The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Alhassan

  • Alhassan out of Guinea Bissau game

    Alhassan out of Guinea Bissau game

    Super Eagles coach Jose Peseiro has revealed that Alhassan Yusuf is not available for selection in tomorrow’s Africa Cup of Nations last group A game against Guinea Bissau.

    Yusuf picked up a thigh injury in the Super Eagles 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea in the AFCON group opener.

    NationSports reports that Yusuf has been training alone since he sustained the injury which kept him out of the game against Cote d’Ivoire on Thursday.

    Read Also: AFCON 2023: Alhassan out of Guinea Bissau game

    Speaking at the pre-match press conference at the Palais de la Culture in the Treichville area of Abidjan on Sunday, Peseiro confirmed that the Royal Antwerp star has not resumed full training session with the team.

     “Alhassan has not resumed full training with the rest of the team. So, he is not available for tomorrow’s game,” Peseiro said. 

    Yusuf had told NationSport that he  was working hard to be back from the injury.

     “Everything is working as planned and I am working very hard to be back to my feet. I am working on the doctor’s instructions. All is well now and I can’t wait to play with the team again,” Yusuf said.

  • AFCON 2023: Alhassan out of Guinea Bissau game

    AFCON 2023: Alhassan out of Guinea Bissau game

    Super Eagles coach, Jose Peseiro has revealed that Alhassan Yusuf is not available for selection in tomorrow’s Africa Cup of Nations last group A game against Guinea Bissau.

    Yusuf picked up a thigh injury in the Super Eagles 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea in the AFCON group opener.

    Nationsports reports that Yusuf has been training alone since he sustained the injury which kept him out of the game against Cote d’Ivoire on Thursday.

    Read Also: Kano 2023 and Alhassan Doguwa’s arrest

    Speaking at the pre-match press conference at the Palais de la Culture in the Treichville area of Abidjan on Sunday, Peseiro confirmed that the Royal Antwerp star has not resumed full training session with the team.

    “Alhassan has not resumed full training with the rest of the team. So, he is not available for tomorrow’s game,” Peseiro said.  

    Yusuf had told Nationsport that he is working hard to be back from the injury.

    “Everything is working as planned and I am working very hard to be back to my feet. I am working on the doctor’s instructions. All is well now and I can’t wait to play with the team again,” Yusuf said.

  • Shittu attends FEC meeting

    The Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu was among cabinet members who attended the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday.

    The meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari started around 11.08a.m at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    A fortnight ago, Shittu and the immediate past Minister of Women Affairs, Aisha Alhassan, were disqualified from participating in the Oyo and Taraba states governorship primary elections, respectively, under the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    While Shittu was disqualified for not taking part in the compulsory one year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme, Alhassan was disqualified over issues of loyalty to APC.

    Shittu also failed to present any NYSC exemption certificate to the APC screening committee.

    While disqualifying him, the National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, had stated: “He (Shittu) admitted that he did not do the mandatory NYSC as provided for under the law and in his own judgment, his being a member of the House of Assembly in the state and now as a Minister of the Federal Republic, that these were enough sacrifices. But for us as a party we know that NYSC is a mandatory scheme.

    “It is not something you may elect to do or abstain from doing and my understanding of the NYSC Act is that no employer of labour is permitted to employ anyone who graduated under 30 years and who did not obtain an exemption for reasons as provided for in the NYSC Act.

    “So, for us, not participating in the NYSC raises very serious moral issue as well as legal issue.

    Read Also: Buhari receives 1042-pages achievement compendium at FEC

    “After interviewing him, we were convinced that….for our party, there are clear lessons we need to learn from our recent past when people…anyway, we were convinced that if he did not do NYSC, that for us, was enough to disqualify him and we had to find the courage to do so.

    While Alhassan had immediately resigned from the cabinet, Shittu arrived for the first FEC meeting after his disqualification around 10.56a.m.

    He exchanged pleasantries with his colleagues before taking his seat.

    President Buhari called for rendition of the opening National anthem at the FEC meeting around 11.08a.m

    Opening Muslims prayer was said by the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed , while the Christian prayer was offered by the Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu

    Recall that the immediate past Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, had resigned from the cabinet due to fake NYSC exemption certificate presented to get the job.

    Her ignorance of the status of the certificate she had presented could not save her from losing her seat in the cabinet.

  • Ogah, Alhassan, Danladi win governorship tickets

    Renowned oil merchant Uche Ogah yesterday emerged the Abia State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Ogah, who hails from Abia North Senatorial District, polled 86,875 votes to defeat six others, including a former Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Chief Martins Azubuike, Chief Friday Nwosu, a former Deputy Governor Chris Akomas.

    Former Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development Aisha Alhassan, won the ticket of the United Democratic Party (UDP).

    AbdulRazak Gidado, the only governorship aspirant of the party before the former minister joined last week, stepped down for her.

    She said: “I assure you that I will work round the clock to ensure that our enemies are put to shame by winning the governorship election in Taraba in 2019.”

    She urged Taraba people to rally round the UDP, “because it is a party with great potential for the development of the state.

    Former Taraba Acting Governor Sani Danladi won the APC governorship ticket..

    Danladi scored 60,629 votes out of the total of 107,387 votes cast across the 16 local government areas of the state.

    Former minister Joel Ikenya scored 11,772 votes, while former Acting Governo Garba Umar scored 5,504 votes.

    Others are: Prof. Sani Yahya, 7,299 votes; the TUC President Bobboi Kaigama, 5,530; Aliyu Umar 4,638; while Ezekiel Afukunyo scored 2,811 votes.

    The chairman said Chief David Kente scored 5, 549 votes, while Ibrahim Tumba and Kabiru Dodo received 1,828 and 1, 783 votes.

  • 2019: Alhassan picks UDP’s governorship nomination form

    Senator Aisha Alhassan, who resigned her appointment as women affairs minister and also dumped the APC on Saturday, has picked the United Democratic Party (UDP), nomination form to contest for the Taraba governorship seat.

    Alhassan, at a press conference shortly after joining UDP and picking its nomination form, claimed that the APC had become “the weakest political party in Taraba” with her defection.

    The former minister claimed that she left the APC with thousands of her supporters, adding that many aspirants seeking the APC ticket to contest various offices in 2019 would soon pick UDP nominations forms.

    Alhassan, who was disqualified from seeking the APC ticket, alleged that she was dropped by the National Chairman of the APC, Mr Adams Oshiomhole.

    “It was not the screening committee that disqualified me; the chairman of the party personally did it.

    “But, I have put that behind me. I have moved to the UDP and will seek its ticket to contest the governorship election.

    “Oshiomhole has used his powers to deal with me, but it is God that gives power,” she said.

    The former minister, who contested the seat in 2015 and lost to PDP’s Darius Ishaku, advised President Muhammadu Buhari to pay more attention to the activities of APC leaders so that their actions would not affect the party’s popularity.

    The governorship screening committee of the APC on Thursday disqualified Alhassan from joining 10 other aspirants to fight for the ticket in the primary election slated for Sunday, Sept. 30. (NAN)

  • Alhassan resigns as minister, quits APC

    The Minister of Women Affairs, Aisha Alhassan has resigned her appointment in the cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari.
    Alhassan, popularly called Mama Taraba was on Thursday disqualified to run for governorship election in Taraba State in 2019 under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
    While there is still no official statement from the presidency on the latest development, a Presidency source, who spoke on a condition of anonymity, confirmed it.
    He simply said “It is true.”
    Giving reasons for Alhassan’s disqualification on Friday, the National Chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomhole, said that the party had to disqualify her and the Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu, to protect the party’s core values.
    Oshiomhole had said “As for the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, she has issues that have to do with party loyalty.
    “Our constitution is clear and it dictates that to contest elections or even hold office in the APC, you must be loyal to the party in every material concern.
    “From all she had said in the past and even her comments and general attitude during the screening, the NWC reviewed everything taken together and we arrived at the conclusion that she does not possess the level of loyalty that the APC requires for her to contest elections on our platform,” he stated.

  • Governorship race: APC disqualifies Shittu, Alhassan

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday disqualified two ministers from contesting tomorrow’s governorship primary.

    The Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu and Minister of Women Affairs Hajia Jummai Alhassan, are among the six aspirants who were disqualified after screening.

    One aspirant from Yobe State withdrew from the race after filing his nomination, while 166 others were cleared to contest the shadow poll.

    The report of the screening panel indicated that Shittu was disqualified for not possessing the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate.

    The communications minister confirmed that he did not participate in the mandatory youth service because he went straight from the university to the old Oyo State House of Assembly as the youngest elected member in 1979.

    He claimed that his service in the Assembly is equivalent to national service.

    No reason was given in last night’s statement by the APC National Working Committee (NWC) for Alhassan’s disqualification. Eleven aspirants were cleared to contest in Taraba State.

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Dr. Obafemi Hamzat were cleared to contest.

    Governors of Niger, Kebbi and Jigawa are unopposed as their opponents were not cleared to contest.

    Former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, was cleared to challenge Governor Jubrila Bindow for Adamawa State ticket. Also to contest for the ticket is Mahmood Halim Ahmed.

    Borno State has 21 aspirants, the highest.

    Zamfara State has nine aspirants for the ticket and Nasarawa has 11.

    Six aspirants were cleared to run in Ogun State. They are: Jimi Lawal, Dapo Abiodun, Bimbo Abiodun, Adegbenga Kaka, Adekunle Akinlade and Abayomi Hunye.

  • Governorship race: APC disqualifies Shittu, Alhassan

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday disqualified two ministers from contesting tomorrow’s governorship primary.

    The Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu and Minister of Women Affairs Hajia Jummai Alhassan, are among the six aspirants who were disqualified after screening.

    One aspirant from Yobe State withdrew from the race after filing his nomination, while 166 others were cleared to contest the shadow poll.

    The report of the screening panel indicated that Shittu was disqualified for not possessing the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate.

    The communications minister confirmed that he did not participate in the mandatory youth service because he went straight from the university to the old Oyo State House of Assembly as the youngest elected member in 1979.

    He claimed that his service in the Assembly is equivalent to national service.

    No reason was given in last night’s statement by the APC National Working Committee (NWC) for Alhassan’s disqualification. Eleven aspirants were cleared to contest in Taraba State.

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Dr. Obafemi Hamzat were cleared to contest.

    Governors of Niger, Kebbi and Jigawa are unopposed as their opponents were not cleared to contest.

    Former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, was cleared to challenge Governor Jubrila Bindow for Adamawa State ticket. Also to contest for the ticket is Mahmood Halim Ahmed.

    Borno State has 21 aspirants, the highest.

    Zamfara State has nine aspirants for the ticket and Nasarawa has 11.

    Six aspirants were cleared to run in Ogun State. They are: Jimi Lawal, Dapo Abiodun, Bimbo Abiodun, Adegbenga Kaka, Adekunle Akinlade and Abayomi Hunye.

     

  • Women Affairs Minister Alhassan for Taraba governor

    Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Aisha Jumai Alhassan will bid for the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket to contest for governor in Taraba State.

    Hajia Alhassan, who lost the election in 2015 to Governor Darius Ishaku of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been granted permission by President Muhamadu Buhari to contest for the ticket.

    In a reply to her letter seeking permission to run, President Buhari thanked her for “your services as minister under this administration”.

    He noted her “passion and your past contributions to our great party the APC during and after the 2015 elections”

    The President reiterated his commitment to free amd fair elections adding that “our policy is to support all APC candidates.”

    He wished her well adding that she should be assured that “all security agencies as well as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)  will have my full support to conduct free and transparent elections in 2019”

  • Alhassan has no case to answer

    SIR: Rather unfortunately, most Nigerians of the present generation are adept at hypocrisy and sycophancy. Most people, including even the elderly who should say the truth for the good of the country, often play the ostrich. The point is that before authority, power and money, most people lose their dignity, integrity and their sense of right and wrong. This is why there is too much vice and violence in our contemporary Nigerian society, and of course, too much corruption.

    The unwarranted attack on the person of Senator Aisha Alhassan, Minister of Women Affairs is a case in point. The sin of Hajia Alhassan is that like every normal citizen of a country, she exercised her fundamental right to free speech and political preference when on a recent BBC Hausa Service interview she openly declared her support for a former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar for the 2019 Presidency, if the latter, who is also the Waziri Adamawa declares interest in the race. Before the BBC finished airing the programme, social media activists  and other pretenders in the ruling All Progressives Congress went to town, accusing her of disloyalty and called for her sack or resignation. The truth is that unlike many Nigerians today, who lie and pretend even when they are suffering, Aisha Alhassan is fearless and is only beholden to people out of love and respect, and not fear. Unfortunately, many of those who support President Muhammadu Buhari, do so out of fear. Most Buharists are in some form of bondage to the extent that they see no evil even when the administration has failed, derailed and collapsed and is only being held on by the selfish interest of the so-called cabal in the Presidency.

    In fairness to President Muhammadu Buhari, he is not crazy for power but people around him who call themselves cabal are pushing him for a second term.

    Atiku Abubakar, to whom Aisha Alhassan has pledged her support would indeed be one of the best things to happen if he should declare interest in the race for 2019. Atiku is a consummate and grassroots politician. Atiku, the Waziri Adamawa is a detribalized Nigerian in whose circle all Nigerians without exception are welcome. Atiku Abubakar is also a businessman who works hard to set up businesses and makes money which he deploys to improve the lives of people and the society at large. Atiku is a respected player in the nation’s private sector and having been Vice President, he sure knows the problems of the Nigerian economy but can only put his ideas to work if he has executive political power.

     

    • Femi Oketunbi,

    Ibadan, Oyo State.