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Tag: Northwest

  • Southwest, northwest lead online, in-person voter registration

    Southwest, northwest lead online, in-person voter registration

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that 6,232,673 eligible Nigerians have registered on its online portal at the end of the sixth week of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise. Of this figure, 3,250,338 (52.15%) are women, while 2,982,335 (47.85%) are men.

    The data also shows that 137,865 registrants are persons with disabilities.

    INEC further revealed that 1,004,132 Nigerians have completed the physical (in-person) registration, with women accounting for 555,077 (55.28%) and men 449,055 (44.72%).

    According to the statistics released on Monday, the South West and North West continue to lead both the online and in-person registration exercises.

    Borno State tops online registration with 682,805 registrants, while Osun State leads the in-person exercise with 107,012 completed registrations.

    READ ALSO; Nigeria @65: Abuja Command of NSCDC deploys 4,500 personnel

    Regional figures show the South West leading online registrations with 1,924,072 eligible voters, followed by the North West with 1,728,144. The North East comes third with 1,197,510, while the North Central follows with 967,518. The South South and South East recorded 334,578 and 81,478, respectively.

    For in-person registrations, the North West leads with 277,786 completed, followed by the South West with 252,281, North Central with 155,953, North East with 144,437, South South with 105,108, and South East with 67,745.

    The state-by-state breakdown of the online registration exercise revealed that Borno has registered 682,805, followed by Osun with 599,363 voters, Lagos with 555,442 voters, Kebbi with 472,662, while Ogun and Kaduna have registered 450,897 and 376,054 voters, respectively.

    Osun state is coming first in the physical registration exercise with 107,012 voters completing their registration, followed by Lagos with 58,460, Borno with 56,828, Kano with 54,145, Sokoto with 48,430, Imo with 47,083, and Kogi with 41,257 voters.

    Statistics for Anambra state are not included in the two exercises since the state will be part of the Continuous Voter Registration until after the November 8 governorship elections.

  • Still the ace is in northwest

    Still the ace is in northwest

    • By Tayo Williams

    As far as presidential elections go, the Northwest, one of the six geopolitical zones of seven states – Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Jigawa, Sokoto, and Zamfara – is Nigeria’s most populous region, the coveted ‘bride’ for all aspirants with over 22million registered voters.

    According to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, three states in the region – Kano, Kaduna, and Katsina – rank among the top 10 in the list of states with the highest number of registered voters. Kano State, number two on the list behind Lagos, has 5,921,370 registered voters. Kaduna and Katsina have 4,335,208 and 3,516,719 registered voters respectively. The closest to it is the southwest with about 18million registered voters. The gulf is, indeed, wide and almost unassailable.

    During the last presidential election, the northwest gave President Bola Ahmed Tinubu 2.7 million votes – the highest by any region. Even in the southwest, Tinubu’s traditional political base, he only polled 2,279,407 votes. From the five southeast states, he got a measly 127,605 votes and did not score 25 percent in any of them. The South-south’s 799,957 votes contributed nine percent to the APC’s total votes.

    Though it is still early in the day, sustaining influence and popularity in the northwest will be critical to the survival of the APC in the next electoral cycle. Former President Muhammadu Buhari, a Katsina native, is the singular most formidable political figure from the region. However, his legendary aloofness to party politics is a deal-breaker. And after serving out his two-term presidency, he has been ‘far from the madding crowd’ of party nay Nigerian politics. Though he still has a cult following in the north, his reluctance to participate in any electioneering will not help the party.

    Read Also: Tinubu to mark 73rd birthday with special prayers

    Conversely, Nasir El-Rufai, the immediate past governor of Kaduna State, would have been the natural successor to Buhari’s political leadership in the region. However, the fractious El-Rufai has left the All Progressives Congress, APC, for the Social Democratic Party. Kano State, with the highest number of registered votes behind Lagos, is a major battleground considering the popularity of the Rabiu Kwankwaso-led NNPP, which inflicted considerable damage on the APC in the last elections.

    This is where Senator Barau Jibrin, deputy senate president, comes in. 

    Jibrin is the highest-ranking APC senator in the Northwest region. An understated force of nature with admirable charisma and eloquence, Barau has been in the National Assembly since the dawn of the Fourth Republic starting as a member of the House of Representatives representing the good people of Tarauni Federal Constituency of Kano State from 1999 to 2003.

    A thoroughbred, successful accountant, he chaired the Appropriations Committee and served as a member of others. After his first legislative odyssey, Jibrin returned to his private practice, but not for long, as he was tapped to serve as chairman of the Kano State Investment and Properties Ltd and, later, Commissioner of Science and Technology. He is a foundation member of the APC on which platform he contested and won the Kano North Senatorial District seat in 2015. This is his third term as a senator, and he was the only APC senator in 2023 from Kano, as the other two seats were won by the NNPP, a testament to his formidable political acumen and grassroots appeal. But for political expediency, he would have been the senate president.

    Having won the Kano North senatorial seat three consecutive times, there is no controverting that Jibrin has excelled as a legislator and, therefore, comes well-acquitted to help the APC reclaim Kano, and provide the leadership crucial for the success of the party in the region. Indeed, the president needs not to look far for who to lead the charge in the northwest; that is a role that has naturally fallen on the lap of Senator Jibrin.

    Cerebral and controversy-free, Senator Jibrin is a steady and stabilising force in the Senate and beyond. He is blessed with the moral authority and rare ability to put an issue on the national agenda that wouldn’t naturally be there. Although he may not be getting the desired coverage or recognition for his legislative, political, and social interventions, the deputy senate president has mastered the art of being relevant in the centre and indispensable at home.

    Assertive, but never abrasive, Jibrin is a man whose thinking has often proved to be ahead of the curve. He was the brain behind the North West Development Commission to address gaps in infrastructural development in the region, which has now been replicated in other regions. He also supported and sponsored a bill to build the Federal University of Education Technology in Bichi, Kano State, and the Federal Polytechnic Kabo, where his father was born.

    While other politicians are engaged in a never-ending race to amass riches to guarantee eternally their obscene residence in their snug life of luxury and privilege, Senator Jibrin strives to spread joy daily among kith and kin, and the next needy family on the block. Evidence of his amazing compassion and superior culture of philanthropy abound everywhere in the region whether in education, agriculture, health, and youth empowerment. He is there when the people need him.

    The ranking senator recognises the role that fate has inadvertently thrust upon him and he has been playing the part pretty well by reaching out to opposition politicians and convincing them that the APC needs them. Recently, he hosted a strategic meeting with the former Secretary to the Kano State Government, Dr. Abdullahi Baffa Bichi, and other NNPP stalwarts, including the former Commissioner for Project Monitoring and Evaluation, Muhammad Diggol, in his Abuja residence.

    Jibrin said, “We had fruitful discussions with them on the development of our dear state and the country. The development of our state and the country is always at the top of our agenda. We will continue to collaborate with other stakeholders to advance our state and the nation. Let’s do it together to better the lots of our people.” For him, it is about Kano and Nigeria, not any self-serving purpose.

    Indeed, there is no clear-cut path to greatness in politics. It requires a special kind of talent that is rare in today’s politicians, but which Senator Jibrin embodies in large quantity. For the APC to make any headway in the northwest in the next general election, it would need, most importantly, Senator Jibrin, leading the charge.

    •Williams is a Lagos-based media executive.

  • We’ve depleted bandits activities in Northwest, says GOC

    The General Officer Commanding 8 Division of the Army, Maj.-Gen. Hakeem Otiki, has said operation “Harbin Kunama III” initiative has made landmark breakthrough by the tremendous achievements it recorded against armed banditry in the forests across the four states.

    Operation “Harbin Kunama III” initiative is focusing on the Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara and Katsina states axis to combat the menace of insecurity occasioned by activities of bandits.

    Briefing reporters on the operation’s feat over time, General Otiki said the 8 Division had significantly depleted to the lowest level the menace of insecurity within Sokoto State, its area of responsibility in the Northwest.

    He attributed the feat to the vigour and renewed efforts by the Army Headquarters, increased collaboration with other security agencies and in the area of joint border patrols.

    “The dynamics of the operation has assumed a new dimension, which resulted in more collaboration, thereby yielding positive results, culminating in several encounters and defeat of bandits groups in Sokoto and Katsina states,” General Otiki said.

    Read Also: Banditry: Masari commends Nigerian Army for taming attacks

    He explained that the division was also fast-tracking a synergy in collaboration with “Operation Hadarin Daji” to serve as blocking forces against fleeing bandits from Zamfara State to other neighbouring states within the axis.

    Otiki added that “the troops made a remarkable breakthrough by arresting some suspected bandits, informants and logistics suppliers”, who were further transferred to the police for investigations and proper actions.

    Stating that a sizeable number of weapons were recovered as well as bandits’ motorcycles destroyed by the troops during operations, General Otiki promised that the division would keep fostering greater understanding with traditional, religious institutions and state authorities toward enhancing the security of the populace.

    He hailed the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai for his guidance and prompt response to their requirements.

    Accordingly, he expressed appreciation to the untiring cooperation and resilient efforts of other security agencies, including vigilante groups and local hunters for their support to the Army.

    Otiki also appealed to all law abiding citizens to continue to volunteer with timely information to security agencies for prompt actions in the discharge of their professional and constitutional roles.

  • Hunger, insecurity loom in Northwest, says HRC official

    •IDPs: we’re ready to go home

    HUMAN Rights Commission (HRC) yesterday warned that hunger and security threats loom in Northwest.

    The commission said these would be caused by the inability of those displaced by killings and other unrest in the states to return to their ancestral homes and farms.

    HRC Coordinator in Kaduna Gwar E. Terngu gave the warning when he visited one of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in Kaduna, where people displaced by the Kajuru killings were taking refuge.

    Terngu said the country, especially the Northwest states, might suffer food insecurity and hunger, if the government fails to relocate the IDPs back home in good time.

    He said: “According to the IDPs, there is no serious intervention from the government. The place is overcrowded for 2,511 people. What they actually need is rebuilding of their ruins.

    “They are willing to go back to their homes. We may have issues around food security. More people will become poorer. More people may end up adding to the security challenge in the country. The earlier they go back to their places, the better for them.

    “Raining season is here and these people are agrarians, who survive in farming activities. Apart from their economy setback, this is hunger looking at us in the face. The government should help them to go back to their homes.

    “We don’t just want to act based on what we see in the newspapers. We want to be here to see things for ourselves. We will put our report together and send to the headquarters for possible intervention.”

    Chairman, Committee on Adara Town Hall Camp Musa Magaji said the displaced persons were willing to go back to their homes, if their houses are rebuilt and security of their lives and properties guaranteed by the Federal and state governments.

    Magaji said: “Initially, we have 2,511 displaced persons here. But after the latest attack, that number has increased.”

  • Unity Bank wins CBN Development Finance Award

    Unity Bank Plc has received the ‘2018 Best Participating Bank in the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Development Finance activities award’ in Jigawa State, Northwest, Nigeria.

    The recognition came at the Dutse Bankers Forum organised by the CBN bringing together financial stakeholders in Jigawa State including CBN, Representative of Chartered Institute of Bankers (CIBN) North West Zone, NIRSAL, 16 Commercial Banks in Jigawa State, the Controller of Prison Service, Jigawa State and Turaki of Dutse who represented the Emir of Dutse.

    Receiving the award, the Unity Bank’s Regional Manager, Dutse, Mr. Mustapha Idris Baba, commended the CBN for the recognition accorded the bank which is “testament to the bank’s growing franchise as a retail bank of choice as well as its deep rooted financial inclusion strategy in Jigawa State’’.

    Coming barely two months after the bank won two highly coveted award; namely, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) 2018 sustainable banking award for ‘Sustainable Transaction of the Year in Agriculture’ and Presidential Award in recognition of the Bank’s participation under the Anchor Borrowers Programme, this award confirms the rising profile of Unity Bank Plc as a leader in Agricultural financing.

    Commenting on the development and other exceptional achievements recorded by the Bank in the recent past, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Unity Bank Plc, Mrs. Tomi Somefun, said the awards are strong indications of the success of Unity bank’s business model which underpins the resilience, endurance, robustness and viability of the brand to sustainably deliver exceptional financial services to individuals, groups, and organisations across segments.

    According to her, “the bank is committed to financial inclusion by deploying technological edge to enhance electronic convenience for all its customers”. The Governor of Jigawa State, Mohammad Badaru Abubakar, represented by the state’s Accountant General, Alhaji Haruna Ahmed-Amin, while commending Unity Bank for its focus in driving financial inclusion in the state, used the occasion to call on all banks operating in the state to come up with tangible offers for their teeming customers by developing financial services products that will enable them penetrate the rural population and the farmers, thereby reducing dependence on public sector deposits.

    At the Annual Dutse Bankers Forum, Unity Bank was also recognised for emerging winner of the 2018 Dutse Bankers Forum football competition held as part of the activities marking the event.

  • 2019: Tambuwal, Sambo, others assure Atiku of Northwest votes

    Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and Northwest Coordinator of the Atiku /Obi 2019 presidential campaign has said that the people of Northwest would vote wisely for PDP devoid of sentiment.

    While presenting his welcome address Monday in Sokoto at the flag off,   Tambuwal who described Atiku as a well incubated political icon and democrat noted that the country was yearning for him as he remains the best choice with the required credentials to lead.

    “PDP will run an all-inclusive government with priority to the youths as well drives our economy to prosperity.

    “If given Atiku the mandate, he will transform our agriculture, education, create job for our teeming youths and ensure respect for the rule of law in the principle of uplifting the tenets of separation of powers where independence would be encouraged for our national stability”, he explained.

    While urging Nigerians to turn out enmasse and entrust their mandate in Atiku added that” Atiku is a leader who believes in our youths. So believe in who believes in you. Unlike the current president who will go out of the shores of this country and smear the good image of our country as well discourage our youths by name tagging them as ‘lazy,” he stressed.

    Former Kaduna state governor and immediate past Caretaker Committee chairman of the party, Senator Ahmed Muhammad Makarfi said he was optimistic of Atiku’s victory, noting that only God gives power and as such he has the form believe that PDP would form government.

    Former Jigawa state governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido advised Nigerians to reconcile their individual state of survival with current realities in terms of security, poverty, socio-economic transformation which were at their lowest ebb as a result of bad governance.

    In his remarks, former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Kabiru Turaki described the APC led government as unrealistic and woeful in its promise to Nigerians to make it better.

    “We have heard a lot of rhetorics by the APC led regime and nothing has happened. Nigerians are fed up and need a messiah in PDP,” he stressed

    Taraba state governor, Darius Ishaku urged Nigerians to massively  vote for PDP presidential candidate, adding that” we the PDP governors have resolved to mobilise our people to actively support the dream of our party by making it victorious,” he called.

    Former Niger state governor, Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu urged PDP members to ensure their votes go to Atiku whom he believes has what it takes to sail Nigeria through the murky waters of bad governance created by the ruling APC.

  • 2019: PDP eyes Northwest as party sets to dump Atiku, Saraki

    •Senate president says quest not a betrayal of ex-VP

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may have to pick its presidential flag bearer in next year’s election from the Northwest geo political zone, The Nation gathered yesterday.

    With over 18 million eligible voters as at last February, the zone has the largest voting population in the country.

    It is followed by the Southwest with over 14million voters.

    The Nation gathered that the main opposition party is taking notice of the situation and may settle for one of its presidential aspirants from the zone at its convention next month to slug it out with the incumbent, President Muhammadu Buhari in the February 2019 poll.

    Buhari is on course to emerge as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate later this month.

    Presidential aspirants of the PDP from the Northwest are Senator Ahmed Maikarfi, Alhaji Sule Lamido, Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, former Special Duties Minister Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, former Kano State governor Ibrahim Shekarau, former Sokoto State governor Attahiru Bafarawa and former Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso.

    The implication is that the likes of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar from Adamawa in the Northeast and Senate president Bukola Saraki from Kwara State in the Northcentral stand a little or no chance of getting the PDP ticket.

    Party source said yesterday that Saraki in particular may be facing formidable hurdles already from the PDP and the Northwest geo political in his bid to fly the party’s flag in next year’s presidential election.

    Saraki formally declared his presidential aspiration in Abuja on Thursday, citing pressure from Nigerian youths.

    However, party source told The Nation yesterday that the former Kwara State governor has a long chain of barriers to be broken to achieve his ambition.

    One of such is the suggestion by some PDP members   that the party’s presidential candidate has to come from the Northwest zone for the PDP to stand a good chance of defeating President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Buhari is from Daura, Katsina State in the Northwest.

    He commands a cult followership not only in the zone but across the northern region.

    Pressure is mounting on the PDP leadership to narrow down its ticket to the Northwest as it is the only way to compete with Buhari.

    Kwankwaso from Kano State in the Northwest is one of the leading advocates for the PDP presidential candidate coming from the Northwest.

    Kwankwaso’s view is shared by many in the party.

    Their argument is that the only way to whittle down the votes of the APC and its candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, in the zone is for the PDP to pick a candidate from the same zone.

    Several interest groups from the zone are now promoting the view point in the party.

    Speaking with journalists in Abuja on Friday shortly after obtaining his nomination documents, Kwankwaso said: “everyone knows that the bulk of the votes come from the Northwest and it would not be wrong for anyone to suggest that the PDP candidate should come from that zone.

    “You all saw from the last general election in 2015 the number of votes from Kano alone. So it’s just normal to expect the candidate to emerge from the Northwest. That is the only way to defeat them (APC). But this is my opinion because everybody has their different opinions”.

    Another formidable obstacle to Saraki’s aspiration is the perceived disposition of Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike who is seen by many as the de facto leader of the PDP.

    Wike, chief backer of the incumbent national chairman of the PDP, Uche Secondus, is said to be the number one supporter of Tambuwal’s presidential ambition.

    It is understood that there is an agreement between him and Tambuwal that he will be the Sokoto State governor’s running mate in the presidential race if he gets the ticket.

    Wike’s disposition on the PDP presidential ticket is suspected to have informed Secondus’ hurried exit from the venue of Saraki’s formal declaration for the presidency in Abuja on Thursday.

    Secondus had led other members of the national executive committee of the PDP to the event, at the invitation of the organisers unaware that Saraki had a different agenda.

    It was gathered that neither Secondus nor the organisers of the event had the slightest inkling that Saraki was going to take advantage of the forum to declare his aspiration.

    Apparently rattled by Saraki’s ambush, the organisers were forced to issue a disclaimer the following day, expressing their disappointment and embarrassment at the action of the Senate President.

    Meanwhile, the Senate president is continuing his consultations with socio-political and interest groups across the country.

    One of his aides who does not want to be named said yesterday that he met with the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) headed by Chief Edwin Clark, the Yoruba group – Afenifere -and a group of northern elders led by Prof Ango Abdullahi during the week.

    He, however, did not venture comments on the outcome of the consultations, saying Saraki only briefed the groups and explained his decision to join the race.

    “You don’t expect it (consultation) to be a one-off thing because you are required to lay all your cards on the table through sustained consultation over time”, the aide added.

    My presidential ambition not a betrayal of Atiku, says Saraki

    Responding to questions yesterday on Saraki’s ambition, his chief spokesman, Yusuph Olaniyonu dismissed speculations that Saraki betrayed former vice president Atiku Abubakar by joining the presidential race.

    “No aspirant’s presidential quest is a betrayal of any others”, the office of the Senate President, Senator Olusola Saraki has said.

    Some of Atiku’s supporters had expressed surprised that Senator Saraki is challenging Atiku who once helped to mobilize support for him to become Senate President.

    He asserted that such assumptions are wrong, unjustifiable and baseless.

    “Betrayal? How? Was there an agreement that ‘you will support me for this, I will support you for that?” Olaniyonu retorted yesterday when he met The Nation.

    He added: “were they not in different political parties before?

    “We know that some people have an agenda in all this; they have an agenda on everything concerning Senator Saraki and there is no point responding to whatever misinformation they wish to spread.

    “There is no betrayal whatsoever between the two eminent citizens.

    “Are Governor Tambuwal and Senator Saraki not even much closer than the relationship between the former Vice President and the Senate President?

    “Governor Tambuwal and Senator Saraki are more of brothers but as true democrats, the two of them are in this race and they do not have any problem with one another over it; whoever wins the presidential ticket would get the support of the other,” he said.

    According to the Senate President’s spokesman, all PDP presidential aspirants, including Senator Saraki are now working out an arrangement to ensure a rancour-free process.

    “The agreement that they are working on now is such that whoever wins the PDP presidential primaries, all of them will rally to support whoever wins.

    “In fact, what all of the PDP presidential aspirants are concentrating on is that they will all work together and ensure that there is an open, free and fair presidential primaries.

    “They are trying to ensure that the process is very free and fair for all and that whoever emerges will not be a source of bitterness because the outcome would have been the result of a genuine process.

    “PDP presidential aspirants are working together to ensure that all of them forge a united front and that there will be no reason for the ruling party to see any of them as a potential ally.

     

     

    “They are working for a credible process and all of them are going to support the eventual winner.”

     

  • Sanusi ranks Northwest, Northeast most backward

    Sanusi ranks Northwest, Northeast most backward

    EMIR of Kano Muhammad Sanusi II is worried over the backwardness of the Northwest and the Northeast in community healthcare delivery and education.
    According to him, the two zones have remained the most backward for a decade.
    Speaking yesterday at the Aminu Dabo College of Health Science and Technology, Kano, where he inaugurated a state-of-the-art health science laboratory named after him, the emir urged the rich in the North to invest in health and education.
    He said “the two regions have multi-dimensional index of poverty”, due to their inability to measure up with other regions in terms of healthcare delivery and education.
    The elite, Emir Sanusi said, should unite to drag the North out of its socio-economic problems.
    The monarch described healthcare delivery and education as very important to human development, just as he called on politicians, businessmen and northern elite to encourage education and community health programmes through donation and award of scholarships.
    He, however, commended the proprietor of the College, Aminu Abubakar Dabo, for his foresight and service to humanity through investment in programmes that have direct impact on human development.
    In his opening remarks, Dabo said: “The idea behind the establishment of the College of Health Science and Technology is to bridge the gap that exist in the availability of qualified and well trained professionals in the field of health care provision in the state, northern Nigeria and Nigeria at large.”
    Dabo, a one-time Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), further stated: “The aim of the institution is to train health and allied health professionals in the areas of environmental health, community health, dental health, health information management, pharmacy technician, medical laboratory technicians and dispensing optician.”
    According to him, the institution, now operating on a temporary campus acquired from the defunct Bank of the North Training Centre, has acquired 100 hectres of land at Kanye, in Kabo Local Government Area as its permanent site, with hostels in Hotoro.
    The Provost of the College, Prof. Babatunde Opabola, said plans have advanced to elevate the College to Aminu Dabo International Medical University.

  • Peace will soon return to Northwest APC, says Masari

    Peace will soon return to Northwest APC, says Masari

    Katsina State Governor Aminu Bello Masari spoke with  reporters in Katsina, the state capital, on his  administration’s achievements in the education, agriculture and health sectors. The governor also spoke on his predecessor, Ibrahim Shema, who is being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of corruption. KOLADE ADEYEMI was there.

    How are you tacking the challenges of governance Katsina State?

    I think education is one of the cornerstones of our agenda. You know, lack of education is partly responsible for what has happened between the herdsmen and the vigilante who are protecting the community. You see, it there are sufficient and qualitative education, even if it is up to secondary school level, we wouldn’t have the escalation that we experienced. I remember there was a day former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was in Katsina, and there was an incident of herdsmen and community clash in Faskari, which claimed the lives of over 200 people. So, I think if we address the issue of education seriously, we would have done a lot. Apart from education, there must be access to health facilities. There should also be access to potable water. Another critical issue is agriculture—you know, the beauty of agriculture is that whatever the farmer sells goes to his pocket, whatever the livestock holder has goes to his pocket. So, if you want to empower the rural community, empower them on agriculture. That is the major difference between money from agriculture and money from oil; because if say okay produce oil and sell it to ourselves, you find out that it is not possible and the oil money doesn’t go to that ordinary person, it goes to the multi-national oil companies and we end up with royalties. Since the ordinary man does not involve in exploration and production of oil, we only rely on the figure given to us and the common man actually will not benefit anything from it directly, but in agriculture, the common man is always involved. So, if you empower the ordinary person, your source of revenue base will expand and business and commercial activities will grow. There will be massive production and dead factories will come back to life; and the demand for energy will increase—the demand for energy will also attract investors who will be interested in the sector. So, it is just like a circle. So, if you want to address the problem of Nigeria, you have to start with education. So, the consequent of insurgency is lack of education. In the Northeast, we have Boko Haram because there is lack of education which contributed to the failure of the institutions. Ninety nine per cent of Boko Haram insurgents were neither literate in Islamic or western education, because if they were, they will know that that type of Jihad is not normal.

    What is the solution to the leadership crisis rocking the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the Northwest?

    I think you watched this wildlife documentary. You know, when the lion or tigers are chasing a prey, everybody will see it; when the prey is down or is being killed, then, in terms of eating the meat, there will be serious quarrel among them-and even those who are not participants like the Hhnes and the wild dogs who are not participants in the killing will come. So, the bigger one among them, will always carry the meat and run away. If it Leopard, it will take part of his own and climb the tree. But if that meat is not available, you will not see any of them fighting. They fight because there is something to fight for, and that is why they are fighting. And again, there are two things that you have to accept. One, the fact that there are some problems that are historical; two, I think there is a jinx in Kano which we are hoping the current leadership will break in the future, because they were together since 1999 and I don’t think Kwankwaso or Ganduje can build any political alliance that will last to the time they have lasted. 1999 to 2015 is not a joke, and I seriously doubt if they can build such political alliance that can last for over 16 years with anybody. So, their political life and career are inter-twined. So, we thought with this political marriage and deep understanding between Kwankwaso and Ganduje, with it, the political jinx in Kano would have been broken.  Mallam Aminu Kano and late Abubakar Rimi were fighting. From then on, that of Sabo Barkin Zuwo didn’t last more than three months. During the NRC and the SDP, Kabiru Gaya parted ways with his people like Abba Dabo, who was his former SSG. The crack was visible. Kwankwaso came in 1999 and parted ways with Musa Gwadebe and others. So, when Shekarau came, with all what General Muhammadu Buhari did for him, they fell apart in the ANPP. Kwankwaso in PDP and he fell out with the PDP again and joined the new PDP, later the APC. So, we thought that, at least this time, having been together for a long time, the jinx would have been broken. But, we are working behind the scene to see how we can bring the two of them together so that they can stop what they are doing to themselves because the energy the government is spending, the energy Kwankwaso is spending; that energy would have been used for the development of Kano better than what is happening. In Kaduna, it was an amalgamation of various political groups that formed the APC and these are the groups that are not really united. The groups are not united and the groups are the ones that the current governor, Nasir El-Rufai, which foundation has been the CPC and those in more of the opposition and new entrants from the new PDP, and those of the ACN and those of the ANPP. I think the inter-play in the political circle in Kaduna is more between these groups. So, really, you can see there is a slight difference between that of Kano and Kaduna.

    What have you done to bring back sanity and transparency in the state?

    What is happening to the former governor today is a lesson to us all that is in office today. The same people who were clearing ways and roads for him to pass are the same people who are blocking his way to freedom. I think this is a real lesson for our leaders. It is a lesson to leadership. It is not something that one should laugh at. But certainly, we as Nigerians, we have to draw a line. There is a certain level that we cannot descend. We should listen to the voice of wisdom, especially those outside the government; because those working directly with you or under you may not the courage to tell you the truth. They will hardly look you in the face and tell you the truth. For me, I like the truth no matter how bitter it is. Truth itself doesn’t hide, but the way it is said because there is a way which my messenger can come and advice me, and there are ways he comes and talks to me, I will consider it. So, it is the ways and means of how you tell the truth that matters. I always say this that it is not truth that is the problem but how it is said. As leaders, we should try to answer that word leader, because leaders means one that is in the front and others are following—whether in character or conduct or behavior or attitude—that is a leader. The problem we have today is that there are so many rulers, not leaders. Rulers are all over the place, but leaders are difficult to find.

    What are you doing to curtail  cattle rustling in Katsina  State?

    The process started way back in 2015, when we came on board. When we came in, it was at the highest point of insecurity, especially affecting nine of our local government borders. The borders in the forest areas include Zamfara, Katsina and others. We realised that the forest extended to Zamfara, Kebbi, Kaduna and Niger. On this side, and we realised also that no one state alone can deal with the situation decisively, except with the cooperation of other bordering states, because if we operate against the cattle rustlers in Katsina State on this side, they will just run to Kaduna, kebbi or Niger states. So, we the five states, decided initially, that is Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna, Kebbi and Niger, to meet in a common approach, because all the military formations are under Kaduna State. So, we all agreed among ourselves to seat with the military, the airforce, the customs, because they have helicopters they use for air surveillance, over the roles they play to combat smuggling. And the civil defence in order to identify and fish-out and point out where the cattle rustlers are in the forests. After that meeting, we informed the president, who also directed the service chief, including the Chief of Defence Staff and the Head of Service. We sat with them and we agreed and the Kaduna operation started last year. After that, we now decided that every state should now come together and re-enforce all our security outfits. The joint ecurity outfits were now mandated to start patrolling the trouble spots. So, after reaching a certain level, we now realised that we cannot permanently station the army and the police in the forests. The only thing was for us to negotiate. Luckily enough for us, the person that emerged as the chairman of the task force was the leader of Miyeti-Allah in Kaduna state (a Fulani man), an enlightened and educated person who speaks the language and knows the culture. He facilitated the meetings between us and the cattle rustlers. From the initial meetings, we learnt a lot. We learnt that over 95% of those in the forests are the criminals.

  • Troops kill armed bandits in Northwest

    Two armed bandits have been killed in a gun battle between troops of 1 Division of the Nigerian Army, armed bandits and cattle rustlers in the Northwest.

    Deputy Director of Public Relations of the Division, Colonel Usman Abdul, who revealed this in a statement in Kaduna yesterday, said the bandits were killed in various spots within the region.

    The Army also said it has apprehended a suspected bandit who is believed to be an errand boy, few of them escaped with injuries.

    His words: “In a follow up operations being conducted by 1 Division of the Nigerian Army against armed bandits, cattle rustling and other criminal activities, troops of 223 tank battalion on Friday, June 24, while on patrol along KUSA BAYAN DUTSE in Birnin-Magaji Local Government Area of Zamfara State, encountered pockets of armed bandits. Although, no casualty was recorded, few of them escaped with injuries.

    “Some of the items recovered include one Ak-47 riffle, one magazine, quantity 13 rounds of 7.62mm special and two motorcycles, which were burnt at the scene.

    “A suspected bandit, who is believed to be their errand boy, was apprehended at Gusami market and he is presently undergoing interrogation.

    “Similarly, on Saturday, June 25, the troops, while patrolling Maganawa village in Maru Local Government Area, also encountered some bandits. One of them was killed.

    “Some of the items recovered include a locally-made dane gun with some rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.

    “Similarly, troops of II battalion in Kaduna, while on patrol along DOGON DAWA-MAIDARO road engaged some armed bandits who attempted to kidnap an innocent person in his farm. The suspect, on sighting the troops fired but was gunned down.

    “Items recovered include one Ak-47 riffle, 22 rounds of 7.62mm special, two ammunition carrying magazines and two mobile phones.”