu Bayero when the case is still in the court.
“I am not in the position to speak to journalists on this matter, but the CP (Commissioner of Police) and the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) have spoken a lot on this saga.
“Like the CP said, obeying the governor’s eviction order would be like jumping the gun.
“The same government has appealed the case at the appellate court, which is coming up on the 24th of June, 2024. So, why not wait for the outcome in the court? What if the court rules in favour of Bayero?,” he asked.
Reacting on the state government’s insistence to demolish the Nasarawa palace where deposed Emir Aminu Bayero is staying, the police source said no one would be allowed to come near the property with a bulldozer, except if Governor Abba Yusuf drives a bulldozer and carries out the demolition by himself.
“Can’t you see that we have barricaded all the four entry points to the area? Where will the bulldozers pass?
“Except, if the governor drives a bulldozer by himself, given his immunity, we shall allow him to do his wish, but we shall video-record him and file our report,” he said.
He reminded that if Nigeria was operating state police, by now Kano would have been on fire.
“These are leaders clamouring for state police. This is the second time the governor is ordering us to evict Bayero. The first order was voided by the court, which asked the state government to pay Bayero the sum of N10 million as damages as it affects his fundamental rights of movement and civic liberty.
“Now, he (governor) has come up with another order and even threatening to demolish the place where an emir -whether deposed or on the throne is staying.
“Now, imagine if the police were under him; officers and men of the Force would have had no choice than to obey his order -to evict or harm Bayero or do whatever he would have commanded them to do against him and Kano would have been in blood by now.
“However, that not been the case, we have been able to maintain law and order in Kano, protecting the two emirs,” he said.
He praised the Commissioner of Police, Ussain Gumel, for his wisdom in ensuring peace and stability in Kano State up to this moment.
He regretted that, “Gumel has been promoted to the rank of AIG and will be handing over and leaving on Monday,” he said.
Gov warns security agencies against going outside designated responsibilities
Speaking at the 15th weekly meeting of the Kano State Executive Council held at the Government House, yesterday, Governor Abba Yusuf, cautioned security agencies in the state against meddling in matters beyond their designated responsibilities.
The governor’s warning follows the state Commissioner of Police, Usaini Gumel, rejection of the order of the attorney general of the state to evict the deposed emir from the Nasarawa Palace.
The governor in a statement by his spokesperson, Sanusi Bature said, “Governor Abba Kabir expressed disapproval of the recent upsurge in Thuggery and clashes involving Yan daba, affirming that the government will not passively observe while unscrupulous elements endanger the relative tranquility and harmony enjoyed by the law-abiding citizens of the state.
“He reiterated that under his administration, the state government is diligently collaborating with relevant security agencies to ensure the safety and security of the populace and their possessions at all times.
“Furthermore, Governor Abba Kabir cautioned Judges against the unwarranted release of thugs, emphasizing the threat they pose to the welfare of the state’s residents and stressing the importance of prompt and equitable dispensation of justice.
“Alhaji Abba Kabir also instructed security agencies to strictly adhere to their mandated duty of safeguarding the lives and properties of the citizens they serve, warning against involvement in matters beyond their designated responsibilities.”
[TheNation]
Lagos is shivering under the outbreak of cholera. A vicious intestinal illness has gripped the state, adding a layer of fear to the already bustling streets. With 24 deaths, 35 confirmed cases and 417 suspected cases across the state as of Friday, July 21, 2024, experts say the outbreak isn’t just a national concern but a local fight for survival, particularly in areas where access to clean water and proper sanitation remains a luxury.
Apart from poor water and sanitation challenges, the plight of citizens leaves much to be desired.
17-year-old Bayo was rushed-in with his frail body racked with chills. His worried mother, Dolapo, wiped his face, a deep fear etched on her face. “Please admit him, don’t reject us. Today is a public holiday, please help, it started yesterday,” Dolapo murmured. “Just stomach cramps at first, but now…” Bayo unfortunately lost his life in one of the private hospitals in the Ago area of Lagos. His case is among the rising number of cholera infections plaguing Lagos.
With limited resources and a densely populated city to contend with, Lagos grapples with controlling the outbreak.
Sadly, water and sanitation remain a challenge in the state. From the end of Makoko to the highbrow areas of Victoria Island in Lagos, potable water remains a challenge despite having water all around the city.
A situation report issued by the state Commissioner for Health, Prof Akin Abayomi, last Friday (EPI Week 25), as of 19th of June, 2024, revealed that the outbreak has swept across the 20 LGAs.
While the highest outbreak occurred in Ajeromi, Kosofe, Epe, Ikorodu, Alimosho and Eti-Osa LGAs, as of 10th of June, 2024, the Commissioner said there was the need to adhere strictly to personal and environmental hygiene to stay safe from infection risk.
However, in what seems like an attack on cholera in countries, the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced a resurgence of cholera worldwide.
WHO said in May 2024, a total of 46,364 new cholera cases were reported from 19 countries, showing 58 per cent increase from the previous month.
It said from January 1, 2024 to May 26, 2024, a total of 194,897 cholera cases and 1,932 deaths were reported from 24 countries across five regions.
WHO said the Eastern Mediterranean region recorded the highest numbers (98,003 cases; seven countries), followed by the African region (92,789 cases; 14 countries), the Americas (2,672 cases; one country), the South-East Asia region (1,328 cases; two countries), and the European region (105 cases; one country).
WHO added that during this period, the African region reported 1,698 deaths; the Eastern Mediterranean region, 256 deaths; the region of the Americas, 13 deaths; the Southeast Asia region, four deaths; and the European region, one death.
The global body’s report comes as Lagos, Nigeria’s most populous city and commercial capital, battles a cholera outbreak.
Blame
However, while the disease continues to sweep across countries and states in Nigeria, experts have continued to blame the Nigerian government for paying lip service to water and sanitation.
Today, most communities across Nigeria cannot boast of adequate safe drinking water. The affordability of bottled water, often used as a safer alternative, is also a challenge for many families.
For instance, in Lagos, sachet water, the presumed alternative to borehole water, is sold, in many areas, for N50 and, in others areas, it goes for N30. Five bags of water are sold for N1,500 and in some areas N2,000.
Bottle water goes for N200 per bottle. Sadly, many Nigerians who have resorted to borehole water can no longer boil before drinking due to the hike in electricity tariff.
Public health experts have warned that without improved water, sanitation and hygiene, cholera will remain endemic in Lagos and Nigeria in particular.
According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Chief, Lagos Field Office, Celine Lafoucrier, safer water could save 1.4 million child deaths from diarrhoea, 500,000 deaths from malaria, 860,000 child deaths from malnutrition, as well as protect 10 million people from serious illnesses like lymphatic filariasis and trachoma.
She said the current outbreak demonstrates the need for an urgent government focus on ensuring water provided to the population is clean and risk-free.
According to her, good water and sanitation infrastructure play a crucial role in reducing disease outbreaks such as cholera, which causes an estimated 100,000 deaths annually.
Lip service
In an interview with Sunday Vanguard, a public health disease expert, Dr Casmir Ifeanyi, said the country has continued to pay lip service to water, sanitation and hygiene.
“I challenge you to go and dig it up. Of the 30 states already reported to have the outbreak, how many of them have a public potable water supply in place? I can categorically tell you, none. So, we do know that cholera is a disease that thrives where water, sanitation and hygiene are at its low rate,” Ifeanyi stated.
He emphasised the need for improved water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) practices, including addressing open defecation and ensuring access to clean water which are essential for preventing future outbreaks.
The public health expert warned that the outbreak, particularly severe in developed areas of Lagos, highlights deficiencies in sanitation and water quality.
According to him, schools with proper hygiene facilities and access to clean water could reopen, after mid-term holiday, with heightened public health education on hygiene practices.
However, expressing concerns about densely populated areas with limited access to clean water, Ifeanyi said: “It must be said that the situation that will sustain this outbreak is quite high. I give you an example. I do not know how much a bag of sachet water is sold in Lagos, but, in most of Nigeria, it is now between N400 and N600 and, if you buy that it should be either 20 sachets. I do not know how long it would sustain families and, besides, the source of this sachet water and also bottled water is also questionable because their conformity to water processing is still very unsure.”
Increased Public Health Measures
Ifeanyi, who is also the National President of the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN), urged Lagos State government to prioritize improved detection and surveillance of cholera and cholera-like illnesses. “This includes contact tracing, increased access to cholera testing kits, and a thermal risk factor analysis specific to Lagos,” he said.
Noting that food safety is another critical area, he stressed that the state government should implement stricter food safety protocols, including lab testing of imported and commercially sold water.
“Public health authorities must beef up to detect cholera and cholera-like illnesses and also to put in place a surveillance system that promotes disease tracking. That is to say, if you have an individual whose case is confirmed, then there’s a need to do contact tracing and to evaluate the contact,” the expert said.
Expressing disappointment in the description of the Lagos cholera as aggressive without the proper name of the type, he pointed out that the government has failed to provide infrastructure and facilities for diagnostic testing and typing whenever there is an outbreak.
According to him, there was a need to identify the biotype of the cholera responsible for the outbreak and not use ominous words like aggressive.
Glimmer of Hope
Ifeanyi said the state government should immediately deploy cholera vaccine particularly for school children, adding that individual vigilance remains paramount.
He advised Lagosians to boil or treat drinking water, avoid raw fruits and vegetables, and practice frequent and thorough handwashing.
Corroborating his views, a public physician, Dr Femi Oyekan, who spoke to Sunday Vanguard, stressed that cholera outbreaks originate and spread within communities, making community-led and participatory approaches essential for sustainable prevention.
According to him, citizens also have a lot of things to do to help combat cholera outbreak by ensuring proper hygiene, keeping their environment clean, avoiding open defecation, and ensuring proper waste and sewage disposal.
“Ultimately, access to clean water and sanitation is critical in preventing outbreaks. Communities must take collective action to ensure clean water access and maintain good hygiene. Identifying and empowering positive role models within the community can encourage the widespread adoption of healthy
[Vanguard]
A second southern Mexico mayor has been killed in less than a week, local authorities announced Saturday, after he went to visit an indigenous community.
The murder of Acacio Flores, who represents Malinaltepec, comes days after the killing of Salvador Villalba Flores, another mayor from Guerrero state elected in June 2 polls.
The body of Flores was discovered with a bullet wound to the back of the head in the back of a van in Malinaltepec, a human rights campaigner told AFP.
The rights activist had been involved in negotiations to free the politician after he was detained Thursday in an indigenous village.
Guerrero’s public prosecutor said an investigation into aggravated murder had been opened, with a possible land ownership dispute part of the probe.
Since Mexico’s campaign season began last September, around 30 political candidates have been killed, according to Data Civica, a non-governmental organization.
Guerrero, one of the states most affected by drug cartel violence given its location along Mexico’s Pacific coast, recorded 1,890 murders in 2023.
AFP
The combined operatives of the Nigerian Embassy and a Senegalese-based non-governmental organisation have rescued 24 Nigerian girls who were subjected to sexual exploitation in the Tamaccounda and Kedougou Regions of Senegal.
The acting Ambassador of the Nigerian Embassy in Dakar, Senegal, Salihu Abubakar, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria in Dakar on Sunday.
According to him, the girls mostly under-aged, ranging between the ages of 11, 13, and 24 are being trafficked to Senegal, through Cotonou, Republic of Benin, via the Mali to Senegal border for sexual exploitation in Tamaccounda and Kedougou Regions.
“These girls and many more are being trafficked to Senegal, through Cotonou, Benin Republic via Mali to the Senegal border for prostitution,” the diplomat said.
Abubakar said preliminary investigation revealed that most of the girls, who were school dropouts were from Edo and Delta, adding that a few of them were from Imo and Abia while two others were from Plateau.
He, however, said of the 24, 22 were already repatriated weeks ago while the two other ladies were repatriated to Nigeria on Saturday and had landed in Nigeria safely.
The diplomat could not immediately give the details of the health status of the victims and other information regarding the time they spent while undergoing sexual exploitation in Senegal.
The envoy said that the successful repatriation of the girls to Nigeria was a clear indication of the strengthened international cooperation in combating human trafficking between the embassy and the Senegalese-based NGO, “Free the Slaves” (La Lumiere in French).
“Our main goal and number one priority is to discourage the trafficking of our Nigerian girls to any part of the world for prostitution under any disguise,” Abubakar said.
NAN
The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has listed five websites allegedly harvesting Nigerians’ data fraudulently.
This comes against the backdrop of the recent alarm raised by Paradigm Initiative that some websites are selling Nigerians’ National Identification Number (NIN), Bank Verification Number (BVN), International Passport, and other data.
The Commission in a statement issued on Saturday by its Head of Corporate Communications, Kayode Adegoke, said the websites engaging in the illegal harvest of data without its authority include:
- idfinder.com.ng,
- Verify.Ng/sign in,
- championtech.com.ng.
- trustyonline.com, and
- anyverify.com.
“NIMC urges the public to disregard any claims or services these websites offer and should not give their data as they are potentially fraudulent and data provided by the public on such websites are gathered and stored to build the data services they illegally provide,” it stated.
Nigerians’ data not compromised
The Commission further stated that Nigerians’ sensitive data have not been compromised as claimed by Paradigm Initiative, adding that it has taken measures to strengthen the NIN database further.
“At this moment, the Commission assures the public that the data of Nigerians has not been compromised, and the Commission has not authorized any website or entity to sell or misuse the National Identification Number (NIN) amongst all the identities stated in the report.
“The public should know that the Commission has taken robust measures to safeguard the nation’s database from cyber threats- a secure, world-class, full-proof database is in place. The commission’s infrastructure meets the stringent ISO 27001:2013 Information Security Management System Standard, with annual recertification and strict compliance with the Nigerian Data Protection Law,” it said.
NIMC advised Nigerians to avoid giving their data to unauthorized and phishing sites as they pose the danger of data harvesting and comprise individual data.
Partners not authorized to store data
While reaffirming its commitment to upholding ethical standards in data protection in line with federal government directives and data privacy regulations, the Commission noted that its licensed partners or vendors are not authorized to scan or store NIN slips but to verify NINs through approved channels.
NIMC added that it is working closely with security operatives to apprehend elements masquerading as online vendors, and they would face the full wrath of the law.
“NIMC urges the public to remain vigilant against false information and rely on verified sources for accurate updates. The Commission remains committed to providing secure and reliable identity management and upholding the highest level of security for systems and databases, which are critical national assets,” it said.
Backstory
Pan-African social enterprise, Paradigm Initiative, had on Friday expressed concern that several unauthorised websites are claiming to hold and provide access to sensitive personal and financial data of Nigerian citizens “for as little as 100 Naira.”
“This alarming development presents a major breach of the fundamental rights to privacy, a breach of data privacy rights, and poses significant risks to individuals and the national economy,” the organization said in a statement.
Paradigm Initiative said the unauthorised access to personal data is a blatant infringement on the privacy of Nigerian citizens as the dissemination of such information could lead to identity theft, financial fraud, and other malicious activities, including data owners being targeted by burglars, kidnappers or terrorists who buy data that includes home addresses.
It added that the availability of sensitive financial data online could undermine the stability of Nigeria’s banking system.
[Nairametrics]
A year after the leadership of the opposition Labour Party was separated with the incumbent National Chairman, Julius Abure and the Deputy National Chairman of the party (South), Lamidi Apapa laying claim to the mantle of leadership, both camps have agreed to sheath their swords and work together.
Loyalists from both camps were torn apart in April 2023 following a court judgment restraining Abure and three others from parading themselves as national officers of the party.
But Abure fought back fiercely to retain his seat with the help of the parent body, Nigeria Labour Congress, under the leadership of its National President, Joe Ajaero.
The embattled LP chairman, however, fell out of favour with the NLC following a contentious national convention held in Anambra that returned him and all his loyal members of the National Working Committee to office three months ago.
Despite a series of picketing at LP secretariats nationwide and other threats by the unionists amid calls for an expansive and inclusive convention that should start from the grassroots, Abure did not budge.
The action subsequently compelled the NLC Political Commission to void the new leadership and set up a transition committee, saddled with the task of engaging stakeholders of the party and conducting a fresh convention in 90 days.
A source at the LP national secretariat, who preferred anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, explained that Abure felt the urgent need to close rank with the Lamidi Apapa’s faction following the open revolt and media war from its Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi as well as the pressure from the NLC.
“It is the only logical way for him to have a united front against the threat of the NLC in particular. I believe you already know Abure has a long history with Lamidi Apapa and Abayomi Arabambi before now,” the source explained.
When The PUNCH contacted the Apapa’s camp, the factional spokesman, Abayomi Arabambi, confirmed the development.
Arabambi told our reporter that they had no problem with Abure from the outset because they knew he was being influenced and misled by some leading officers of the NLC.
He said, “We are together to stop all those political hawks from taking over our party. We thought they (NLC) were fighting for a just cause. But it is very obvious they only want to take over our party and we are not going to accept that. We in the Lamidi Apapa group are not lawbreakers like those who supported Abure in disobeying the court order. I have said this several times on air.
“It was because of this threat that Abure extended an olive branch for all of us to bond together. It was obvious that these people were not only with him to fight us but to take over the control of the party. So we cannot be outside and allow some people to take over our party. That was why Abure asked us to come together in the party’s interest.
“We are here to fight those people who want to use the Labour Party to foment trouble and destabilize the country. That is what we are against. Nobody is contesting or running for any election now. We know the next race is in 2027. Why should we now be seeking ways to bring the nation down? We are averse to that.”
He added, “I also want you to know that there is nothing like Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign here anymore. It has been dissolved. Everybody has reverted to former governorship and presidential candidate. We don’t want disinformation at the Labour Party.
“Again, you recall that there was a crisis in APC and the PDP. Yet, the warring parties came together and resolved it. So what stopped us from resolving ours? When you are fighting, there is no permanent enemy. It is all about permanent interest.”
Efforts to get Abure to react to the report were unsuccessful.
But the National Publicity Secretary of LP, Obiora Ifoh, also confirmed the reunion, saying there was nothing out of place for Abure to extend olive branches to aggrieved members of the party.
He said, “Labour Party is united. We do not have a division in the sense that as a party that came out of the election hugely successful with a lot of results to show, several people would want to have a stake in the Labour Party. The implication is that a lot of stone-throwing and interest will begin to manifest. But the Labour Party has a constitution and it has a rule completely spelt out.
“Anybody that tries to go out of it will get his hand burnt because the law will not support what you are doing just as the NLC is doing. Besides, we have never seen the Lamidi Apapa people as having their camp because there’s only one camp. That is the one led by Julius Abure.
“Of course, they have the right to be aggrieved and take positions that are not aligned with the interest of the party. But as soon as they discovered it was not the right way, I think they took the better decision to begin to retrace their steps. That is what we have seen.”
He stated further, “Many people who were involved in anti-party activities in the past are beginning to discover that the laws are not on their side. The best thing is to retrace their steps and return to the fold.
“So many other persons have indicated interest in returning to the party. LP does not have any problem with that. Our doors are wide open. If you are out in the cold and you need shelter in the Labour Party, we will bring you back and shelter you.
“The distinguished gentleman you just mentioned (Arabambi) is still our member. He has also recognised Julius Abure as the only national chairman. The party is coming together and I can tell you that the party is a lot more united now than ever.”
The Federal Government has allocated a substantial ₦14.77 billion for the repair and maintenance of the presidential air fleet over the past 11 months.
According to Punch, these funds were disbursed in 11 tranches from 16th July 2023 to 25th May 2024, utilizing the State House headquarters transit account designated for the Presidential Air Fleet Transit Funds.
This financial outlay comes at a time when the National Assembly is considering the approval for the purchase of two new aircraft for the presidential fleet.
The decision follows revelations that the President’s primary aircraft, a 19-year-old Boeing 737, along with several others in the fleet, have become dysfunctional due to age and wear.
The House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence has been instrumental in pushing forward these plans, having included the procurement in its technical subcommittee report.
The potential cost for acquiring two new state-of-the-art aircraft is estimated by experts to be over $623.4 million, or approximately ₦918.7 billion.
The report read in part, “The committee is of the strong and informed opinion that considering the fragile structure of the Nigerian federation and recognising the dire consequences of any foreseen or unforeseen mishap that may arise as a result of technical/operational inadequacy of the Presidential Air Fleet, it is in the best interest of the country to procure two additional aircraft as recommended. This will also prove to be most cost-efficient in the long run, aside from the added advantage of providing a suitable, comfortable and safe carrier befitting of the status and responsibilities of the offices of the President and Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
In recent times, there has been serious contention about the state of the air fleet despite enormous government resources spent on it during past administrations.
The unavailability of the president’s jet has seen President Bola Tinubu charter private jets, and Kashim Shettima abandon international trips.
The Vice President on May 6, 2024, abandoned his trip to the 2024 US-Africa Business Summit due to a technical fault with his official aircraft.
The Vice President was scheduled to represent the President, who had to board a commercial aircraft to Saudi Arabia after his main luxury jet was taken for rehabilitation and a second aircraft he was travelling in developed a technical snag in The Netherlands.
The Presidency currently maintains a fleet of six aircraft, namely a Boeing 737, a Gulfstream G550, a Gulfstream GV, two Falcon 7Xs, and a Challenger CL605, as well as six helicopters— two Agusta 139s and four Agusta 189s.
Buhari’s government spent ₦62.47bn for the operation and maintenance of PAF during his eight-year tenure.
Though Buhari promised to reduce the size of the fleet as part of his pledge to cut the cost of governance, checks reveal that his administration failed to live up to this promise.
In the 2016 budget, ₦3.65bn was allocated for the PAF, but this rose to ₦4.37bn in the 2017 fiscal year.
In 2018 and 2019, the allocation almost doubled, amounting to ₦7.26bn and ₦7.30bn, respectively. Closer observation showed a slight drop by ₦503.75m in 2020 when ₦6.79bn was budgeted for the fleet.
The allocation surged to ₦12.55bn and ₦12.48bn in the 2021 and 2022 fiscal budgets, respectively, before the ₦8.07bn allocation in 2023.
Meanwhile, checks by Punch using GovSpend, a civic tech platform that tracks and analyses the Federal Government’s spending, showed that Tinubu approved the disbursement of ₦14.77bn within one year of assuming office.
The amount is separate from expenses incurred during foreign and local trips by the President, Vice-President and other officials.
₦1.52bn was approved in July 2023 for maintenance and was followed by a payment of ₦3.1bn in August.
The next tranche was paid in November 2023 with a disbursement of ₦1.26bn. The government also paid ₦2.54bn in March 2024, ₦6.35bn in April 2024 and ₦1.27bn last month.
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[PRESS RELEASE] Atiku in Katsina on condolence visit to late Kaita's family, pays courtesy visits to Buhari, Emirs of Katsina, Daura
Admin![[PRESS RELEASE] Atiku in Katsina on condolence visit to late Kaita's family, pays courtesy visits to Buhari, Emirs of Katsina, Daura](/media/k2/items/cache/03ce5ef72ef6a5864cc48a6cfc60c7b8_XS.jpg)
On Saturday, 22 June, former Vice President of Nigeria and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 presidential election, Atiku Abubakar led other stakeholders of the party to the Daura residence of former late governor of old Kaduna State, Alhaji Lawan Kaita on a condolence visit over the loss of the matriarch of the family.
The visit, which was greeted with warm reception of Atiku across major townships of the Daura Emirate also saw the former Vice President paying similar courtesy visits to the the Emir of Daura, HRH Alhaji Farouk Umar Farouk and the former President Muhammadu Buhari. He also paid a courtesy visit to the Emir of Katsina, HRH Abdulmumini Kabir Usman.
A press statement from the Atiku Media Office on Saturday stated that the visit was meant for Atiku to express his love for Katsina State in particular and to familiarize with distinguished personalities of the Daura Emirate.
“The meeting of His Excellency Atiku Abubakar to Katsina State today is essentially a continuation of his courtesy visits since the end of Sallah celebrations and, especially to condole with the family of his late old friend, Mallam Lawan Kaita,” the statement signed by Atiku’s media adviser, Paul Ibe said.
Pictures:
Pics 1-3: Former Vice President of Nigeria (1999-2007) and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (2023), Atiku Abubakar and former President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari during a courtesy visit by Atiku on Saturday, 22nd June, 2024.
Pic 4: Former Vice President of Nigeria (1999-2007) and Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (2023), Atiku Abubakar, former President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, Senator and former Governor of Sokoto State, Sen. Aminu Tambuwal, former Governor of Adamawa State, Bindo Jibrilla during Atiku's courtesy visit to Buhari at the weekend.
Signed:
Paul Ibe
Media Adviser to Atiku Abubakar
Vice President of Nigeria (1999-2007) and Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (2023)
Katsina
![[Videos] Atiku Visits Former President Buhari](/media/k2/items/cache/396be6692938e1ec4bec9f65dfb7aec5_XS.jpg)
The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 presidential election, Atiku Abubakar has paid a visit to the immediate past President, Muhammadu Buhari.
Naija News reports that Atiku, a former Vice President, visited Buhari at his Daura residence on Saturday.
It was gathered that Senator Aminu Tambuwal, the immediate past Governor of Sokoto State, alongside other PDP stakeholders accompanied Atiku on his visit.
The visit to Buhari comes few days after Atiku paid a similar visit to former Military President, Ibrahim Babagida and former Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, in Niger State.
[NaijaNews]
Media
While it is almost impossible to chronicle all the people who played one role or the other in Nigeria’s quest for a return to democratic governance from June 12, 1993, until May 29, 1999, some names missed out in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Democracy Day speech have been tagged as too significant to be left out.
In his speech on June 12, the president listed 32 names as heroes of democracy, starting with the late Chief MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of Nigeria’s arguably freest election in 1993, to Chief Ayo Opadokun, the Secretary-General of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), an association of several pro-democracy and activist groups that championed the call for the military to exit the stage and hand over to Abiola.
Dinosaurs Spine at Hang Dong, Ta Xua, Son La seen from above
Referencing the sacrifices made by the coalition, the president said, “The precious gift brought about by their selfless devotion can neither be repaid nor forgotten.”
However, many Nigerians observed that though the president noted that the list was not exhaustive, as several names who also played critical roles, some with their lives, were not mentioned.
Some of the names said to have been worth mentioning include Walter Carrington, Frederick Fasehun, Col Dangiwa Umar, Bagauda Kaltho, Joe Igbokwe, Mohammed Adamu, Dr Junaidu Mohammed, Alhaji Bukar Zarma, Nosa Igiebor, Bayo Onanuga, Sunday Dare, Gambo Sawaba, Mike Ozekhome, Clement Nwankwo and Alao Aka-Bashorun.
‘Proper planning would’ve ensured significant names weren’t omitted’
The immediate past Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of The Guardian, Martins Oloja, in an interview with Daily Trust Saturday, said, “Immortalising people and doing all this thing on June 12, is a very good cause, but since the president decided to name some people as heroes of democracy, I believe they omitted some significant names and only remembered the prominent figures.”
Using Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Life to differentiate between significance and prominence, Oloja, who was the editor of the Abuja Newsday that was shut down during the period, said that being a reporter and editor during the period of Nigeria’s democratic struggle he knew several persons not on the list read out by the president but that played significant roles in the struggle and thus deserved to be recognised as heroes of “our” democracy.
He noted that people like the late former Vice President, Alex Ekwueme, with his organisation of political groups; the late Justice Dolapo Akinsanya, who declared the Interim National Government of Chief Ernest Shonekan illegal, were left out.
Meanwhile, President Tinubu had before then described the late Justice Akinsanya as “one of the heroines of the present democracy in Nigeria for the courageous judgement she delivered against the legality of the Interim National Government in November, 1993.”
Oloja added that the names of people like Joe Igbokwe, with his constant letters to editors for the actualisation of democracy; and Dr Kayode Fayemi, a former Ekiti State governor, who was generally described as the brain behind Radio Kudirat – the indispensable voice of the June 12, struggle that was broadcasting not only to Nigeria, denouncing the military dictators, but also sensitising the international community on the struggle to end military dictatorship in the country, were also not on the list.
He further said, “Even for the media, the president just mentioned some media establishments but didn’t mention some of the people who suffered specifically. For instance, Bayo Onanuga, the current president’s media adviser, who resigned from his job as the Editor of Concord as a result of the struggle. He resigned when it came to apologising to the military about a story. He refused and left.”
He also highlighted the roles of Ray Ekpu, Yakubu Mohammed and Dan Agbese, all of Newswatch, who were arrested on the same day for publishing an interview with David Mark on the intrigues that led to the cancellation of the June 12, 1993, presidential election.
He added that even among the activists, it was a great oversight to ignore names like Mike Ozekhome, Clement Nwankwo, Alao Aka-Bashorun and Chief Amos Akingba, especially as the president decided to include the names of their contemporaries like Olisa Agbakoba, Femi Falana, Abdul Oroh, Senator Shehu Sani and Governor Uba Sani.
Oloja noted that while it was impossible to have an exhaustive list, proper planning of an event of that nature would have ensured that some significant names that readily came to mind were not subsumed under “among others” as the president did in his speech.
Walter Carrington
For instance, the late Carrington, a former US Ambassador to Nigeria, was so interested in Nigeria’s struggle for a return to democracy that his position was erroneously interpreted by the then military regime as the intention of the United States (US) to kick out the General Sani Abacha regime.
In his condolence message, former President Muhammadu Buhari described Carrington as a “long-time friend of Nigeria and an astute and courageous diplomat,” adding that the story of “Nigeria’s democracy under the Fourth Republic will not be complete without a mention of the heroic roles of the likes of Ambassador Carrington.”
Carrington remains arguably the most popular US ambassador to Nigeria even after his death in 2020. The road where the US Consulate and several other countries’ consulates are situated is named after him in Lagos.
Alao Aka-Bashorun
Similarly, Aka-Bashorun, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), was another name believed to be too important to the democratic struggle to have been excluded.
One of his children, Dipo H Aka-Bashorun, in an opinion article to respond to the absence of his father’s name during the president’s June 12, dinner speech, said June 12, like with so many notable Nigerians, was inextricably connected to his name.
He wrote, “Where to start? His conviction of G.O.K. Ajayi (SAN) to join him and mount the legal defence of Chief MKO Abiola, the widely acclaimed winner of June 12, at his trial for treason. How about his years in exile; having had to leave Nigeria with a passport issued by the United Nations after the People’s Chambers (his law office) had been raided, sealed off, and his Nigerian passport seized? His role as a leading member of the human rights movement to take the case of Nigeria’s human rights abuses to the United Kingdom and the United States.
“His unwavering support of Mrs Kudirat Abiola’s resolve, commitment and determination to see the actualisation of her husband’s mandate? On June 4, 1996, Alao Aka-Bashorun was one of the first people to see Kudirat Abiola’s bullet-ridden body at the hospital. She had been on her way to pick him up for a meeting. The shock was too much to bear and he broke down at the scene and would never fully recover his memory again. Such was his price to pay for democracy in our beloved country, Nigeria.”
The younger Aka-Bashorun added: “The omission of his name at a dinner speech notwithstanding, history has been kind to his legacy. Associations like the Ikeja branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, which have held a widely acclaimed annual lecture since April 29, 2010, in his name as a bar leader and incomparable activist, have lived up to the creed that ‘the labour of our heroes past shall never be in vain’ and are doing their part so that his name and achievements are not overlooked at the dinner table.”
Another of Aka-Bashorun’s children, Morayo Afolabi-Brown, said she was not surprised when her father’s name was omitted in the president’s speech “because when June 12, was officially made our Democracy Day and there was quite a bit of attention on the heroes of that day, my dad wasn’t mentioned. People were given post-humous awards, but he wasn’t recognised. As a family, we chose not to make a fuss.”
Morayo, who is the MD of TVC Entertainment, further said while their father had not gotten the recognition his role in Nigeria’s democratic struggle earned him, “A few people in government and well-meaning Nigerians have acknowledged to me privately the role my father played, but none of these has been publicly or officially stated by the government in power or others before them.”
Frederick Fasehun
The leadership of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) also described President Tinubu’s failure to acknowledge its founder, Dr Frederick Fasehun, in the list of the June 12, heroes as a mark of ingratitude.
The President of the Yoruba socio-political organisation, Otunba Wasiu Afolabi, said that it took the family and estate of Dr Fasehun to blow their father’s June 12, trumpet for the younger generation to know and acknowledge him as one of the heroes of Nigeria’s democratic struggle.
Afolabi recalled that the medical doctor-turned activist sacrificed his livelihood and liberty to fight for the disannulment of Abiola’s mandate and the restoration of democracy through the OPC and NADECO.
He said, “Baba was jailed several times. Hundreds of innocent OPC members were killed. Some were arrested, jailed, maimed for life and extra-judicially killed.”
Bukar Zarma
Also recollecting the years of the struggle to install democracy, veteran editor of the then New Nigeria and publisher of Abuja Newsday, Alhaji Bukar Zarma, told Daily Trust Saturday that there was no hard feeling about not being recognised in the president’s speech because, looking back, “We can say the struggle was worth it. What is important is that the work was done; it does not matter who gets the credit. If they give one credit, fine; if they don’t, you should be happy that the work was done.”
Alhaji Zarma, who is now the Coordinating Secretary of the Leadership Selection Committee of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), recalled that, “At one point when New Nigeria was the only newspaper in Northern Nigeria and I was the daily editor, all of us (editors) were in detention. I was detained at the NSO office in Lagos, and my roommates were Femi Falana; then Editor of Tribune, Folu Olamiti; and late elder statesman, Alhaji Sule Katagum, a former Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission.
“Even for Abuja Newsday, as small as it was, I, as the publisher, and the editors were always arrested and detained. The paper was proscribed alongside others, but unlike others, it never recovered. All these only illustrate the crisis that befell the media during the struggle for democracy. I don’t think there is any group of professionals that paid the price journalists paid. Of course, there were the agitators who were often arrested and detained, but journalists were walking corpses because they picked you on the streets, in your houses and all others, and nobody can go to court to secure your release.”
Mohammed Adamu
Also sharing his experience during the struggle, Mohammed Adamu, a former editor of African Concord, who himself was identified as worthy of recognition, recalled in one of his writings on the struggle that: “For nine months I was in the dungeon of what we knew then as the SSS – bearded to the navel – and in just about four months I was beginning to dreadlock as I was hemmed daily between two giant air-conditioning power machines that supplied the entire building.”
His offence was the writing of an expose with the title: “El-Mustapha: The ruthless iron man behind Abacha’s junta”, which he said was “about the first ever to unravel and deconstruct – if you will – the once shadowy Chief Security Officer (CSO) who initially loomed large behind the throne even though he enjoyed de facto privileges to the subjugation or capitulation of all armed and unarmed forces in the country.
“By the sixth month in detention, TELL’s Osifor Whisky Onome was brought in to join me, and together we were now told that we had our hands in the Diya coup attempt, an event that ironically happened six long months after I had been taken in and three months after Onome had been. And to show how serious they really were, some of the civilian suspects in that coup attempt were moved to our tiny cell as a combined team of military police, the SSS and others began to interrogate us, preparatory, they said, to our being moved soon to Jos where the tribunal would sit.”
But after failing to establish a case against them, Adamu recalled that he and Onome were informed that they “were culpable because our writings, over time, having damagingly denigrated the junta, had, wittingly or unwittingly, motivated the coupists to act and also prepared fertile ground for the public to welcome the coup – had it succeeded.”
Joe Igbokwe
Also speaking with Daily Trust Saturday, Joe Igbokwe, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, said he was recognised as he was invited to the anniversary dinner.
He said, “I was in that hall. He (President Tinubu) could not mention all the names. We thought he would mention all the names, but he did not mention all the names. I was there.
“You know, those of them that occupied power after the June 12, crisis in 1999 never knew anything about the struggle for democracy. Obasanjo came and hijacked Abiola’s position. After that, Yar’Adua came, Jonathan came and then Buhari. These are not the heroes of democracy. It’s now that we have heroes of democracy in power.
“I feel elated. Being remembered is the most important thing. If Asiwaju had not been elected, nobody would remember us.”
Nosa Igiebor
The co-founder and president of Tell Communications, publishers of Tell Magazine, Nosa Igiebor (72), told Daily Trust Saturday that he did not feel anything personal with his name not being mentioned among the heroes of June 12, and democracy.
Igiebor was arrested and imprisoned because of the June 12, struggle before he later went into exile.
He said, “June 12, has come and gone. I didn’t feel anything personal about not being mentioned, as there are many others left out, maybe inadvertently. I didn’t feel much celebrating June 12, as we have not fared better after 25 years, and we are even worse off than when we were fighting to end military rule and enthrone democracy.
“What matters to me is that Nigerians should be better off than they are. June 12, and democracy would have meaning and be appreciated by Nigerians if their lives are better with democracy and they are assured that there is hope and a future for their children.
“When the leaders were celebrating June 12, millions of other Nigerians were unfulfilled that the democracy they laboured for and expected dividends were not forthcoming.”
President will acknowledge all in due course – Presidency
Reacting to the concerns of many Nigerians, the presidency said the president would in due course acknowledge all the men and women who fought for the democracy currently being enjoyed.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, noted that the omission of some names was not an indication that the president snubbed them.
Onanuga said, “Even some of the names you mentioned here are not exhaustive. The fact that the president did not mention some names does not suggest he snubbed them or didn’t remember them. Indeed, while reading his speech, the president twice added, ‘among others’, because he realised the names were merely representative of the whole.
“The president, in due course, will acknowledge all the men and women who fought for the democracy we are enjoying today.”
Morayo Afolabi-Brown, said she was not surprised when her father’s name was omitted in the president’s speech “because when June 12, was officially made our Democracy Day and there was quite a bit of attention on the heroes of that day, my dad wasn’t mentioned. People were given post-humous awards, but he wasn’t recognised. As a family, we chose not to make a fuss.”
Morayo, who is the MD of TVC Entertainment, further said while their father had not gotten the recognition his role in Nigeria’s democratic struggle earned him, “A few people in government and well-meaning Nigerians have acknowledged to me privately the role my father played, but none of these has been publicly or officially stated by the government in power or others before them.”
The Lagos State Government has attributed the recent cholera outbreak in the state to an unregistered tiger nut drink.
The cholera outbreak has impacted multiple local government areas in Lagos, including Lagos Island, Eti-Osa, and Kosofe, with hospitals reporting the highest number of cases.
As of June 21, Lagos has recorded 24 deaths and 35 confirmed cholera cases, with Eti-Osa identified as the epicenter of the outbreak in Nigeria’s commercial capital.
In an interview with Punch on Saturday, Kemi Ogunyemi, special adviser to the Lagos state governor on health, mentioned that upon noticing a rise in suspected cholera cases in Eti-Osa LGA, the government conducted a direct assessment of the area.
Ogunyemi revealed that a survey indicated a common factor was a tiger nut drink being sold, while noting it was not registered with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
She mentioned that authorities were then sent out to locate the drink in order to test samples for cholera.
Her words: “We found empty bottles with a name on them, but we discovered that it wasn’t even registered with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the regulatory body that ensures the safety of consumables.
“There was a phone number and a name on the bottle, and we started tracing. We did contact tracing, similar to what we did with COVID-19.
“We combed the area to ask people where they got the drinks from. We couldn’t find any full bottles. We only found empty ones, which were of no use because we could not test them. The phone number on the bottle was not reachable.
“Cholera is also water-borne, so we took samples of the water to test it. The bottom line is that we took stool samples because different things cause diarrhoea.
“It could be anything else. We found out that it was confirmed cholera, specifically Vibrio cholera subtype 01, which is the most infectious and aggressive type.
“There are different types, but we identified this one. In Lagos Island, Eti-osa, and Kosofe, we recorded the highest number of cases that went to the hospital.
“I’m not talking about reported cases. These are the people who did the right thing by going to the hospital to complain of symptoms, and they were treated. That’s when we were alerted.”
Ogunyemi urged residents to practice good hygiene and ensure that the items they purchase for consumption are registered with the appropriate government agencies.
[Vanguard]