Television Nigerian

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Mkar in Gboko, Benue State, Prof. Zacharys Gundu, stated that he was not ready to apologize to Abdullahi Sule, the governor of Nasarawa State, for claiming that armed men, including herdsmen, were using Nasarawa as a base of operations to attack Benue.

Governor Sule, through his attorney, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Ahmed Raji and Company, demanded that Prof. Gundu apologize to him for his statement within seven days or face legal repercussions. Prof. Gundu responded by making the declaration.

Counsel to the Nasarawa State Governor, Raji, SAN, had previously demanded a retraction in a letter dated July 22, 2025, written to Governor Sule and Professor Gundu. The letter stated that he would be reassured if the University apologized unconditionally to him in at least five national dailies.

A law professor, Prof. Sebastine Hon., SAN, who also serves as Prof. Gundu’s counsel, responded to the letter by emphasizing that his client would not, under any pretense, apologize to Governor Sule.

Prof. Hon. claimed that his client, Gundu, stated the truth and provided evidence to back up his claims in a letter dated July 28, 2025, sent to Raji and made accessible to Makurdi’s Daily Independent on Monday.

In order to ensure that his client would not distance himself from the “accusation,” he advised the counsel to Governor Sule to advise his client appropriately.

In the letter, Prof. Sebastine Hon., SAN, expressed his disapproval of Governor Sule’s contradictory statements regarding the attacks. He stated that at one point, he would claim that there was a “influx” of terrorists and herdsmen in Nasarawa, but at any given time, he would claim that there were only a “few.”

“Your letter on the above subject matter, dated 22 July 2025, refers,” he stated. For Professor Zacharys Anger Gundu, we have been hired as his solicitors. In response to your letter dated July 22, 2025, we are writing this on his behalf.

“Our client instructed us that he just said the truth and nothing else. In particular, he is depending on the defenses of justification and fair remark, among others that are at his disposal.

To be clear, the following information is unquestionable: As the Governor of Nasarawa State, our client addressed your client as such, referring to him as the state’s chief security officer. For this reason, our client referred to “Governors” often, including Hyacinth Alia, the current governor of Benue State (albeit her name was not specifically mentioned) and Al-Makura, the previous governor of Nasarawa State.

“To further demonstrate that your client is not exempt from our client’s charges, your client told Channels TV in June 2025, following the recent Yelwata massacre, that Nasarawa State could not have been harboring the numerous murderers who travel to Benue in order to kill, maim, and then return to Nasarawa because the state only has a small number of Fulani herdsmen.”

This is in stark contrast to his well-known claim that “an influx of Fulani herdsmen and Boko Haram members is occurring in Nasarawa State.” According to the Daily Post on June 27, 2025, your client also brazenly told this astounding untruth that day:
The vocabulary used to describe harboring and similar phenomena is problematic because there is no such thing. Not even enough Fulanis live in Nasarawa State for us to conclude that the state is harboring anyone.

Regarding the harboring of armed bandits in Nasarawa State: As our client mentioned at that public appearance, Tanko Al-Makura, your client’s predecessor, previously asserted that the bandits going out of and into Nasarawa State were “hunters,” despite the fact that the state has neither hunting forests nor ranges.

The “influx” of deadly bandits into Nasarawa State has been a constant source of concern for your client, Governor Sule, between 2020 and 2025.

We question why there has been such a dramatic change in public opinion from someone who has been claiming for at least the last five years that there has been a steady “influx” of Boko Haram members and armed Fulani herdsmen into that same state. Please ask your client if, since declaring this “influx,” he has also declared the “expulsion” or “voluntary migration” of those criminal elements from Nasarawa State.

The amount of proof our client has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the murderous Fulani herdsmen who attack Benue State on multiple fronts are always housed in Nasarawa State by the state’s successive governors, including your client, will astound your client, Prof. Hon. added.

“When we meet with you in court, we will release all of those pieces of evidence; however, the following facts are irrefutable and unquestionable,” he said.

Furthermore, according to the information at his disposal, our client maintains his position on land grabbing, Prof. Hon. Additionally, our client took covert attempts to strengthen his position after reading your letter being answered online and as a result learned the following disturbing facts.

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According to a recent news conference in Abuja, Tiv community leaders in the LGAs of Awe, Doma, Keana, and Obu in Nasarawa State, led by Jerry Aondo, SAN, claimed that your client has taken and continues to take huge tracts of land from Tiv people in Nasarawa State under a purported “agricultural mandate Why would anyone want to take over farmers’ farmlands under the pretense of a “agriculture mandate”?

“Your Client declared that “all lands in Nasarawa state belong to the state” in order to cover up the illegality of taking ancestral lands from Tiv indigenous in the state and giving them to invaders or some foreigners.

In a prompt and incisive response, civil rights activist and senior lawyer Dr. Monday Ubani, SAN, stated among other things in the Loyal Nigerian Lawyer of May 6, 2025, that your client’s proclamation “is legally incorrect, constitutionally flawed, and fundamentally misleading within the framework of Nigeria’s extant laws, particularly the Land Use Act of 1978.”

17 (17) Tiv people from Nasarawa State have sued your client, various Nasarawa State government agencies, and the Nigerian Army in Suit No. NSD/LF 44/2025, seeking judicial relief against the forcible seizure of their ancestral farmlands, which span thousands of hectares. We will not be discussing this suit further because it is still pending. The court procedures in this suit should be available to you from your client, who has already made an appearance,” he said.

We could continue, but these are only a small portion of the evidence we have to show that your client, the chief security officer of Nasarawa State, has known for more than five (5) years that the state he oversees harbors land grabpers and murderers, and he has made no real attempts to stop or curtail this grave threat. We have made the decision to keep some of our weaponry hidden for clear reasons.

“In view of the aforementioned, we have the firm instructions of our Client to dismiss the demands made in your letter of July 22, 2025,” he summarized. Under no circumstances can our client meet those requirements.

He said, “We sincerely hope you will advise your client appropriately.”

The streets of the capital city of Nigeria are writing a new narrative. It is an administration committed to restoring the city’s honor, one street at a time, not the beggars who persistently tap at tinted windows at every crossroads or the hawkers who weave across traffic peddling bottled water and fireworks.

Barrister Nyesom Wike, the Federal Capital Territory’s (FCT) minister and a man known for his tough stance on urban order, is at the center of this movement. Abuja will no longer be the “capital of beggars” in Nigeria, and that is his explicit purpose this time.

“War has been declared by us.” At Katampe, it started with a vow that broke through the din of construction at the flag-off of an access road to the Judges’ Quarters. Wike, flanked by security chiefs and dignitaries, didn’t hold back.

“Abuja is becoming a city of beggars,” he said. Say to your brother or sister to leave right away if you know they are pleading here. We will start removing them next week. We have declared war.

According to the Minister, begging on the street is a cover for exploitation and crime, not charity. The poorest people in Nigeria have long been the target of syndicates, who traffic children from far areas and dump them at crossroads throughout Abuja, from Gwarimpa to Asokoro. Some beggars are thought by authorities to be informants for “one chance” robbers and pickpockets.

Wike remarked, “It is embarrassing that when people enter our capital, they see beggars lining up at every intersection.” Some people are criminals. Others pose as ill. We will not permit it.

The operation started before the dust from his speech had cleared, as he had promised. Operation Sweep Abuja Clean, as it has come to be known, saw police trucks and paramilitary convoys roll out around the city by Monday.

Former Police Commissioner Olatunji Disu is in the forefront of the effort, supported by teams from the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Department of State Service (DSS), the Military Police, and other organizations. Their short? Easy: walk around every corner.

“We will search every black spot, bridge, and hiding place for the first two weeks,” Disu informed his soldiers before daybreak.

Four days later, the numbers—210 beggars in custody, 58 women, 72 children, and 80 men—shocked even seasoned officials. A decades-old issue was exposed in a striking way at the FCT Vocational and Rehabilitation Centre in Kuchikon, Bwari Area Council, when the arrested were bussed in.

In Kuchikon, Bwari, the effects of decades of poverty and neglect are evident at the FCT Vocational and Rehabilitation Centre. Every day, buses arrive, carrying people in rags, infants clutching weary moms, and wide-eyed kids who are unable to identify the villages from where they originated.

As she observed the processing of new arrivals, Gloria Onwuka, Acting Director of the Social Welfare Department, remarked, “What we found is even worse than we thought.”

In remote communities, many of the youngsters were farmed out by their parents. Women can pretend to be ill. After the day is over, certain syndicates get the money. It is organized exploitation.

One boy, who was around nine years old, told a volunteer that he came from Kano but was unable to identify the particular village. “We are taken in a bus by a man,” he muttered. “If we don’t have enough money, we won’t eat,” he says.

“The majority of the kids were employed,” Onwuka disclosed. Some families do, in fact, hire out their children, we found out. After driving into communities and giving parents a few thousand naira, syndicates transport the kids into Abuja at first light and leave them out to beg at roundabouts. Again, they disappear at night.

One woman, she remembers, claimed to have breast cancer and needed money for surgery. Our female policemen did not untie the bandage. Not even a small scrape.

The connections between petty criminality and street begging have long been discussed by locals. Today’s beggar tapping your window could be a pickpocket’s clue tomorrow.

“We think many are connected to petty theft, ‘one chance,’ and other crimes,” stated Adamu Gwary, Director of FCT Security Services, who noted that these individuals take advantage of the city’s compassion.

Gwary also didn’t hold back when speaking at the Kuchikon center, as he was represented by Dr. Peter Olumuji, Secretary of the FCT Command and Control Center. “For this reason, the Minister issued a clear directive: this city needs to be secure. There will be more than just discussion this time.

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Critics of the crackdown do exist, though. Residents’ sentiments are divided at one of the busiest intersections in the city, Berger Junction.

A government worker named Mrs. Elizabeth Ikenna claimed, “I’ve been robbed twice by boys who claim to be begging.” I’m all for the Minister. We must put an end to this insanity.

A cab driver named Usman Sule, however, sees another side. There are criminals among us. However, other people are simply hungry. “Where do they go if you arrest them?”

The success of Wike’s large wager will be determined by this delicate balance between law enforcement and compassion.

This raid is different, according to the FCT, than previous ones that merely loaded individuals onto buses and deposited them at state boundaries.

The approach must incorporate rehabilitation and reintegration, according to Social Welfare Director Dr. Sani Rabe.

“Vocational training will be provided here to those who are willing to learn,” he clarified. If at all feasible, we will track down their families. A few will go back to their states. But it’s not that simple. Many people don’t want to return home, and some people have no family left.

In order to make sure that repatriated beggars do not find their way back on fresh buses, the FCTA is also communicating with states.

Wike is fighting urban disorder, and street begging is just one aspect of his fight. Scavengers hauling carts through estates, unpainted taxis, and illegal roadside mechanics are all targeted.

Kaka Bello, AEPB’s Head of Enforcement, supervised the demolition of temporary mechanic sheds under the Garki flyover. He declared, “We cannot call ourselves the seat of government and look like a slum.”

This is the capital of the biggest democracy in Africa. It has to appear to be one.

Another front opened as the street sweep gained momentum. Traffic infractions, unregistered plates, or supporting criminals have resulted in the seizure of more than 280 automobiles, tricycles, and commercial motorcycles.

“Taxis operating without number plates or colors are being pulled off the road,” Dr. Olumuji stated. “One-time” robberies frequently involve these vehicles. We’re also going to shut that down.

It has been made clear by the police, VIO, and traffic agencies in the FCT: without documentation, there can be no vehicle.

Locals report that they are already noticing improvements. There is a noticeable dearth of people in black areas like Gwarinpa Bridge and the bustling Wuse Market.

Olumuji claimed that Abuja was getting too hot for criminals. “The Minister wants a city where law-abiding citizens feel safe and criminals have nowhere to hide,” the statement reads.

Abuja has, of course, tried this before. For a time, the streets were cleared by sweepers working for previous ministers. However, poverty, conflict in the hinterlands, and systemic corruption were the issues that kept coming up.

Wike has instructed his crew, “This time we must get it right.” “We have to continue it, punish the syndicates, and restore the real cases. It’s the only option.

Despite being only a few weeks old, “Operation Sweep Abuja Clean” sends a strong message: Nigeria’s capital will not cede its honor to urban deterioration, street syndicates, or small-time criminals.

It will depend on what happens next—jobs for the desperate, assistance for the weak, and the political will to stick with it—whether this most recent effort becomes a footnote in the city’s cycle of crackdowns or the start of significant change.

The trucks continue to roll for now. The checkpoints are still in place. And the message from the top reverberates through each raid: under Wike’s leadership, Abuja would no longer serve as the capital of the beggars.

Since taking office in June 2023 as Speaker of Nigeria’s 10th House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen has continuously supported creative legislative reforms aimed at promoting equity, inclusivity, and institutional relevance.

The attempt to assign constitutional roles to traditional institutions and the campaign for women’s reserved legislative seats are two notable aspects of his legislative program.

The aforementioned actions demonstrate Speaker Abbas’s profound comprehension of Nigeria’s intricate sociopolitical circumstances and his dedication to establishing a representative, inclusive, and sustainable governing framework.

In response to the issue of Nigeria’s ongoing underrepresentation of women in elective office, Speaker Abbas has advocated for reserved legislative seats for women. Even though they may make up over half of the nation’s population, women hold less than 10% of elected federal and state positions.

Given Nigeria’s enviable position at the bottom of Africa’s reference ladder, Speaker Abbas has led and continues to lead discussions and push legislative proposals to create reserved seats for women in the National and States Houses of Assembly. He recognizes that this imbalance is both unfair and counterproductive.

In order to ensure gender parity and a more fair and inclusive legislative process, this endeavor is reflected in the proposed “Reserved Seats for Women Bill,” which aims to guarantee a minimum threshold of female involvement in governance.

The advantages of this endeavor are numerous, to paraphrase the Speaker’s own remarks at several national and international forums on the topic.

The Speaker asserted that reserved seats will not only provide women more political clout but also enable them to contribute a range of viewpoints to the formulation of public policy, particularly concerning matters concerning gender-based violence, healthcare, education, and social protection.

He has categorically made the case that women’s voices should be heard more loudly in national legislatures in order to strengthen democracy and make government more sensitive to the interests of all citizens.

Speaker Abbas has worked and is still working with international development partners, women advocacy organizations, and civil society organizations to mobilize support for this revolutionary move.

“Our daughters will read, listen, and watch our debates, and our sons will gauge our courage in the face of necessity that calls for decisive actions,” Speaker Abbas said, urging his male legislative colleagues in the National and State Assemblies to support the “Reserved Seats for Women Bill” during the inauguration of a steering committee on the bill in Abuja on Wednesday.

These bills are intended “to build a bridge, not a barrier, we are opening an avenue, not closing a door,” according to Speaker Abbas. “No sitting Member loses a seat,” he said once more. Every state keeps its current representation. Instead of shrinking, we are growing. We are not subtracting; we are adding.

He added: “This is crucial for my male coworkers. You still have your mandate. You still have your constituency. We are looking for statesmanship, not sacrifice, and solidarity instead of surrender.

Roles for Traditional Institutions: Speaker Abbas is equally imaginative in his determination to see traditional institutions given constitutional roles, a long-overdue acknowledgement of the importance and power of traditional leaders in Nigerian governance.

Traditional institutions have been essential to grassroots growth, cultural preservation, community mobilization, and dispute resolution for generations.

They now, however, function outside of the official constitutional framework, which restricts their power and ability to aid in the growth of the country. This is different from what was previously the case in all pre-independence constitutions until 1963.

Social cohesiveness, local government, and efforts in security, mediation, and civic education will all be strengthened, according to Speaker Abbas, if traditional rulers are incorporated into the constitutional framework.

Under his direction, the House of Representatives has engaged in high-level discussions with traditional institution leaders and is currently examining constitutional amendments to specify precisely what roles traditional leaders can play in the Nigerian state of the twenty-first century in terms of advice, development, and moral supervision.

Moving with conviction rooted in his royal background and his desire for a more balanced social order where some responsibilities are legally entrusted to the traditional rulers, Speaker Abbas recently held a legislative roundtable discussion on the inclusion of traditional institutions’ roles in the ongoing constitutional amendment. He revealed that the 10th National Assembly aims to establish three-tier traditional institutions that span all political spectrums.

The 10th National Assembly is actively considering measures to give traditional institutions some constitutional legitimacy, he stated. Additionally, they are proposing the following three-tiered Traditional Council structure in the process:

In order to assist the President on matters pertaining to national unity, security, and cultural affairs, we ought to establish a National Council of Traditional Rulers.

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The State Council of Chiefs, which state governments must constitutionally recognize, will be the second tier in regards to customary law, peacebuilding, and development.

He added, “The Local Government Traditional Council will then formally interact with Local Governments, particularly on matters of security, peacebuilding, and community development.”

Speaker Abbas’s attempts to orchestrate societal growth and prestige for traditional institutions are grounded in both his legislative posturing and his real-world pledges and actions.

In order to purchase and provide tens of brand-new, cutting-edge sports utility vehicles (SUVs) to traditional rulers throughout the nation’s six geographic zones, he has invested a significant amount of money.

In the same way that he has drawn Federal Government projects to a sizable number of kingdoms and domains to improve the development needs of Nigerians living outside of his own constituency, something that has drawn numerous traditional titles to him and continues to do so, he has also been very consistent in providing them with parliatives during important times, such as holidays.

A larger legislative strategy that prioritizes inclusive governance, cultural relevance, and institutional synergy is reflected in these two initiatives: women inclusion through reserved seats and constitutional recognition of traditional institutions.

By advocating for these changes, Speaker Abbas is attempting to close the gap between Nigeria’s sociocultural realities and its contemporary political structure.

His leadership is based on equity, pragmatism, and vision. He has a strong commitment to a Nigeria where all ethnic groups and cultural groups have a say in administration, which is seen in his dual push for increased female political representation and the constitutional inclusion of traditional authorities.

If these initiatives are successful, Nigeria’s democracy will surely be strengthened and sustainable national development would be promoted.