On Sunday, a fire destroyed the NEXT supermarket in Abuja’s Kado district.
As of the time of writing this report, there is little information about the fire.
One of Abuja’s largest supermarkets is NEXT.
The cause of the conflagration is still unknown, but millions of dollars’ worth of goods may have been lost.
Later on, more information…
Ndigbo have a lot of work ahead of them if they want to be president of Igbo extraction in 2023 – Okwuosa.
In Anambra State, Sir Azuka Okwuosa is a political force to be reckoned with. In the just-concluded Anambra governorship election on November 6, he ran as an APC candidate.
He has also served as the Chairman of the old Nnewi Council Area, as well as a former Commissioner in the state.
In this interview, Sir Okwuosa, who claimed to have been mentored by the late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, discussed Anambra politics, a president of Igbo descent, and Southeast infrastructural decay, among other topics. Excerpts:
Why hasn’t there been any comment from you since the governorship election on November 6 in Anambra State, in which you would have contested?
So, contrary to what you claim, I have not been quiet. What happened in my party’s primary election, the All Progressives Congress (APC), is, in my opinion, an internal problem that cannot be discussed in the pages of newspapers. That has always been my position. But, in terms of the external aspect, I believe the election has passed and the results have been announced. I’m also aware that the victor in every election is supposed to be applauded, while the defeated is supposed to agitate. And anyone who feels aggrieved has the right and privilege, as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to go and ventilate and explore all legitimate and legal options available to him for redress. So, the reason I didn’t want to speak up is that I didn’t want to be accused of interfering with or jeopardizing an ongoing process. With my political experience, I believe that the most important aspect of the election is that it is a process. Following the election, an election petition tribunal is established. After that has been exhausted, the next step is the inauguration of a validly elected candidate. When all of the obstacles have been removed, someone will have been legitimately elected. I’m not implying that the election was not free and fair, or that it was untrustworthy. All I’m saying is that the court will have to decide. I don’t want to interfere with the legal system as it is. Naturally, the first thing I do after an election is congratulate the winner, but if I feel wronged, I can still contest it when I return to the drawing board. You may recall that when I ran for Senate in 2019, I went to court because I was not convinced that my opponent had won the election, and I fought it to the end. However, the interest of Anambra State takes precedence over our own personal interests in this case. I’m looking forward to a state that is supposed to be a role model in terms of leadership and everything else you can think of, and the only way to get there is for us leaders to come together, disagree to agree at times. At the end of the day, the most important thing is progress. So it’s not just about talking for the sake of talking. It’s all about getting the job done. I occasionally provided advice to those who were supposed to receive it. To do so, I draw on my previous experience. You know it can’t be found in the newspapers. The ultimate goal is for us to have good governance in Anambra State and for the state to remain in the enviable position for which it is known.
Did you anticipate what happened at the primary level when you decided to run for office?
You’re aware that I’m being dragged into what I perceive to be a party internal matter. It’s a procedure. The procedure is straightforward. The party had a plan, an appeal panel, after the botched primaries. Following the appeal panel, a reconciliation committee was formed, consisting of around four governors, including the governors of Kogi, Jigawa, and Plataeu. Senator Ken Nnamani was present, as were other notables. The outcome is a party internal matter that I would prefer not to discuss in the media. Having said that, we thoroughly investigated everything. But, as I always say, I’m a party guy who believes in the party’s supremacy. It’s possible that you won’t always get what you want. If, at the end of the day, the party decides that this is the way it wants it to be, I will respect that decision as a loyal party member. I’m not going to participate in anti-party activities. No. That is something I will never do. The party’s internal issues are being discussed internally. And I prefer to express my grief through the party’s internal processes. But if it’s about the generality of political parties in Anambra State other than the APC, I’m happy to talk about it.
Would you still run for governor if it had been four years?
Well, I think the question is a little bit unnecessary because we had an election, and we have a winner, and the person has not even been inaugurated as governor, and you are talking about the next four years. Let us first pray for life, and then see how things turn out. Our next course of action will be determined by events. Because of the level of problems we have in Anambra State, which you can see, my entry into the democratic process for governorship in Anambra was borne out of necessity. Consider the state of our roads, the state of our infrastructure, and our inability to continue the governorships of Chris Ngige and Peter Obi. These things weigh heavily on my mind. I believe God has blessed me, and what better legacy can I leave to my generation than to volunteer? I have no business running for office if there is a credible leadership. People are expected to take responsibility for liberating their people in the absence of credible leadership, and I will never hesitate to do so.
What are your thoughts on a Nigerian president of Igbo descent in 2023?
By all standards, allowing the Igbo to produce the next president of this country is the right thing to do; if you look at equity, the Southeast has been the most marginalized in terms of representation at the highest level of leadership in this country, at the presidential level. We have never had the honor of having a president from the southeast of Nigeria. When we had a parliamentary system of government in Nigeria, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe was a ceremonial president. The Prime Minister was in charge of the situation. As a result, we’ve never held an executive position in the traditional sense. Following the First Republic, democracy was disrupted due to military intervention. The North then produced a president in the form of Alhaji Shehu Shagari during the Second Republic, and after Shagari, there was another round of military intervention. Following that, President Olusegun Obasanjo gave the Southwest a shot. Following that, President Goodluck Jonathan gave the South-South a chance. Only the Southeast has never had the opportunity to hold that position.
Remember that the Southeast accounts for nearly a quarter of Nigeria’s population, according to census data from 1953 and 1963. According to the same census figures from 1953 and 1963, Hausa/Fulani made up one-quarter of the population, while the Southwest made up about one-quarter. And the entire minority, both north and south, accounted for one-quarter of the population. So only about a quarter of Nigerians have never had the opportunity to serve as president. Southeast residents must band together and assess our situation. What are the things that we haven’t been doing correctly, and how can we start doing them properly? Choosing a president necessitates collaboration with other zones. Before we can achieve it, we need to work with the South-Southwest, the Southwest, the Northeast, the Northwest, and the North-central. Even for Tafawa Belewa to become Prime Minister in the First Republic, the NPC and NCNC formed an alliance. That was the difference between him and Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, who was only a ceremonial President. There was an agreement between the NPN and the NPP for Shagari to be elected President of the Second Republic. Even the one that produced Obasanjo, as well as President Goodluck Jonathan, had the same arrangement. So we must do what is necessary, reach out to other zones, restore trust and acceptability, and we will succeed. It is natural to assert that it is our right, but we must also take action. Southeast, in my opinion, deserves to be given a chance. Of course, our fate is in our own hands. The time between now and 2023 is extremely short, but the task at hand is massive. The laborers, I believe, are present. So, if we all work together, we’ll see how far we can go, and I believe it’s possible.
What does this mean for the Igbo? As the Southeast strives to produce the next Nigerian president, aspirants in the North and other zones are preparing for the same presidency.
It is a matter of democratic liberty. I have no objections to it. Zik and Awolowo, as well as the other candidates, contested Tafawa Belewa’s election as Prime Minister. The People’s Redemption Party (PRP) of the North’s Aminu Kano also ran. There were five major presidential candidates in the Second Republic, with Awolowo representing the Southwest and Zik representing the Southeast. You had Waziri Ibrahim, Shagari, and Aminu Kano, I believe. It was won by a person who reached out. Abiola defeated Tofa in the one he won in 1993. Because he was able to reach out, Abiola was able to win. A president of Igbo descent cannot be produced solely in the Southeast zone.
Do you believe the current agitation by the Indigenous People of Biafra will jeopardize Nigeria’s bid for an Igbo president?
It is viewed from a variety of perspectives. However, I believe that there is a sense of unity. Agitation is also a part of the procedure. I’m aware that it has both merit and flaws. But the most important thing to remember is that no system can achieve perfection. The most important thing is that you should engage in proper political maneuvering. When Jonathan was elected president, there was militancy in the South-South. That changed with the arrival of Jonathan. The OPC was still wreaking havoc in Southwest Nigeria when Obasanjo became President of Nigeria. So, unless you’re talking about the peace of the graveyard, you can never have a very state of or absolute peace. People vent their rage, but equity can also help to quell it, and I believe that the election of a Nigerian president of Igbo descent will go a long way toward quelling most of the current agitations.
What are your thoughts on the Igbo philosophy of think-at-home? Isn’t it the best bet for the well-to-do in Igbo land to contribute to the zone’s development?
It’s not easy to say, “Let them come home and invest.” So, who said that? Is it the governor who has the authority to say so? There has undoubtedly been a rallying cry for people to return home and invest. However, before people can invest, certain fundamental indices must be in place. Infrastructural decay is the most serious problem in the Southeast, which includes Anambra State. You cannot have a meaningful investment in any aspect of Southeast state without infrastructural development. For example, because Michael Okpara, the then-Premier of the Eastern Region, was able to address the infrastructural problem, the South Eastern Nigerian region was able to flourish. What are the most pressing infrastructure issues? The Igbo have the ability to construct their own homes. The Igbo can construct their factories and estates if you provide the necessary infrastructure. Michael Okpara provided good roads, electricity, and water in the First Republic; water was almost always available in all towns and communities, and there were public taps. What we see today, however, are the relics of those things. And industries sprang up in Eastern Nigeria prior to the war. We had the iron and steel industry in Emene, the ceramic industry in Umuahia, and many other industries that grew and flourished. Even in the agricultural sector, farm settlements were established in some parts of the Southeast due to the availability of basic infrastructure. Okpara constructed the Oji Power Plant, coal was mined in Enugu, a functioning railway system existed, and everything was in order. The Amaraku Power Station was built in the 1980s by the late Governor Onunaka Mbakwe. That was more than four decades ago. In Imo State, he provided electricity. The majority of the infrastructure was demolished in a systematic manner. Industries are collapsing. Tempo Mills, Premier Breweries, J. Nwankwu Industries, and a slew of other businesses sprung up in the 1970s. There were many industries, but where are they now? Where is Nigercem, Emene Cement Factory, and all the other industries established during the Okpara regime? As a result of the lack of power generation, industries in the Southeast zone have struggled to thrive. They are no longer able to exist. How can those industries survive in the absence of power? That is where the collapse of industries begins. As a result, in order for people to embrace the think-home philosophy, you must meet their basic infrastructure requirements.
The Chief Justice of Nigeria’s (CJN) recent warning against security operatives harassing judicial officers is timely and appropriate. Justice Tanko Muhammad, who warned that Nigeria’s judiciary has had enough of security operatives humiliating its officials, said the country’s judiciary would no longer tolerate such treatment.
“Those who regard the judiciary as a mere weakling will soon realise that it is from the calmest seas that we often experience the fiercest storms,” Muhammad said, referring to the humiliating invasion of Justice Mary Odili’s official residence on October 29, 2021. The time has passed for judicial officers to be oppressed, suppressed, and intimidated.” He claimed that Nigeria was not a lawless society, and that no law allowed anyone to enter and subdue any Nigerian citizen in his or her home based on a flimsy, fraudulently obtained search warrant.
A search warrant had been issued in favor of a team known as Joint Panel Recovery under the Ministry of Justice by a certain Chief Magistrate, Mr. Emmanuel Iyanna, of Wuse Zone 6 magisterial division in Abuja. Armed security operatives stormed Justice Odili’s home based on this warrant. The search warrant was reportedly obtained based on information provided by a whistleblower, Aliyu Umar, an Abuja resident. Umar claimed that illegal activities were taking place at No. 9, Imo Street, Maitama, Abuja, and that law enforcement agents should intervene immediately. Due to misrepresentation in the first information application to the court, the chief magistrate has since revoked the search warrant.
At the Federal High Court in Abuja, 15 suspects allegedly involved in the raid have been arraigned so far. They were charged with an 18-count amended charge that included forgery, criminal trespass, intimidation, threats, and extortion, among other things. There were twenty-two defendants on the charge, but seven are still on the loose. The defendants entered not guilty pleas in response to the charge.
The ordeal that Justice Odili is going through is not the first. In the dead of night in October 2016, operatives from the Department of State Services (DSS) raided the home of Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, now deceased, and six others. The raid was carried out as a result of investigations into allegations of fraud perpetrated by the judges, according to the operatives. They claimed to have recovered large sums of money from Ngwuta’s home in both local and foreign currencies.
The immediate past CJN, Walter Onnoghen, was ignominiously removed from office in April 2019 by the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal with a dubious ex-parte order. Onnoghen was found guilty of six counts of false asset declaration and was barred from holding any public office for the next ten years by the Tribunal.
Most of the time, this type of raid and harassment is used to intimidate judges in order to achieve some nefarious goals. It could be to persuade them to rule in favor of certain individuals. It could also be a precursor to charges of various offenses being leveled against them, leading to their removal from office to make way for some preferred candidates in succession battles. This has been allowed to fester because no one has been held accountable.
This is one of the reasons why the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN) has decried what it calls the ruling class’s systematic efforts to erode the judiciary’s independence in recent years. Intimidation, coercion, arm-twisting, divide-and-rule tactics, and outright harassment are examples of such tactics, according to the Body of SANs. It urged the judiciary to safeguard the country’s independence by preventing external enemies from invading its sacred sanctuary.
The Senate, as well as many other concerned Nigerians, condemned the raid on Justice Odili’s home, Nigeria’s second most senior judicial official.
Judges’ harassment, if not addressed, will have a negative impact on the country’s image. It has the potential to portray Nigeria as a country where citizens’ rights and the rule of law are abridged at will. Furthermore, people will lack trust and confidence in judgments issued by such a judicial system.
Allowing this type of harassment to fester poses the risk of undermining democracy’s core values. It’s important to remember that the judiciary is a sacred institution. It is the oppressed’s last hope and the government’s third arm.
As a result, we must ensure that its independence, which is one of the hallmarks of a democratic society, is maintained and respected at all times. Judges’ homes are raided at will, undermining any respect they may have and affecting the entire justice system. We must all condemn this trend and urge the President to speak out about it so that it does not happen again. Judges should not only be respected, but their decisions should also be followed at all times by everyone, regardless of their status. We agree with the CJN’s warning because the judiciary must assert itself.
As Christians celebrate Christmas, Mr Olumide Akpata, President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has urged Nigerians to embrace peaceful coexistence.
Mr Olumide Akpata, the NBA President, said in a Christmas message to Nigerians that the birth of Jesus Christ signified peace, and urged Nigerians to strengthen the nation’s peace.
Dr Rapulu Nduka, the NBA’s National Publicity Secretary, signed the message.
“As we commemorate and celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, it is our collective wish that we, as individuals and as a nation, may experience His peace in these trying times.”
“On behalf of the Nigerian Bar Association, on the occasion of this year’s Christmas celebrations, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association wishes all members of the legal profession and Nigerians a merry Christmas.”
“May we, in the spirit of the season, ponder the true meaning of Christmas and expound on the virtues of love and peace symbolized by Jesus Christ’s birth in our homes and communities at large,” he said.
Bisi Daniels, a seasoned author and journalist, has released ten books at once, in a significant move that will boost children’s literature and provide variety for children.
The ten books, which are part of the Glory Supplementary Readers Series, were released on Wednesday by Busy Creations Limited’s Creations Books, which also publishes QUICKREAD, a fast-growing online paper.
Six of the novels are new, but four are reissues that have been updated to meet the needs of parents and children who have requested them.
The Oil Boys Trilogy, which includes ‘Game Changer,’ ‘The Fire,’ and ‘The Eyewitness,’ highlights issues in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
They are the industry’s first of their kind in Nigeria, where Daniels spent over ten years.
“The Oil Boys series is meant to bridge the knowledge gap of children and youth about the oil and gas industry in Nigeria,” Daniels says of the trilogy.
Another trilogy, titled “Mr Roadman 1, 2, 3,” teaches about road safety and following traffic rules.
“It’s also critical for children to understand the dangers they face on the roads, as well as how adults, including their parents, contribute to this,” Daniels says.
‘The Crusader,’ ‘The Price of Greed,’ ‘The Unresolved Riddle,’ and ‘Working Against Nature’ are the four reissues.
‘The Crusader’ highlights the dangers that corruption poses to youth development, human values, and national development.
The book’s protagonist, Jimoh Hassan, is an anti-corruption crusader. He is intelligent, disciplined, loyal, honest, and dedicated to carrying out his responsibilities as a class prefect. However, when a stolen wristwatch is planted on him, his reputation is jeopardized.
‘The Price of Greed,’ a didactic story that teaches children about the dangers of jealousy, envy, greed, and wickedness, has been reissued. It emphasizes basic human values, captures anomalies, and encourages a “live and let live” attitude toward life.
In all communities, ‘The Unresolved Riddle’ promotes tolerance, mutual understanding, respect, and peaceful coexistence.
‘Working Against Nature’ raises awareness about the dangers of over-indulging children, particularly by mothers. It’s a story about overcoming adversity in school, triumphing over parental poverty, and finding hope and rejuvenation in the face of adversity.
Professor Duro Ajeyalemi, the late Dean of the Faculty of Education at the University of Lagos, wrote a foreword to the four new books, praising their quality and the author’s effort.
“The storyline speaks to each reader in an entirely personal way,” he said. Marriage, greed, pride, reward, religion, and other thematic preoccupations are among the various thematic preoccupations. The language is clear, uninhibited, precise, and new. This provides true beauty to which any reader can relate without becoming bored.
“The author’s easy but firm command of the English language, as well as the unique quality of the prose, are evident in every chapter. “Especially striking are the logical flow of ideas and the deft ordering of sentences, which result in a convincing description of the narrative plot’s activities and sequences.”
“The books are educational,” Professor Ajeyalemi continued, “because all vocabulary is given a lot of attention.” There is a lot of humour in there, and appropriate images were used to capture the flavor of the prosaic verses.
“Finally, the author has put forth a lot of effort in creating storybooks whose originality is undeniable. The books are unique, intriguing, and appealing. They are masterpieces that re-echo the consciousness of all concerned with the adolescent crisis, indiscipline, corruption, cultism, nepotism, and other societal ills that plague Nigeria.”
Daniels, the author of thrillers such as ‘Conspiracy of Lagos,’ ‘The Girl from Nigeria,’ and ‘Harvest of Beauty,’ said the goal of the Glory Supplementary Readers Series is to encourage children to read both in and out of school.
“Multiple studies have shown that the effects of reading on child development are vast,” he said, emphasizing the importance for teachers and parents to make reading a regular part of their children’s daily routine.
“According to experts, some of the major benefits include strengthening and building new brain connections, which is a better way to exercise the brain than watching television. Children who read frequently and widely improve their reading skills and improve their concentration.”
“Reading develops children’s imagination as they can imagine how the characters are feeling; and it is also an excellent form of entertainment,” said the author of the acclaimed “Stories of Pastor E. A. Adeboye: The Power of Testimony,” who was also a teacher. The Glory Supplementary Readers hope to reap these and other advantages.
He said the books, as well as his other 12 titles, are available at CSS Bookshops and other outlets across the country.
The PDP Governors’ Forum, chaired by Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, congratulated Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State on his 54th birthday anniversary on Saturday.
The forum praised Makinde’s achievements and efforts to transform Oyo State in a statement issued by its Director-General, CID Maduabum, on Saturday in Abuja.
The forum thanked God for blessing Makinde with wisdom and good health, especially in the last two years as governor of Oyo state.
The PDP governors praised Makinde’s transformation of Oyo State, describing it as “from a debtor economy to a state now innovatively using agribusiness and technology in rebuilding its capacity to provide for the basic needs of its people.”
“The Forum is enthralled by your inspiring achievements in agriculture, sports infrastructure, universal education, and massive road projects, particularly rural roads connecting your agriculture multiplication estates in the State to points of sale, both within and beyond the State.”
“The PDP Governors’ Forum is enamored with how you have brought your experience as a successful mega businessman to bear in your office as Governor, and we wish you well as you continue to unveil your transformational initiatives on state and people’s affairs.”
As they engage with the myriad challenges of insecurity, banditry, and terrorism facing the country, the PDP governors recognized Makinde’s outstanding contributions to the party’s progress, as well as brotherly love among PDP governors.
The forum wished Makinde a happy birthday and wished God’s blessings on him, his family, and the people of Oyo State.
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, former Governor of Abia State and Senate Chief Whip, has urged Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to consider repairing some of the state’s major roads.
Senator Kalu listed the dilapidated roads as Umuahia-Uzuakoli, Akara-Alayi, Igbere-Item, and Abiriba-Ohafia in a terse statement forwarded to DAILY POST on Saturday.
The ex-Abia Governor also denied that the poor road conditions are due to federal infrastructure, insisting that they are due to state infrastructure.
“Despite not falling into my senatorial role, I had originally appropriated One Billion Naira as part of the 2021 capital project,” he said, “but the Federal Ministry of Works has yet to take action.”
“When I was Governor, I built and maintained the road.” Despite being one of Abia’s busiest roads, there has been no new investment on the road since I left,” he added.
Kalu also urged the State Governor to take immediate action to relieve the congestion on that road.
The Save Humanity Advocacy Centre (SHAC) has commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya, over the release of the female soldier detained for accepting the proposal of a corps member at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Orientation Camp in Yikpata, Kwara.
In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Joyce Ogwu, the Centre said it is excited by the release of the soldier, noting that the COAS has proven to be a listening leader with the interest of his troops and nation at heart.
Hannah Sofiat had earlier been detained for violating military rules and regulations by getting involved in a public display of “amorous relationship” with a paramilitary trainee – a corps member.
Having swore an oath under the Armed Forces Act, it was expected that the female soldier would be aware of such as an act of indiscipline, negligence of duty and others capable of dragging the image of the Nigerian Army in the mud.
No wonder the SHAC refused to join the bandwagon condemning the military in the first instance.
But out of his magnanimity, the COAS instructed her release in the spirit of the Christmas celebration following interventions by well spirited individuals.
Welcoming the release, the Centre said the COAS has again displayed his vision for a professional Nigerian Army ready to accomplish assigned missions within a joint environment in defence of the country.
She said by this action, the Army has proven to be an institution guided by principles which must be followed to the latter.
“We must agree that the Nigerian Army is peopled by highly disciplined personnel and its hierarchy must do things within the law to maintain discipline and professionalism within its set up,” Ogwu said.
She added that the Army has become synonymous for its excellent civil-military relation which has again come to the fore.
SHAC Executive Director, therefore, appreciated the Army, further cautioning everyone to respect constituted authorities and not to be carried away by emotions especially on sensitive national assignments.
By Yakubu Lamai
On July 30, 2019 at the Tony Elumelu Forum, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo remarked that: No matter how young or old we might be, our lives are essentially stories that are being written and revised every day and on the occasion of the Vice Presidents 63rd birthday, Engr Sule described Osinbajo as a dutiful man who is honor-bound and for whom piety is a way of life
Indeed the stories of life range from what we are born into, to what our reality is and to what our life can become, and to Engr Abdullahi A. Sule, he understands that for a political leader to be ascribed as being dutiful, he has to perform the tasks expected or required of him by his people with a sense of complete loyalty and implicit dedication so as to secure for himself a permanent place on the sands of time!
Today as Engr Abdullahi Sule clocks 62 years old, there are many critical lessons to learn about his life. According to JACK WELCH: Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others! This attribute of GROWING OTHER PEOPLE is what defines the politics and leadership style of Engineer Abdullahi A. Sule in Nasarawa.
To him, being a Governor is not about himself or his relatives and political cronies; leadership to Abdullahi Sule is about the people he serves and others he comes across and builds in this brief journey of life. That is why Engr A.A. Sule is making governance in Nasarawa State more responsive, more people centered, more human capital focused, more compassionate and more inclusive.
On Saturday 15th JULY, 2019, about six weeks after he became Governor; Engineer Abdullahi A. Sule was invited to discuss the ALMAJIRI PHENOMENON on NTA (Nigeria Television Authority) during the 9pm WEEKEND FILE.
Engineer Sule was shockingly blunt and condemned the situation where parents mostly from northern Nigeria, will give birth to numerous children and send them far away from home to live them under the care of Islamic teachers. He was not evasive, diplomatic or politically correct. Engineer Sule simply spoke from his heart and stated with resounding clarity that the concept of Almajiri is a noble idea where young boys are sent off as scholars to go and seek Islamic knowledge in distant lands and experience the vagaries of life along the way, thereby being tempered by the vicissitudes of lifes challenges and learning as they grow to be compassionate, broad minded and accepting of all humanity.
However after hundreds of years, the noble Almajiri scholarly system has been bastardized to the extent that the current form has condemned millions of children to a live of penury, or even worst, of crime, especially with extremists religious groups waiting to conscript them when they are left hapless, vulnerable and prone to diseases as they beg on the streets.
Engr Abdullahi A. Sule thereafter signed the Nasarawa State Child Protection Law of 2019 which provides for the safety, security, wellbeing, care, good health and education of a child,” after 14 years since the Executive Order for the Protection of Children was enacted in 2005.
History has it that private sector practitioners like Engineer Abdullahi A. Sule who was the immediate past Group Managing Director of Dangote Sugar, often come into public service with a history of experience in corporate governance and a culture of discipline. What is usually left to be seen is whether they can successfully transmit and infuse corporate culture into political governance
.
Taking his place as the 4th democratically elected governor of Nasarawa State, Engr A. A. Sule coined the mantra of his administration to be: EXCEEDING ALL EXPECTATIONS which he said was not just a slogan, but a prayer!
In his words; I entered politics to serve and to make an impact in the lives of the people of Nasarawa State! For indeed if politics was a religion and Abdullahi Sule was its prophet, he will stand out as an apostle of open government and one who believes that citizens have the right to access the documents, processes and proceedings of government, so as to allow for greater transparency, accountability and effective public oversight.
To most political leaders, the terms accountability, and transparency are mere political slogans or empty catchphrases used in campaigns to entice the electorate. Engr A.A. Sule on the other hand is a straight arrow who is upright, resolute and a worthy example of probity and fiscal discipline, and one who easily rises over and above the banality and fickle materiality of “chop I chop politics!
Sule has shown strong political will and sincerity of purpose by assenting to the Nasarawa State Public Procurement Law of 2020 as a direct by-product of good governance, and for establishing the Nasarawa State Bureau of Public Procurement to serve as an integrity-centered mechanism which will manage public supplies and institute an accountable process of public procurement, so as to ensure value for money
It is now over two years and by dint of his humane, humble and God fearing value-set, Engineer Abdullahi A. Sule adequately qualifies to be called a SERVANT LEADER i.e. one who leads by serving others
Many years ago, the great American Icon and hero of the working class, Walter Reuther who as president of the United Automobile Workers Union (UAW) grew the union to more than 1.5 million members was reputed to have said: There is no greater calling than to serve your fellow men and there is no greater contribution than to help the weak!
The Nobel Prize Winner in Literature George Bernard Shaw who lived to be 94 years old also reiterated that one person can make a difference in the life of a community and move an entire people forward, when the main goal of the leader is to serve. This is what George Bernard Shaw meant when he said: one man that has a mind and knows it can always beat ten men who haven’t and don’t!
Sule came into office as Governor of Nasarawa State holding a document in his left hand called NEDS: Nasarawa Economic Development Strategy which encapsulated his vision and economic blueprint and on his right hand, he held firmly to a sincere fear of God and a deep abiding love for Nasarawa State.
In only a few months of stewardship, the people of Nasarawa State began to see and hear how Governor Sule will quote verses from the Bible and recite the glorious Quran at public functions, where he reminded citizens that he is well aware that someday he will stand before the Almighty Allah and account for his leadership. Sule was so brazen at the National Quranic Recitation of 2019 which held in Lafia to declare that no governor has any reason to steal given the surplus legitimate benefits which come with being a governor!
The fact remains no other political leader in Nigeria of recent memory has repeatedly said how he is keenly aware and conscious that God will be the ultimate judge of his actions as a Governor.
In May 2019, when he became Governor, Abdullahi Sule assumed office with a fervent desire to foster Business Competitiveness in Nasarawa State. He wanted to unlock the constraints which had hitherto held back investors from finding Nasarawa State attractive for business. He began to establish new regulatory and institutional frameworks that will enable productive local and foreign firms to invest and grow, both domestically and internationally. Today Nasarawa State is not only the most investor efficient state, but also the most investor friendly state in Nigeria
For years, people have seen Nasarawa as a poor semi-rural state of peasant farmers. Engineer Abdullahi A. Sule has been working tirelessly in the last 30 months to move Nasarawa from the backwaters of poverty to the forefront of economic prosperity which is rapidly manifesting in the Karu Mega Bus Terminal Sule is building, the Farin Ruwa Waterfalls which he is developing to boost tourism, filmmaking and power generation; the 13,000 hectares of Industrial Mega City located on the fringe of the FCT around Karu-Gurku-Kabusu, as well as the towering presence of Agro-allied giants in Nasarawa State like Dangote Sugar, Azman Rice, Flour Mills and Olams mega farms as well as a swath of technology hubs and world class universities fit for a great place that is people-friendly, affordable and inclusive.
Indeed and without doubt His Excellency, Engineer Abdullahi A. Sule has instilled pride and value to his people, as Nasarawa State is increasingly getting recognized not just as being Open For Business, but also as a secure center for peace building and diplomacy, as well as a national capital for culture, arts and entertainment.
It is said that it is when a leader caters to the needs of his followers the way Engr Abdullahi A. Sule is doing that he becomes GREAT in their sight. For as Mahatma Gandhi once asserted: “Man becomes great exactly in the degree in which he works for the welfare of his fellow-men!
Engr Abdullahi A. Sule is a recipient of the Zik Prize for Leadership and just like the revered Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Engr Sule also exemplifies political will! The Great Zik of Africa had the intellectual resonance to be futuristic and he stood for equity and social justice. Engineer A. A. Sule governs with the fear of God in his heart, which is why Arewa House, the center for research and historical documentation, affiliated to Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, also recognized Engr Abdullahi Sule as The face of Integrity”
Leader of the delegation, Dr. Samuel Salami, stated that Arewa House chose Engineer Sule as The face of Integrity” because of his striking resemblance in character to President Muhammadu Buhari, who is generally perceived to be a man of integrity.
In the words of Dr. Salami, the rarity of gold, makes it precious and Arewa House has found you worthy to be called The Face of Integrity because you are not only rare, but also precious to Nigeria! In his response, Engineer Sule promised to continue to live with the fear of God because in his words: Once you have the fear of God, you will be like President Muhammadu Buhari!
In life, we all know that no human being has a crystal ball to look into and know the exact time or place, he or she will be born; or if he or she will live to become a governor and no one knows when the curtains will fall on our lives, but even as we celebrate birthdays, we must recall the famous prayer by Saint Francis of Assisi entitled; The Canticle of the Sun, where he said: Every person whom death finds doing Gods will is blessed!
The name ABDULLAHI in Islam means Servant of ALLAH and it is clear to friends and foe alike that Engr. Abdullahi A. Sule is sincere in doing Gods work as Governor of Nasarawa State. That is what gives men of goodwill within and outside the state the reason and deep joy to say Happy 62nd Birthday Your Excellency!
Yakubu Lamai is Director General: Strategic Communication & Events Management to H.E. Governor Abdullahi A. Sule of Nasarawa State.
The Nigerian Army has released Private Hannah Sofiat Akinlabi, a female soldier who was detained after video of her being proposed to by a male corps member at the National Youth Service Corps orientation camp in Yikpata, Kwara State, went viral on social media.
The Nigerian Army’s spokesperson, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, confirmed the news to PRNigeria.
“I can confirm to you that an order has been issued for the soldier to be released and spend Christmas with her family and friends, with a serious warning that she not repeat such an act again,” he said.
Captain MM Abdulahi, Kwara State NYSC Camp Commandant, had ordered the female soldier to be detained at a military detention facility in Ilorin, the state capital, pending further investigations.
She was detained for not being “due for marriage, romancing on uniform publicly, absent on parade, indiscriminate behavior, doing things other than her purpose in NYSC camp, disobedience to the standing order of social media rule, and disobedience to the ethics and tradition of the Nigerian Army,” according to a military source.
Civil society organizations and Nigerians, in general, condemned Akinlabi’s arrest and detention, calling it gender discrimination by the Nigerian Army.