The Nation Newspaper

Category: Commentaries

  • Atiku: Now that the admin has left the group…

    Atiku: Now that the admin has left the group…

    • By Tochukwu Jimo Obi

    Sir: In the fast-moving world of Nigerian politics, few metaphors capture the moment better than the phrase: “Now that the admin has left the group.” It is the phrase that encapsulates the sudden, dramatic, and disruptive exit of a central figure from a collective—someone whose presence once defined its operations, even if not always positively.

    This week, that “admin” is none other than former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, whose official defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has sent ripples across the nation’s political waters.

    Atiku’s departure, long speculated, is the symbolic end of a chapter in PDP’s troubled history.

    For many observers, Atiku’s exit is not a loss, but a relief. After all, it is no secret that the PDP has been embroiled in internal crises for years, but the height of its dysfunction came in the lead-up to the 2023 general elections. Atiku’s emergence as the party’s presidential candidate was seen by many as a betrayal of the South’s aspiration for power rotation. Key stakeholders, especially from the southern wing of the party, felt side-lined. Most notably, Governor Nyesom Wike and his G5 colleagues openly rebelled against the party’s decision and, by implication, Atiku himself.

    Read Also: Tinubu urges unity, pays tribute to late Awujale of Ijebuland

    By moving to the ADC, Atiku may be hoping to reinvent himself yet again. But questions abound. Can a man who has switched political parties more than five times be trusted to stay long enough to build one?

    For the ADC, Atiku’s entrance may bring media attention and a flurry of new followers, but it could also disrupt the party’s internal cohesion. Whether the ADC will give him free rein remains to be seen.

    Now that the proverbial “admin” has left the group, can the PDP finally find peace? That’s the question party loyalists are asking. With Atiku out of the picture, one of the major polarizing forces is gone. It opens up a rare opportunity for introspection, restructuring, and reconciliation. The wounds of 2023 may not heal overnight, but the source of much of the irritation has now exited the stage.

    In politics, as in life, sometimes subtraction brings addition. Atiku’s departure may provide the PDP the breathing space it sorely needs to rediscover its soul and chart a new, inclusive course. But this will require honest conversations, sincere apologies, and a departure from the culture of impunity that has plagued the party for years.

    While Atiku starts a new chapter with the ADC, the PDP now has a chance—perhaps its last—to heal, unite, and become a true opposition force. The admin may have left the group, but what the group becomes from here on will determine whether his exit was a tragedy or a turning point.

    •Tochukwu Jimo Obi,

    <jimobi83@gmail.com>

  • Ending witch hunts in Kano

    Ending witch hunts in Kano

    • By Leo Igwe

    Sir: Kano is one of those places where witchcraft accusations and suspicions rage like wildfire. As in other parts of the country, the accused usually resign to their fate. They seldom seek redress in courts or hold their accusers accountable or responsible. This is why the convention of the first roundtable discussion on witch hunts and human rights violations in Kano is a commendable development because it indicates some progress in addressing human rights abuses that are too long forgotten and too long ignored.

    Witchcraft accusation wreaks havoc in the lives of innocent people. Nigeria is one of those countries where witch hunting is pervasive despite existing mechanisms to combat the abuse. Africa is one place in the world where suspected witches are still banished, beaten to death or buried alive with impunity. This unfortunate situation in the region needs to change.

    Africa needs to join the rest of the world in making witch hunting history. Africans need to reorient their minds and end the trial and persecution of alleged witches. Unfortunately, Africans are far from realizing this goal because abuses linked to witchcraft beliefs and ritual attacks run rampant in families and communities. The superstition that people can harm others through magical or supernatural means remains strong. The educational system has not succeeded in weakening the grip of this mistaken idea on people’s minds.

    People abuse alleged witches, or turn a blind eye to the violations, because they believe. They believe that the accused are or could be guilty as charged. Those who think otherwise are reluctant to act or intervene on behalf of the accused. In making sense of their everyday problems and challenges, most people readily appeal or invoke supernatural agencies; they leap into the imaginary world, the transcendental realm.  They mobilize occult fears and anxieties, resulting in anarchy, anomie, and mayhem. The magical leap trumps everything, including their sense of humanity, human rights, decency, reason, common sense, and civilization.

    So children accuse and abuse their parents. Parents accuse and abuse their children. Relatives accuse relatives. Neighbours suspect and attack neighbours. Families and communities turn against alleged witches. In the markets, and offices, in cities and urban areas, witchcraft accusations and witch hunts persist with force and ferocity. The dark and destructive consequences of witch hunts are evident.

    Read Also: IGP orders tight security over planned protest by retired police officers

    In line with the theme of this year’s World Day Against Witch Hunts: Remembering Victims of Witch Hunts, Past and Present, the Kano convention offers an opportunity to recall failures and missteps that have yielded and sustained this menace. It provides a space to stress our duty and obligation to combat this vicious phenomenon right here and right now. First, it is pertinent to remember that belief does not justify abuse. Too often, witchcraft accusers and witch hunters think that belief legitimizes the persecution of alleged witches. It does not. While humans have the right to believe, they must be held responsible for actions and beliefs. And witchcraft beliefs often motivate people to commit atrocities. And these atrocities are not excusable or justifiable based on beliefs.

    That one believes a person is a witch does not suffice; it does not make a person a witch, even when the person is beaten or coerced to confess or admit. Belief is not a proof. We must remember that witchcraft is a form of superstition; it is a belief based on fear and ignorance, on mistaken ideas of nature and how nature works. Also, witchcraft accusation is a crime under the law. Section 210 of the Criminal Code Act prohibits witchcraft accusations. It is against the law to accuse someone of witchcraft. Those convicted could be fined and, or imprisoned.

    Witchcraft trials constitute a miscarriage of justice. Victims of witch hunts are innocent people unjustly accused and unjustly treated. Those who have passed away should be memorialized and honoured, while survivors and their families should be compensated. The Advocacy for Alleged Witches looks forward to working with the office of the National Human Rights Commission in Kano and in other parts of the nation in ending abuses linked to witchcraft beliefs and ritual attacks.

    •Leo Igwe,

    Ibadan, Oyo State

  • Fraudulent theatre called Nigeria’s real estate

    Fraudulent theatre called Nigeria’s real estate

    • By Folorunso Fatai Adisa

    Sir: There was a time in Nigeria when buying property was a solemn act, not a gamble. A man’s word, backed by a reputable company’s name, meant something. Developers like Jide Taiwo or firms like UPDC operated with quiet integrity. They didn’t need blaring jingles or viral influencers to peddle their offerings. Their work spoke through brick and stone, not billboards and Instagram reels.

    In those days, real estate was rooted in purpose, to shelter families, not to dazzle followers.

    But we have drifted. What once stood on the shoulders of professionalism has been reduced to a carnival of deceit. Somewhere between the economic chaos of Buhari’s later years and the social media boom, real estate in Nigeria lost its soul. A sacred trade has now been hijacked by a generation of digital illusionists, hustlers with ring lights, branded t-shirts, and slick tongues, selling fantasy as future.

    Today, everybody is a realtor. They carry no license, hold no training, and obey no code of ethics. Yet they flood our cities with flyers, throw-back-thirsty captions, and drone-shot videos. They do not sell land. They sell longing. Locations are described as “just five minutes from the airport,” even when such airports exist only in dreams. Estates are named “Dubai Gardens,” though they lack access roads, water, or electricity. What buyers are sold is not property, but possibility. And often, that too is a lie.

    In cities like Abeokuta, Ibadan, or Alausa in Lagos, you’ll encounter these marketers, mostly women in tight-fitted polos, exuding rehearsed politeness, brandishing brochures like they’re selling perfume rather than plots of land. They promise comfort, returns, and legacy. But behind their painted smiles are swamps disguised as suburbs, bush paths touted as boulevards, and half-built gates standing guard over empty promises.

    Then there are the self-styled CEOs, the self-anointed kings of “realty.” Yesterday’s okada riders now fly business class, living large on the sweat of unsuspecting buyers. They peddle lands they don’t own, raise millions for estates that never materialize, and disappear once the last instalment is paid. They resurface occasionally to post motivational quotes. Their pitch is psychological manipulation. And their only product is illusion.

    These fraudsters thrive on the hunger of the average Nigerian, the deep, aching desire to escape rent, to own something solid in a country where everything else feels shaky. They exploit this hunger through “pay small-small” packages, using emotion to override logic. But when the time comes to allocate land or complete documents, they vanish. The office shutters, the website goes blank, and the phone lines stop connecting. The buyer is left not just landless, but broken.

    Even worse, many of these firms now operate like Ponzi schemes. They offer impossible returns, 300% in 90 days, then lure investors with celebrity endorsements, music concerts, and raffle draws. They shift attention from the core product (land, housing, and infrastructure) to entertainment and noise. And all the while, they know they are building nothing.

    Read Also: Tinubu urges unity, pays tribute to late Awujale of Ijebuland

    One must ask: what exactly are they selling? Often, it’s undeveloped plots in remote places priced as if they were in Lekki or even Birmingham. There are no roads, no electricity, no schools, no water. The price tag covers nothing more than hope, an expensive emotion in a country where the poor cannot afford to dream.

    This isn’t just bad business. It is cruelty masquerading as commerce. Real estate should be a tool for national development, a bridge to dignity. Yet those who claim to solve the problem are worsening it. While millions sleep under bridges or crowd into slums, the market is flooded with fake listings and loud campaigns.

    We need more than awareness; we need accountability. Every practitioner in the industry must be licensed, regulated, and monitored. REDAN, LASRERA, and town planning authorities must wake from their slumber and enforce sanity. Developers who swindle buyers should not walk free. They should face the law, not likes and comments. Naming and shaming must become the norm, not the exception.

    Real estate must return to its roots: a sacred trust, not a seductive trap. Shelter is not luxury. It is dignity. It is security. It is life. Today, that dignity is being traded for hashtags and housewarming parties with no homes behind the gates.

    Therefore, the next time a billboard screams “Buy Now, 50% Discount!” or a marketer sends you a WhatsApp message with voice notes and emojis, pause. Ask questions. Verify documents. Don’t fall for drone footage. Don’t be hypnotized by influencers. Don’t be deceived by digital dressing on a fraudulent feast.

    Because in today’s Nigeria, buying land is no longer a transaction. It is a test of discernment. A test you cannot afford to fail.

    •Folorunso Fatai Adisa,

     United Kingdom

  • ADC fib 

    ADC fib 

    Bolaji Abdullahi, African Democratic Congress (ADC) interim national publicity secretary, knew what he claimed was a fib — that the Tinubu government had been using the late President Muhammadu Buhari’s funeral rites to launder itself.

    Since ADC is mainly the Atiku PDP — old wine in hired, new skin — Abdullahi should know how his wild claim echoes the sterile PDP freshly out-of-power old ones.  But these hare-brained yarns sunk PDP further into the power wilderness.  Today, the Atiku faction, with glee, acts the cheerful undertaker to bury — alive! — their former ruling party.  Talk of brazen, unmitigated perfidy!

    But Abdullahi’s take is a fib, only to the extent of Buhari’s death.  It’s a pointer — even if cynical and self-serving, coming from ADC — to how APC willfully failed to maximize the Buhari mystique, while still alive.

    Had that path been taken, it’s a moot point if these opportunistic wanderers would have felt it worth their while to move into ADC, to pursue Atiku’s forlorn presidency.  Even if they had, the joke would still have been on them, for their partisan thunder would have have sounded as a baby’s silly moan, to a contemptuous polity.

    But that wouldn’t have been solely because of the late PMB’s famed integrity: built on an incorruptible nature, both private and public.

    It would have been firmly anchored on the sound gestation period of public policy.  Imagine if the APC had branded their achievements solely on when they took power in 2015, against the PDP era (1999-2015), instead of one APC faction barking against the other, and inviting outsiders to help rubbish legacies they should collectively toast and cherish?

    That branding would have thrown up stark contrasts: Obasanjo and Atiku were at each other’s throat.  Buhari and Osinbajo were a model of presidential trust and mutual respect, even with disparate caucuses in the ruling party.  Better revenue but near-nil infrastructure versus a parched purse, sprouting a flower of infrastructure. 

    Read Also: Tinubu urges unity, pays tribute to late Awujale of Ijebuland

    Obasanjo wanted third term to perpetuate himself.  Buhari shunned such with all his Spartan will.  Local rice, as symbol of food security, hardly featured in the PDP-era agenda.  The APC era started with that, as the rallying cry: grow what you eat and eat what you grow!

    This is not saying the APC era has turned Nigeria into an el-dorado.  But it offered a fresh start, from the free-wheeling chaos of the PDP epoch.  The resultant hardship came, not from pains from death pangs, but from difficult surgeries which, if well managed, would save the patient’s life.

    Imagine if all of these had been carefully curated and grafted into the government’s strategic public communication, would it not have been easier to establish a credible case of brewing hope, even as PMB had handed over to President Bola Tinubu? 

    Or which truth was told after PMB died that was a lie while he was alive?  It was a lost opportunity not to maximize that strength! That’s the cynical truth from Abdullahi’s self-serving fiction.

    The APC, as the ruling party, should learn to play to its strengths.  The grandstanding Abdullahi knew ADC would do everything to have a dead Buhari in its camp than a living Atiku.  It’s all about the public service records of both.

    That’s what the funeral red herring was all about.  Still, APC should not shy away from milking its own, when the subject is selfless service and patriotism, ala PMB.  Let ADC flaunt Atiku — or better still, Obasanjo, Atiku’s everlasting nemesis!

  • Putin’s regime is eating itself alive

    Putin’s regime is eating itself alive

    • By Jason Jay Smart

    Today, once again, Ukrainian drones struck Moscow. Airports were closed. Russian air defenses fired and Russian social media lit up with panic. But the real story isn’t just about a drone strike.

    It’s that the Russian state is collapsing – structurally, economically, and psychologically. Not just on the front lines, but deep within the Kremlin’s own walls. Economically, militarily, and socially, Putin’s regime is cracking.

    Putin wants the world to believe he’s weathering the storm. But the reality is this: His regime is bleeding from every artery.

    Now Putin falls back on his instincts, to do, as many dictators before him: He is seeking to consolidate control, relying on those he trusts.

    The secret police are seizing power

    On July 8, the Russian Duma passed a law granting the FSB – the modern successor of the Soviet KGB—the power to build and operate its own private prison system. This marks a historic and chilling shift in the architecture of Russian state power.

    For the first time since Stalin’s NKVD, Russia’s secret police now bypass both the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Internal Affairs. No military agency, no civilian ministry – not even Putin’s national guard – has this privilege.

    The FSB now controls the arrest, the investigation, and the imprisonment of anyone it targets. This is not merely centralization – it is the consolidation of a parallel state, one that operates outside constitutional oversight, legal restraint, or public transparency.

    It signals that Putin no longer trusts his own institutions – like the police or military – and is handing raw coercive power to the only organ he truly controls: the secret police.

    The Kremlin is arming the FSB with unchecked tools of terror, because the regime’s foundations are too rotten to hold without force.

    Authoritarian regimes consolidate power in their final stages by turning inward – by elevating fear over law, repression over governance. This move by the Duma is not about managing criminals. It’s about preparing for mass purges, silencing dissent, and locking down the collapsing state through intimidation.

    Private FSB prisons mean whistleblowers vanish without trace. Rival factions are neutralized without trial. Even ministers are now expendable. The Kremlin is arming the FSB with unchecked tools of terror, because the regime’s foundations are too rotten to hold without force.

    In modern Russian history, the last time an intelligence agency wielded this kind of unilateral power, the result was the Great Terror. Today, it’s not ideology that drives it – it’s regime survival.

    Russia’s economic core is imploding

    Russia’s energy empire – the financial backbone of the regime – is unraveling. In June, oil and gas revenues plunged by nearly 34%, forcing the Kremlin to more than triple its projected 2025 deficit.

    Urals crude is now trading at just $52 per barrel – far below the $70-per-barrel baseline baked into the federal budget. For a state that relies on oil and gas for almost 40% of its revenue, this is not turbulence. It’s structural collapse.

    Industry profits have cratered. In Q1 2025, Russia’s oil and gas sector saw a 50% drop in net profit. Rosneft’s income fell by 7.6% year-on-year, while Lukoil reported a 26.5% decline in net profit over the last fiscal year. The sector is bleeding from every direction – hammered by sanctions, price caps, tanker blacklists, and shrinking demand.

    Read Also: FAAC shares highest allocation of N1.818tr in June

    Even coal is buckling. Russia’s state railways announced they would not renew coal export agreements with major mining regions, threatening to derail one of the last profitable sectors left.

    The contagion is spreading across the domestic economy. Moscow’s real estate sales crashed by 42% in May. Nationwide, developers are freezing projects. Restaurants have seen a 33% collapse in foot traffic – even as food prices spike by up to 50%.

    The middle class has stopped spending. Construction is stalling. Private capital has exited. This isn’t stagnation – it’s a consumer economy in full retreat.

    To cover the widening fiscal crater, the Kremlin has already burned through nearly $6 billion from the National Welfare Fund in the first five months of 2025 – more than half the amount spent in all of last year. Economists warn that if trends continue, the fund will be empty by 2026. But the crisis doesn’t stop there.

    The ruble is cornered. Analysts now warn that it must be devalued to 120–130 per dollar to stabilize government finances. But doing so risks triggering a bank run – ordinary Russians pulling their savings to avoid losing everything. Meanwhile, household credit has collapsed. In just six months, over $3.7 billion in delinquent loans were handed to collectors. Not postponed – defaulted.

    This isn’t just fiscal strain. It’s systemic breakdown. And the worst may not be behind Russia – but just ahead.

  • MUSWEN urges Nigerians to emulate Buhari’s lifestyle

    MUSWEN urges Nigerians to emulate Buhari’s lifestyle

    • Says Oba Adetona was a reformer

    The Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN) has urged Nigerians to reflect on the values of unity, integrity, and selfless service that defined the life of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The umbrella body for Muslims in the southwest also has described the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, as a reformer monarch who balanced culture and tradition with Islamic values.

    MUSWEN in statements signed by its President, Alhaji Rasaki Oladejo, and Executive Secretary, Prof Muslih Tayo Yahya, said the late Buhari was “a statesman whose dedication to Nigeria’s unity, security, and development left an indelible mark on the nation’s history. As a devout Muslim, he exemplified humility and service, values that resonate deeply with the Muslim Ummah and Nigerians at large.”

    Read Also: FG pledges to uphold Buhari’s legacy as Shettima, Sambo, others pay tribute in Daura

    MUSWEN recalled that “President Buhari’s tenure as Nigeria’s leader was characterized by commitment to tackling corruption, strengthening national security, and fostering economic reforms. His integrity, simplicity, and steadfast leadership inspired millions and earned him respect across diverse divides. “In recognition of his immense contributions to Nigeria, MUSWEN respectfully calls on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to immortalize the legacy of former President Buhari. We propose that the federal government consider naming significant national infrastructure, institutions, or initiatives after him to honor his service and ensure that future generations draw inspiration from his life of discipline and patriotism.” According to MUSWEN, Oba Adetona, who was the President of the Ogun Muslim Council and leader of all Muslim Obas in Yorubaland, was not only a revered traditional ruler but also a tireless advocate for the rights of traditional rulers to be buried according to their religious beliefs. “His efforts culminated in the enactment of the Obas and Chiefs Laws of Ogun State 2021, which respects the dignity and faith of traditional rulers in matters of burial rites. This landmark achievement ensures that traditional rulers, regardless of their faith, can be laid to rest in a manner that honors their personal convictions. As a Muslim, Oba Adetona’s commitment to Islamic values was evident in his life and work.

    “He was a custodian of Yoruba culture who understood the importance of balancing tradition with faith. His legacy will continue to guide us in promoting harmony between cultural heritage and religious principles.”

  • Buhari, Awujale are icons of leadership, says TMC

    Buhari, Awujale are icons of leadership, says TMC

    The Muslim Congress (TMC) has joined the nation and the global community in mourning the passing of two towering figures in Nigeria’s history – former President Muhammadu Buhari, and Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, the Awujale of Ijebuland – both of whom died on Sunday.

    TMC Amir, Alhaji AbdulWasi’I  Bangbala, said Buhari’s legacy extends far beyond his two terms as democratically elected president.

    Bangbala said: “Buhari was a disciplined military leader turned statesman, he embodied integrity and a quiet dignity. His unwavering commitment to fighting corruption, his focus on infrastructural development and his steadfast dedication to national security defined his presidency. While his policies sparked debate at times, as is the fate of all leaders, his sincerity and commitment to a better Nigeria were never in question.  His famous words, “I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody,” perfectly encapsulate his dedication to impartial leadership. We remember his efforts to foster agricultural growth, his impactful social investment programs and the enduring legacy of his infrastructural projects.

    Read Also: 36 commissioners oppose Senate-proposed Electricity Act Amendment Bill

    “Oba Adetona’s 65-year reign transformed Ijebuland through cultural renaissance, community development and educational advancement. His establishment of the Oba Sikiru Adetona Professorial Chair in Governance at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State and his advocacy for constitutional roles for traditional rulers showcased his deep intellectualism and commitment to nation-building.

    “The simultaneous passing of these icons of leadership is a profound loss for Nigeria and the African continent as a whole.  President Buhari and Oba Adetona were leaders who inspired, challenged and ultimately left an enduring mark on the nation. We pray that Allah grants their souls eternal peace, forgive their shortcomings, rewards their good deeds and grants their families, the nation and all who mourn the fortitude to bear these irreplaceable losses. May Nigeria continue to draw inspiration from their exemplary lives and may their memories remain a beacon of hope and unity for generations to come.

  • Marriage is for enjoyment, not endurance, says IIFP President

    Marriage is for enjoyment, not endurance, says IIFP President

    • Brunei varsity don’s daughter weds in Lagos

    The President of the Institute of Islamic Finance Professionals (IIFP), Prof Tajudeen Yusuf, has called on couples to add spice to their marriages by being romantic.

    According to him, marriage is to be enjoyed, not endured.

    He spoke on Saturday during the Nikah between Fatima, daughter of Dr Lukman Abdurraheem, an Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship at Universiti Brunei Darussalam, and Abdullah Sulaimon in Ilupeju, Mushin, Lagos.

    Fatima is a Business Entrepreneurship graduate from Universiti Brunei Darussalam, while Abdullah is a former Amir of Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) University of Lagos (UNILAG) (2019–2021) and a Geophysics graduate from the institution.

    Prof Yusuf, a professor of Risk Management and Insurance at the University of Lagos, advised the couple to safeguard their marriage from disharmony, stressing the importance of affection and emotional connection.

    He said: “Marriage is hundred over hundred. Meaning that both couples must participate with all they can give. It’s not about fifty-fifty. Marriage is an act of worship. Yes, it is a contract, but one that extends from here to the hereafter. The couple must be romantic and understand one another – what are your interests, what are mine – so they can make their home blissful and blossoming.”

    Read Also: FG pledges to uphold Buhari’s legacy as Shettima, Sambo, others pay tribute in Daura

    Shortly after the lecture, the immediate past Chairman of Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Dr. AbdulHakeem Abdullateef, officiated the Nikah (marriage solemnization).

    The bride’s father, Dr. Abdurraheem, who is the immediate past Amir (President) of The Muslim Congress (TMC), expressed profound joy and reflection.

    He said: “I am truly honoured today seeing all these great personalities and captains of industry that graced my daughter’s Nikaah. In fact, some didn’t get invite; they still attended out of love for us and our children.

    “For every Muslim who is blessed with female children, it’s always a mixed feeling. If you don’t raise them well, they can be a source of disgrace. But if you do, they bring you joy. We raised our kids to respect Islamic principles without forcing them.”

    The groom’s father, Mallam Sulaimon Ibrahim, thanked Allah for making the day a reality.

     “This is the second marriage I’ve organised for my children. Abdullah is my second child, and I’m glad to witness this day. I thank God for His mercy and strength,” he said.

    Some of the personalities at the wedding include the Chairman of ArdoGreen Energy Limited, Alhaji AbdulWasiu Sowami; Executive Director/Chief Financial Officer (CFO), MTN Nigeria, Mr Modupe Kadri; Professor of Journalism at LASU and Director, Centre for Social Media Research, Lagos, Prof Tunde Akanni; Pioneer Amir of TMC Alhaji AbdulRazaq Abdussalam; Lead Consultant. AS & Associates, Dr. Abdullahi Shuaib; ED Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation, Prince Sulaiman Olagunju and Chief Imam, Masjid Muhammad Rosululah Islamic Center, Sheikh Sa’eed Salman.

    Also present were Chairman, Safamaq Group of Companies Arch Mutiu Adeboye,; MD, Seplat Nigeria, Mr Oladotun Isiaka; Rector, Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Dr Ibrahim Abdul; CEO Wheel Oil, Alhaji Maruf Akanni and TMC Amir, Alhaji AbdulWasiu Bangbala, among others.

  • NAHCON mourns Buhari, Awujale, Dantata

    NAHCON mourns Buhari, Awujale, Dantata

    The Chairman of National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Prof Abdullahi Sale Usman, has joined the nation in mourning the passing away of former President Muhammadu Buhari, Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona and an industrialist Alhaji Aminu Dantata.

    The trio’s death, Prof Usman said, was also a reminder to the younger generation of the need to brace themselves for future leadership anchored on integrity, honesty, foresight and a positive vision for the future of Nigeria.

    He said: “They are unique men in their ways, embodied different qualities and values that serve as lessons for our youths to reflect upon and chart a path for greater national prosperity. Former President Buhari commanded respect and loyalty becoming a rallying point for the masses due to his proven personal honesty, integrity and discipline.

    Read Also: 36 commissioners oppose Senate-proposed Electricity Act Amendment Bill

    “Oba Adetona will be remembered as a dedicated Chairman of Ogun State Muslim Community who gave his all for the wellbeing of his subjects. As one of the longest monarchs on the throne after a 65 year reign, Oba Adetona made significant contributions to the community where everyone immensely benefited.

    “Alhaji Dantata was also known for his business acumen and wealth, which he used to support various charitable causes and community development initiatives. He inherited a business from his father and built upon that legacy, expanding the family’s business interests towards contributing to the economic and social development of Nigeria.

    “We in NAHCON express sincere condolences to their immediate families and communities. We extend same condolences to the entire nation on these great losses. They will be remembered for other achievements too numerous to mention here and for their sacrifices for the development of the country. Their departure at the same period is a great loss to the nation but one that ushers lessons for emerging generational leaders to uphold values that promote national unity, peace, and development.

    “May Allah forgive their shortcomings, grant them Jannatul Firdaus, and strengthen their families and the entire nation in this period of loss.”

  • ‘Buhari, Awujale left indelible marks on Nigeria’s history’

    ‘Buhari, Awujale left indelible marks on Nigeria’s history’

    The Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria has expressed deep sorrow over the deaths of former President Muhammadu Buhari and the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, describing both men as towering figures who left indelible marks on Nigeria’s history.

    In two separate condolence messages by the society’s President, Prince Mosediq Adeniji Kazeem (SAN), the organisation described their passing as monumental national losses.

    Read Also: FG pledges to uphold Buhari’s legacy as Shettima, Sambo, others pay tribute in Daura

     He said:  “Former President was a disciplined patriot who dedicated his life to national service, from his early days in the military to his tenure as a democratically elected leader. His leadership was marked by an unrelenting fight against corruption, a drive for national security, and efforts to instill transparency and discipline in governance.”

    Prince Kazeem described Oba Adetona as a “revered leader, a man of immense wisdom, courage, and foresight. Oba Adetona was not only a symbol of traditional authority but also a formidable voice in Nigeria’s sociopolitical affairs.