THE story of the Canada-based Nigerian woman who took hate to a supersonic level by threatening to poison the Yoruba and Bini people trended last week. The woman, speaking in pidgin English, said: “It is time to start poisoning the Yorubas and the Benin. Put poison in all your foods at work. Put poison in all your water so that you all will begin dying one after the other…. I will put them in all your foods. If I go to work tomorrow, I will put it (poison) in Yoruba people’s food. Go and tell the government that I’m in Canada, I’m in Ontario. Hurry up, go fast.”

Though there have been claims that the name might have been an impersonation, so far no one has come forward to disclaim the name and photo so it is fair to believe that the identity of the villain is as published.

The dispatch with which the identity of the woman was unmasked is commendable. It is also commendable that Nigerians across ethnicities and fault lines closed ranks to condemn the heinous statement in no unmistakable terms. That is one of the surest ways of ensuring that such fringe beliefs are never mainstreamed. We sure have our differences and grievances, but going to the extent of threatening to poison anyone, not to talk of a group of people, is heinous.

One of the dangers of stereotyping is that all members of the targeted group are presumed to be guilty by association. These include those who may actually be soldiering against various forms of injustice and xenophobia within the targeted in-group and those possibly solidarising with Ms. Suunberger’s grievances or married from her ethnic stock. Ms Sunnberger said Igbophobia by the said groups was what animated her hate.  

It is true that we all indulge in stereotyping others in various degrees – even among family members. This often stems from a basic cognitive need to categorise, simplify, and process the complex world around us. However, when it is weaponised as Ms Sunnberger did and (others like her also do across the country), it becomes a basis for social bias, prejudice, discrimination and in its extreme form a call for genocide. One of the dangers of this extreme form of response to perceived persecution is that it unwittingly provides a justification for the actions of the bigoted souls in the in-groups she inveighed against. 

The outburst from Ms Sunnberger, as condemnable as it is, however merely masks a more fundamental problem:

On February 2, 2012, the late Professor Abdul Rauf Mustapha (then of Oxford University) and I were invited by the Institute of Security Studies in Pretoria, South Africa, to be guest speakers on the theme, “The Threat of Boko Haram and the Challenges to Peace, Security and Unity of Nigeria”. Boko Haram, which got radicalised in 2009, had upped its terroristic activity when its suicide bomber attacked the United Nations headquarters in Abuja on August 26, 2011, killing at least 21 people and wounding scores. It was a hot topic across the world at that time. In Nigeria at that time, the mere mention of the group’s name instilled fears in the minds of most people such that the name of the group was mentioned mostly in hush-hush. Professor Mustapha was asked to provide the historical explanation for the emergence of the group, while I was asked to provide a theoretical framework for understanding the group and what it represented.

In my paper, I reviewed the various theories used at that time to explain the Boko Haram phenomenon – the poverty argument, the poor governance explanation, the frustration-aggression hypothesis (among others) as well as the various conspiracy theories about the group. I argued that each was incapable of offering a comprehensive explanation of the Boko Haram phenomenon. My contention was that a more comprehensive explanation was the crisis in our nation-building, which I argued, feeds into the crisis of underdevelopment to create an existential crisis for many Nigerians and groups within the country.  I further argued: “For many young people, a way of resolving the consequent sense of alienation is to retreat from the Nigeria project and construct meanings in chosen primordial identities – often with the Nigerian state as the enemy. In this sense, actions we rightly see as heinous are normal, even heroic, to them. The fact that many communities in which such people live know them but are not giving them away to the authorities could mean that the de-Nigerianisation process is perhaps more pervasive than we think.” 

I concluded by arguing that unless the crisis in the country’s nation building process is effectively resolved, any solution thrown to the country’s myriad problems would quickly become part of the problems. This part of my thesis seemed vindicated when many netizens took on Abike Dabiri Erewa, the CEO of the Nigerians in Diapora Commission, NIDCOM, who was able to unveil the identity of the woman in the genocidal video within a few hours of its going viral. They asked her why she did not show a similar promptness of action with those who weaponised ethnicity in Lagos or led the #IgboMustGo on X (formerly Twitter). The truth is that even if these set of people were apprehended with the same speed she displayed in unmasking Ms. Sunnberger, there would still be groups who would complain that people from other out-groups had done similar or worse things and were let to go scot free or given a mere slap on the wrist. This is one of the reasons our problems are rarely comprehensively resolved. They merely mutate. 

The point is that the process of individuals and groups de-linking from the Nigerian state (what I called de-Nigerianisation) has been ongoing and predated the APC-led Federal Government that started in 2015. The tragedy is that the crisis in our nation-building process and the consequent de-Nigerianisation seem to have become accelerated under them.

How do we deal with characters like Amaka Sunnberger and her likes? Here I would make a distinction between hate speech and genocidal speech or what Americans would call ‘fighting words’ – words that, when uttered, could inflict injury or tend to incite an immediate breach of the peace. In the latter case, it is important that the law should take its course to protect all groups within the society. Given the general distrust of government, it is crucial that a taxonomy of what constitutes genocidal speech is developed and the appropriate punishment to be meted to offenders clearly spelt out. This must not only be implemented irrespective of who is involved but also seen to be so done. 

Once anyone falls foul of such and goes free or is given a mere slap on the wrist, it becomes more difficult for the government to enforce such laws in other instances without undermining its own legitimacy in the process.  

It is with government’s efforts to control hate-speech – speeches that merely provoke and insult others- that the government is more vulnerable. This is in large part because of the morbid distrust of governments across the world but especially in our types of societies.  It will not only be suspected of bias but also of harbouring a hidden agenda of using such as a pretext to muzzle free speech. While there is unanimity in condemning Ms. Sunnberger’s genocidal speech (several Igbo groups also distanced themselves from her speech and none has so far come to her defence), it would have been different if she merely used insulting words. In many jurisdictions, hate speech remains protected speech, even if they are called low speech. One of the problems in Nigerian government’s efforts to control hate speech is the tendency to conflate this with genocidal speeches (fighting words). Different strategies are often needed in fighting the two speech forms.

A related question raised by the ‘Ms. Sunnberger affair’ is how do we win back Nigerians who have de-linked or are de-linking from the Nigerian state – whether they are #EndSars protesters, #EndBadGovernance agitators or avowed separatists?  There are no magic bullets for this. But the government being conscious of the fact that nation-building is the DELIBERATE use of state instruments to create a sense of oneness and loyalty to the state by the diverse groups that make up the nation-state, is one bold step.

Quite often the use of intimidation and strong arm tactics to silence such groups not only make heroes and heroines of their leaders but also exacerbates the sense of alienation from the state by their members. The government should prioritise resolving the crisis in the country’s nation-building process and winning the minds and hearts of as many of the ‘de-Nigerianising Nigerians’ as possible. Without this, any solution thrown at any of the country’s numerous problems, (no matter how well-intentioned), will quickly become part of the problems.

*Jideofor Adibe is Professor of Political Science at Nasarawa State University, Keffi.

International football returns across Europe this week, less than eight weeks after Spain edged out England in the Euro 2024 final in Berlin.

AFP Sport picks out five storylines to follow around the continent ahead of two rounds of fixtures over six days starting Thursday:

Will Spain pick up where they left off?

Spain are on a high after their magnificent triumph at the Euros and their gold medal success at the Olympics.

Luis de la Fuente’s side are quickly back in action and have another title to defend, having won the last edition of the Nations League. La Roja are in Group 4 of League A and begin with an awkward double-header, a trip to Serbia being followed by a meeting with Switzerland in Geneva. Denmark complete the group.

Their squad does not feature the injured Alvaro Morata, Unai Simon or Mikel Merino, who all played in the Euros final, but wing stars Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams are involved. There are also new faces in Oscar Mingueza, the ex-Barcelona right-back now at Celta Vigo, and Valencia midfielder Pepelu.

“We will keep fighting and trying to go as far as possible in every competition,” insisted De la Fuente.

England start post-Southgate era

After missing out on Euros glory, England begin a new era with Gareth Southgate having stepped down.

He has been replaced on an interim basis by Lee Carsley, the England Under-21 coach. Carsley, 50, is for now only in charge for this double-header of Nations League matches, as England play Ireland in Dublin and host Finland at Wembley.

The English Football Association are buying themselves time as they search for a permanent successor to Southgate, with 2026 World Cup qualifying not beginning until next March.

But a good start may see them keep faith in Carsley for the rest of the Nations League campaign, in which England also play Greece after being relegated from the top-tier League A following the last edition.

Carsley’s first squad is missing the injured Jude Bellingham, but there are call-ups for the uncapped quartet of Noni Madueke, Morgan Gibbs-White, Tino Livramento and Angel Gomes.

Ronaldo plays on

Cristiano Ronaldo endured a disappointing Euro 2024, failing to score in five matches as Portugal went out in the quarter-finals. Many thought the 39-year-old might then accept it was time to retire, but coach Roberto Martinez has continued to back the former Real Madrid striker, naming him in the latest squad.

“When the time comes, I’ll move on,” Ronaldo, of Saudi club Al-Nassr, insisted on Monday after teaming up with the squad to play Croatia and Scotland at home.

Portugal will also come up against Poland in Group 1 of League A, as they aim to win the Nations League for the second time after triumphing in 2019.

An injury to Paris Saint-Germain striker Goncalo Ramos means Ronaldo is likely to play from the start.

New, or not so new, faces

There are other nations beyond England starting afresh under a new coach.

Ireland’s meeting with England will be the first game for their new Icelandic coach Heimir Hallgrimsson. Aged 57, the former Jamaica boss was appointed in July and will also lead the team in World Cup qualifying.

Wales are also under new management after failing to reach the Euros, with Craig Bellamy having replaced Rob Page.

Sweden play their first competitive matches under new coach Jon Dahl Tomasson, the ex-Denmark forward. Mircea Lucescu, now 79, has returned for a second stint in charge of Romania, 38 years after ending his first spell.

Trying to follow the format

This is the fourth edition of the Nations League, but the format has not got any simpler. New this time is the introduction of quarter-finals next March, involving the top two from each group in League A. The four-team finals will take place next June.

Teams finishing third in League A, and second in League B, will face off in relegation/promotion play-offs, with identical play-offs between Leagues B and C.

There is an impact on World Cup qualifying too.

The 12 group winners in European qualifying will go to the World Cup, with another four places going to winners of play-offs featuring the 12 runners-up plus the four highest-ranked teams in the Nations League who have not otherwise made it.

as/jc

© Agence France-Presse

I spent the last weekend of August in Kano on a film project, and thankfully, there was enough time left to tour the sprawling metropolis. This was my fourth and most intensive visit. I first went in 1995; but it was a transit stop as I headed out to Katsina as soon as I landed at the airport. I returned in 2001 and 2006 to organise public events for the banks I worked for then, but there was no time for sightseeing. This time, I was eager to see the city.

We arrived around 7pm on Thursday from Abuja on Rano Air, a regional airline founded three years ago by the petroleum and cooking gas magnate, Alhaji A. A. Rano, a Kano indigene. The following day, Friday, August 30, started with a visit to a hospital built and donated by another prominent indigene and former minister of finance, Shamsuddeen Usman, to the people. It was a humbling experience.

Established in 2010 as a community health centre, the facility has since grown into a major health provider, offering an assortment of services, especially to women and children. Aminu Sudawa, the health centre’s management committee chairperson and Magdalene Madaki, the midwife supervisor, gave us detailed briefings on how helpful this facility has been to the poor, as we toured the complex. About 250 to 300 deliveries are recorded every month in addition to over 50 outpatients that come in every day for treatment. Known as Gidauniyar Alheri Community Health Centre, it is located in Garangamawa Ward, Gwale LGA of Kano. All its services to the people are provided free.

Three years ago, the hospital went into partnership and collaboration with the French charity, Medicins Sans Frontiers (Doctors without Borders), and this has helped to boost the medical treatment of women and children, with great benefits, including addressing the challenge of maternal and neonatal mortality in Kano. Madaki is actually a staff of MSF on secondment to the facility. The collaboration with Doctors Without Borders has also assisted in offering family planning services, care of the newborn and capacity building to the staff of the hospital. Not far away from the health facility is the Gidauniyar Alheri Microfinance Bank, also established by the former minister, to provide banking services to the people and help expand financial inclusion and entrepreneurship in the community.

Philanthropy is increasingly playing an important role in filling the gaps left by the failure of the state to fulfil its obligations to the people. In the last few years, I have written extensively on the good works of philanthropic organisations like Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation; The HOW Foundation and Inoyo-Toro Foundation. The newest among them, the Shamsudeen Usman Foundation (SUF), to be formally launched on September 26 in Abuja, was established by Usman’s children as a tribute and honour to their father. It will focus on education with specific offerings on AI and its deployment in the classroom. SUF will complement the works of the Gidauniyar Alheri Foundation whose main focus is health, education and enterprise.

Kano is a massive commercial centre with a huge population (18 million-20 million); over 100 markets and malls; hundreds of mosques and many wealthy men. We visited Kano Central Mosque, a prominent landmark and worship place that can accommodate up to 50,000 worshippers. It is situated in the city centre near the emir’s palace and features a blend of traditional and modern Islamic architecture. It was built in the 15th century but has undergone several expansions and renovations.

The three markets we visited were the GSM market where telephones and phone accessories are sold; Kantin Kwari market, renowned as one of the nation’s biggest textile depots and Kurmi market, established around the 15th century; it is the oldest in the state and is a go-to place for books and traditional medicines. Kano state has 44 LGAs, the highest in the country, but it appears to be a one-city state, just like Rivers and Lagos. You rarely hear of any other town in this state apart from Kano.

Kano is made up of the city, which is the original and ancient town that has been around for centuries and was once surrounded by high walls; and several settlements such as Fagge, Tarauni, Sharada, Sabongari, Bompai, etc. Inside the city are old traditional buildings and narrow winding roads, many of them going back for centuries.

Since the mode of transportation in those days was horses, camels and donkeys, there was no need for wide roads. Sabon Gari was initially created for non-indigenes but has since become a cosmopolitan area with wide, tree-lined roads and modern buildings. That’s where we had lunch Saturday afternoon at a nice restaurant called Igwe’s Palace. What a name!

My most memorable outing was the visit to the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, and one of the city’s business tycoons, 96-year-old Dr. Aminu Dantata. We also visited the Kano Museum which is rich in history and culture. Known as Gidan Makama Museum, it was built in the 15th century as the emir’s palace. The museum contains artefacts and exhibits on Kano’s history and culture. Many thanks to Nura Aminu, the museum’s tour guide, for showing us around. A jolly good fellow!

The current palace is a massive compound, a small city on its own, with schools and a hospital inside. I first visited the palace in 2001 as part of the management team of a bank. Alhaji Ado Bayero (1930-2014) was on the throne. Today, his nephew, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, with the regnal name, Muhammad Sanusi II, is the emir. We were led to the palace by Dr Usman who, incidentally, had taught the emir microeconomics in his final year at ABU in 1981.

Since then, the two men have enjoyed each other’s affection immensely, and the emir seems to have followed in Dr Usman’s footsteps in his professional journey. Dr Usman was an executive director at Union Bank and UBA, and later the chief executive of NAL Merchant Bank (now Sterling Bank) before he was appointed a deputy governor of the CBN in 1999. Sanusi was general manager at UBA; executive director and later chief executive of First Bank, before he was appointed CBN governor in 2009. Both men were also students of Kings College, Lagos, at different times.

The emir holds Dr Usman in high esteem and spoke glowingly of his attributes as a man of character, integrity and uprightness. ‘’In the 43 years that I have known Dr Usman since 1981 when he returned from the London School of Economics and Politics to take up a faculty position in the department of economics at ABU, and taught me in my final year, till today, I have never heard his name being associated with a whiff of scandal or corrupt activities. He has never been invited to the EFCC or police station for interrogation or anything,” the emir told me Saturday evening.

By now, Usman has excused himself from the meeting to catch another appointment, leaving us with the emir alone. Sanusi was resplendent and noble in his robe. His face fresh, he sounded ebullient and happy; relaxed, calm and eloquent as usual. I congratulated him on his return to the throne and reminded him of the few times I have met him in Lagos after he was dethroned in March 2020. I then asked him to speak on his memoir which he’s already written, but not yet published, and his contributions to another book that would be launched in September.

The emir is one of the co-authors of a book edited by Dr Usman that will be publicly presented in Abuja on September 26. Titled, ‘’Public Policy and Agent Interests: Perspectives from the Emerging World’’, the book is a unique publication on both the impetus for and impediments to growth and development in emerging economies. It provides a fascinating and penetrating insight into the workings of government and the boardroom, in terms of policy formulation and implementation, economic management as well as the overall growth paradigm in the developing world, with Nigeria as a case study. In the book, Sanusi provides detailed explanations of the intrigues, power play and scandal that led to his ouster as CBN governor in 2013 and emir of Kano in 2020. The book is simply unputdownable!

With all its commercial activities, Kano requires huge investments in road infrastructure. Its road network is in a pathetically bad shape. With an IGR of N43.3 billion in 2022, Kano is underperforming comparator states like Kaduna (N77.1 billion in 2022), Rivers (N172.8 billion in 2022) and Lagos (N651 billion in 2022). Even Akwa Ibom with very little commercial activities grossed N35 billion that same year. Kano government should do better in revenue generation and invest heavily in revamping roads and creating economic opportunities for the huge number of its young people.

We returned to Abuja Sunday afternoon, filled with both exciting memories of the visit and regrets for the slow death of domestic tourism due to rising insecurity. The 1980s and 1990s were full of fun as we crisscrossed this vast nation, observing the change in weather, vegetation and cultures as we moved from region to region. Those days are now a distant memory as kidnappers, bandits and terrorists now prowl our highways.

President Bola Tinubu and Chinese President Xi Jinping, on Tuesday in Beijing, China, announced the elevation of Nigeria-China ties to that of a comprehensive strategic partnership.

The leaders also agreed to build a high-level Nigeria-China community with a shared future.

This was the outcome of talks between the two leaders during President Tinubu’s official visit to China.

President Tinubu’s official visit precedes his participation in the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, scheduled to hold from September 4-6, 2024.

''This is an important visit for Nigeria and the rest of Africa, as I arrive in my capacity as the Chairman of ECOWAS. I thank you for the high-level of honour accorded to us.

''Relations between China and Nigeria have indeed lasted for over half a century and should be further strengthened to advance our trade and economic development programmes.

''Nigeria holds great potential as the country with the largest population in Africa and is the biggest economy with a very young population that can drive economic growth and cross-sectoral programmes.

''We have upgraded the relationship to more than what is just strategic -- but a comprehensive developmental partnership.

''This comprehensive strategic partnership should result in robust development, stability, and security in the West African sub-region. This is very crucial,” President Tinubu said.

On economic reforms in Nigeria, President Tinubu told his Chinese counterpart that his administration remains committed to sustainable growth through the effective implementation of ongoing economic reforms.

''We believe that President Xi has demonstrably reformed the Chinese economy, and our reform programme in Nigeria is on a similar course. I am a reformer with verifiable antecedents.

''We have recognized the need to reform our economy, and we are doing so diligently across tax and tariff reviews, to various other segments of our nation's economy.

''Trading and investment partners will have easy access to bring in their investments and seamlessly take their resources out,'' the President stated.

In his remarks, President Xi noted the strong mutual understanding between Nigeria and China since the establishment of diplomatic ties over the past 50 years.

''We have found the path of seeking collective strength, through unity, and win-win cooperation.

''China and Nigeria, as major developing countries, strengthening strategic coordination, will inject fresh impetus to China-Africa relations in the new era and spearhead common progress among Global South countries,'' President Xi said.

According to the Chinese leader, the 2024 FOCAC Summit provides an opportunity to reflect on mutual friendships and advance the consolidation of China-Africa relations.

He pledged that China and Nigeria would continue to work closely within the FOCAC framework as a model of cooperation between nations.

During the meeting, both presidents witnessed the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) on various areas of mutual interest:

(1) Cooperation plan between Nigeria and China on jointly promoting the Belt and Road Initiative

(2) Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the peaceful application of Nuclear Energy

(3) Memorandum of Understanding on strengthening cooperation on Human Resource Development under the Global Development Initiative

(4) Memorandum of Understanding on Media Exchange and Cooperation

(5) Memorandum of Understanding between China Media Group and the Nigerian Television Authority

Earlier, on Monday in Beijing, President Tinubu visited the China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC), during which he acknowledged the company's role as a reliable partner in Nigeria's infrastructure development programme, commending its ongoing railway projects in the country.

''It is equally very important that we give assurances to the Nigerian people across our local communities that the Ibadan-Abuja-Kaduna-Kano railway segments will be completed and done to the satisfaction of Nigeria and West Africa at large.

''We will support your investment in solid minerals and other ventures in Nigeria. I am here to assure you that Nigeria is ready to do business with you,'' the President said during a meeting with the Chairman of CRCC, Mr. Dai Hegen, following a tour of the CRCC and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) office in Beijing.

Mr. Hegen informed the President that CRCC has been involved in Nigeria for 43 years, implementing over 300 projects and training over 100,000 local workers.

''The Abuja-Kaduna Railway and Lagos-Ibadan Railway have transported approximately 9 million passengers and 180 tonnes of cargo. The Lagos blue line has transported over 1.6 million passengers,'' he said.

In a separate engagement, President Tinubu visited Huawei Technologies' Beijing Research Centre, where the company announced the launch of DigiTruck, a mobile ICT classroom aimed at enhancing digital literacy in underserved Nigerian communities.

During the President's meeting with Huawei's leadership, led by Mr. Liang Hua, Chairman of the Board of Directors, the company said the initiative would operate in 10 states annually, training at least 3,000 students each year.

Acknowledging the ongoing efforts by Nigeria's Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy to train 3 million technical talents (3MTT) and equip the country's young population with the skills necessary for present and future economic opportunities, Huawei's leadership said the DigiTruck initiative will complement the programme.

Mr. Hua praised the President's Renewed Hope Agenda for identifying digital technology as a critical driver of economic growth.

"This is very encouraging for us. Huawei is fully prepared to offer its ICT expertise and become a reliable partner of the Nigerian government to support the country in achieving its policy objectives and furthering its digital, intelligent, and low-carbon development."

Also speaking, Mr. Chris Lu, Chief Executive Officer of Huawei Nigeria, expressed support for Nigeria's National Talent Export Programme (NATEP), an initiative that seeks to position Nigeria as a hub for talent outsourcing in Africa.

"In the future, we hope to continuously develop the NOC and expand its capacity so that it can meet the requirements of more African markets, thus facilitating more Nigerian technology talents in serving more overseas' markets and helping to achieve the goal of NATEP," Mr. Lu said

During the tour of the Huawei Research Centre’s exhibition hall, President Tinubu and his delegation were introduced to Huawei's latest innovations in e-government, smart education, smart grid, and solar power, demonstrating their potential to enhance public services, digital governance, and Nigeria's inclusive development agenda.

As part of the efforts to achieve the aforementioned goals, Huawei also plans to establish a joint PV test lab with Nigeria's Rural Electrification Agency (REA).

Chief Ajuri Ngelale

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

President Bola Tinubu is set to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing today (Tuesday) as part of his ongoing diplomatic mission to China.

Tinubu, who departed Abuja last Thursday, is on a significant visit aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between Nigeria and China.

Sources within the Presidency who spoke with Punch revealed that the meeting is expected to be a high-profile event, marked by formalities such as a gun salute and an inspection of the guard of honor.

The event is expected to conclude with the signing of several bilateral agreements between the two nations.

Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, and Huawei Technologies Company signed a Memorandum of Understanding to advance the Smart City Project in Kaduna State.

The governor, on his verified X account, stated, “Today, I had the honour and privilege of signing a Memorandum of Understanding between the Kaduna State Government and Huawei Technologies Company, Nigeria Limited at the Huawei Technologies office in Beijing, China.

“Chris Lu, CEO, Huawei Technologies, Nigeria Limited, signed on behalf of the company. The ceremony was witnessed by our dear President, H.E. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, my colleague governors, ministers and other senior government officials.

“The MOU is for the actualisation of the Smart City Project in Kaduna State. It is geared towards enhancing security, efficiency and transparency in public service, competitiveness, city management, and attracting talents and investments. The ultimate goal is the establishment of a safer and smarter Kaduna State.

“As the strategic partner of the Kaduna State Government, Huawei will provide comprehensive leading solutions and professional technical support for Kaduna State in the following areas: (i) State-Level Unified Command Centre (ii) Enhanced Security (iii) Intelligent Traffic System (iv) E-Government and Office Automation (v) Smart Education (vi) Smart Healthcare (vii) ICT Talent (viii) Renewable Energy, and (ix) Public Transportation.

“The Kaduna State Government and Huawei will establish a joint committee to flesh out details of the Implementation Plan, Funding Arrangement, and the Technology to be Deployed. We want to ensure that the project is deliverable, sustainable, and valuable.”

[NaijaNews]

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has announced that key opposition leaders are exploring a merger to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections.

PDP’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi, disclosed this Monday on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme.

Abdullahi confirmed that Atiku Abubakar of the PDP, Peter Obi of the Labour Party, and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) are discussing a potential alliance.

On whether the party is working to bring Obi, Kwankwaso, and other leaders that had left back into the PDP, Abdullahi said, “Sure. Discussion is ongoing. You’ve seen Peter Obi discussing with Atiku. You’ve seen Peter Obi meeting with El-Rufai.”

He added that when the party gets the bigwigs back together, “One of them will concede for the others, and then we will have a direction. Our concern as a party and to these people that I have mentioned is to salvage Nigerians from these despair and despondency—the two maladies of hunger and poverty and frightening insecurity in the land. You could see cluelessness and ineptitude on the part of those managing the country. And to these people (Atiku, Obi, and Kwankwaso), salvaging Nigeria out of it is more important than their individual ambitions.

“If Atiku says he will contest as long as he is healthy, it is a possibility. If he says so, we will then see how we will manage the situation like we’ve always managed it, and the lessons we have learned will help us manage it better this time.

“But one thing I will tell you is that the same Atiku is saying if it is better for him to get Nigerians out of this hopelessness, he will do so. That is a statement. Atiku is saying he must not be in the race (to achieve this). Atiku is saying it is an entitlement to him as a democrat because the constitution provides that he could contest at any time. So, what he is trying to tell you is that there is no ceiling prohibiting him from contesting. That is his fundamental democratic right. But he is not saying he will force it on the throat of either the party or the country.

“I am telling you clearly Peter Obi is suitably qualified; he can aspire, and we will support him if he gets the ticket. Atiku is equally qualified, and if he gets the ticket, we will rally behind him to give him the desired support to save Nigerians.”

Reflecting on the last election, Abdullahi lamented that the party lost by over one million votes, adding that if Kwankwaso or Obi had remained with the party, “We could have closed that gap and avoided the current political and economic hardships.”

We’ll thrash them — APC

But reacting, the All Progressives Congress (APC) said it is not perturbed over the development, insisting the top opposition politicians are parallel lines that will never meet.

The APC’s Director of Publicity, Alhaji Bala Ibrahim, in a telephone interview with Daily Trust said, “They are not a threat to APC at all. In fact, it will be to the comfort of the APC to have these people again in the race, and the party is going to thrash them.

“When you look at the trio of Atiku, Kwankwaso, and Obi, these are permanent contestants, with Atiku being a serial loser of elections. Whatever happens, Atiku is not going to give in.

“So, we are aware of these shenanigans; we are aware of the circumstances. So we will wait for them. 2027 is a long way from now, but the APC is not going to lose sleep over this issue because these are parallel lines that will never meet.

“Politics is all about give and take; it’s all about compromise. But when you have people coming to politics with a one-way mindset of being contestants only, they are not politicians.

“So long as you are not willing to accept another party or person, you see yourself as the only person that is capable, and if you don’t get that position, no one should, then there is no way you will play any prominent role in a democracy because democracy is all about the views of the majority.”

Wike to face disciplinary committee over anti-party activities

Also commenting on the disciplinary issues within the party, especially in response to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike’s recent remarks to unleash fire in any state with governors undermining his political structure in Rivers, Abdullahi said, “We’re not happy about it, but the maturity of the party is what has informed the silence from the governor. He was not expected to be on the street as well, joining issues with one of ours. We believe Wike is ours.”

He added that “That was a very disappointing remark from Wike, and we were not expecting him to say that. We are not with him on that, to be honest with you.”

Abdullahi also revealed that the FCT Minister would soon face the Tom Ikimi-led disciplinary committee over allegations of anti-party activities.

“Wike is one of the persons expected to face that committee. It’s a committee that is going to look into the issues we’ve been receiving petitions about regarding anti-party activities, sabotaging the party throughout the primaries, and leading up to where we are now. Those petitions have been aggregated against Wike throughout the country. Party members felt Wike shouldn’t have even gotten to this level still; as a member of the PDP, they have been writing to the party,” he said.

He said the committee has already written an invitation letter to Wike, adding that the committee has started sitting by reviewing the petitions.

Similarly, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said the party’s “Governors Forum’s contribution is crucial, and they will respond to any issues affecting the party. We recognise their stabilising influence and their efforts to ensure the party’s progress.”

[DailyTrust]

Fresh crisis is brewing in Ogbomoso, the second largest city in Oyo State, over the appointment of Habib Ayilara as the palace Imam by the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye.

DAILY POST gathered that Habib Ayilara was appointed by Olaoye on Friday.

He would be the first person to occupy such a position in the ancient city.

Investigation by our correspondent revealed that there was nothing like a palace Imam in the ancient city until Olaoye appointed Habib Ayilara on Friday.

The appointment of the palace Imam is not unconnected with the feud between the Chief Imam of Ogbomoso, Sheik Teliat Yunus Ayilara and the traditional ruler.

Our correspondent reports that the Chief Imam and the monarch have been at loggerheads since the traditional ruler was crowned.

Ayilara was turbaned as the Chief Imam in November 2022 during the reign of the immediate past Soun, Oba Jimoh Oyewumi.

DAILY POST reported that Olaoye had in June this year issued a query letter to the Chief Imam for embarking on holy pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.

Ayilara in his reaction said that Olaoye lacked power to issue a query to him.

DAILY POST, however, gathered that Olaoye has created the office of palace Imam and has appointed Habib Ayilara as the pioneer palace Imam.

Investigation by DAILY POST revealed that the appointment of palace Imam did not go down well with the majority of the Muslims in the town.

Stakeholders express concern, express mixed reactions.

Some stakeholders among whom are the Ogbomoso Muslim community and the Muslim Rights Concern have expressed divergent views over the matter.

We are not aware of any appointment – Ogbomoso Muslim community

The Muslim community of Ogbomoso said that it was not aware of any appointment.

Chairman, Muslim Community of Ogbomoso, Alhaji Akintoye Abdusalam Olla said that the Muslim community was not informed about the appointment of palace Imam by the Soun.

Olla, who spoke with DAILY POST on Sunday, said that he and other Muslims saw the information on social media.

He described the appointment of a palace Imam as an attempt by the Soun to create division among the Muslims in the ancient city.

“We were not informed about it, we only saw it on social media. It is the Soun that is creating all these problems for us, not the Chief Imam.

“The person he appointed as palace Imam is from the same family with the Chief Imam of Ogbomoso, they contested together before the Chief Imam emerged.

“They are just finding ways to disturb the peace of the Muslim community in Ogbomoso.

“They are looking for ways to destabilize the Muslim community of Ogbomoso. They have an agenda. They just picked that one to cause a problem. We were not informed, we just saw it on social media,” he said.

It is an attempt to divide Muslims in Ogbomoso – MURIC

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has described the appointment of Habib Ayilara as palace Imam as a subterfuge to weaken Islam.

MURIC in a statement made available to DAILY POST also described the appointment as a stratagem to enslave Muslims and a chicanery to exploit the Muslim population of Ogbomoso.

The group advised Muslims in the ancient city not to fall for the king’s divide and rule tactics.

MURIC made these assertions in a statement issued on Saturday by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

Akintola in the statement made available to DAILY POST said that there was no vacancy in the Chief imamate of Ogbomoso because there can be only one Chief Imam in a city of the caliber of Ogbomoso and the post has been filled by Chief Imam, Talihat Yunus Olushina Ayilara.

“This is a democracy, nobody can gag us except a competent court of law. Soun has had his way, Nigerian Muslims must have their say.

“Soun’s most recent action is a subterfuge to weaken Islam, a stratagem to enslave Muslims and a chicanery to exploit the Muslim population of Ogbomoso.

“Besides, the Soun has committed titularic inexactitude and monarchical hara-kiri by giving the title ‘Chief Imam’ to a man appointed only as palace Imam.

“There is no vacancy in the Chief imamate of Ogbomoso because there can be only one Chief Imam in a city of the caliber of Ogbomoso and that post has been filled by Chief Imam Talihat Yunus Olushina Ayilara.

“Therefore, the correct title of the new Imam is ‘Palace Imam’ Habib Ayilara.

“He is the king’s special Imam, not the Chief Imam. Afterall, many individual Muslims are known to have separate mosque buildings in their compounds and they appoint Islamic scholars as their personal Imams.

“We warn the new Palace Imam to be wary of the king’s tactics. He must not allow the palace pastor to mislead him. It is sheer divide et impera.

“However, out of meanness and pettiness, the king has made his private Imam the official Imam to be recognized by the Oyo State Government.

“While we know that Governor Seyi Makinde is more than a willing accomplice in this scheme to diminish the status of Islam in Ogbomoso, we patiently await the court’s judgement.

“Of course it is strange for a pastor king to have an Imam but since there is a mosque inside the palace, it is in order to have a Ratibi Imam (Imam of a branch mosque, not that of a Central Mosque). This is where the Soun has exhibited his zero knowledge of Islamic matters.

“Unfortunately, those who know better and who should have counselled him, elected to dance to the gallery.

“We urge the Muslims of Ogbomoso not to fall for the king’s divide and rule tactics. Soun’s subterfuge is designed to weaken Islam and to enslave and exploit the Muslim population.

“We know where Pastor Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, the Soun of Ogbomoso, is going. The body language is very clear. His aim is to make his palace Imam the Chief Imam of Ogbomoso.

“He has appointed a palace Imam but where is his palace bishop? Nigerians must ponder over this scandalous manipulation. His stratagem is to put his feet on the Chief Imam’s neck. He is mocking Islam, playing Muslims against one another. It is divide et impera.

“The destiny of the Muslims of Ogbomoso in particular and that of Yoruba Muslims is in their hands. They can only be free when they resist attempts being made to divide and debilitate them. But their method of resistance must be civilized, peaceful, lawful and constitutional.

“For us in MURIC, we will rather be free and totally committed Muslims in our graves than live as palace puppets, court jesters, sycophants, minions and slaves.

“We will not sell our full Islamic identity and religious freedom for a pot of porridge and crumbs from the palace table”.

Appointment of palace Imam by a Christian King is hypocrisy – Islamic cleric, Alagunfon

An Islamic scholar, Dr. Sulaimon Adewale Alagunfon described the action of the Soun as an act of hypocrisy.

He said that it amounted to hypocrisy for a King who is not a Muslim to appoint a palace Imam whom he said will be leading him in prayers.

Alagunfon, who spoke with DAILY POST noted that the appointment of palace Imam to tackle the Chief Imam is an indication that the king does not have authority in the city.

“The statement made by the king has also shown that the Chief Imam of Ogbomoso is still the overall head of the Muslims in the town.

“It shows that the King cannot exercise authority in the town.

“The king said that the palace Imam will be leading him in prayer, that is hypocrisy to me because you are not a Muslim, so which prayer do you want the Imam to lead you? That is hypocrisy.

“That means, it sounds political; you are not a Muslim, you want to divide the Muslims, you want some Muslims to come to the palace, some will be working with you and work against the Chief Imam,” he told DAILY POST.

Joe Ajaero, president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) — not a great one for introspection –rolls out the big guns again, in a battle he is not in any way sure to win.

This is clear from the latest drama out of a simple Police invitation which Ajaero and gang just flipped into some slur against NLC as a body, letting off insane threats of a Labour meltdown, should the police arrest Ajaero.

Pray, does the NLC President, as His Excellency, the Workers’ President, now enjoy immunity from arrest and prosecution under the 1999 Constitution?

Still, like Ajaero’s other past skirmishes since the dawn of the Tinubu administration — all of them needless — he is avid at fluffing whatever goodwill he has left.  Some blokes are just quick — too quick — to push their luck!

At the end, choices are free.  So, Ajaero can hang himself on own whims. But he has no right to hang organized Labour with him.  There, lies the rebuke in this latest gambit.

But again, organized Labour must decide — why cry more than the bereaved?  If Ajaero spurs Labour to gallop with Joe, in his joy ride of doom, it’s their choice too! 

If workers are short-changed — and they will, you can be sure — let them blame no one but selves.  Ajaero has shown to be more than enough distraction, in self-driven gambits that use Labour as opportunistic cover, for his electors to have thrown him off. 

But if they still indulge his rabid journey to perdition, maybe collective suicide of organized Labour would make logical sense.  Again, their democratic choice!

How did this latest excitement start? 

It was an August 7 raid-and-search of a rented shop, on the second floor, at the NLC Abuja Headquarters complex.  But you could clearly see the bad faith, as Labour  — wilfully? — conflated that as raid on its office proper, on the 10th floor.  By the way, the two facilities are eight floors apart!

Incidentally, Benson Upah, who released that initial press statement (per The Punch August 8) just doubled down on his original fib, in his emotive bluster against a second Police invitation to Ajaero, this time with Emmanuel Ugboaja, the NLC general secretary, fixed for September 5.

Why, when asked by The Guardian (September 2 ) that reported his bluster, if the duo would honour the invite, he waffled: “some programmes have already been fixed”!  Meaning: entertaining Police invites is now at the discretion of NLC! 

Femi Falana, SAN, had better correctly advise his clients!  Yeah, government impunity is bad.  But even worse is Labour — and sundry — impunity.  That’s knocking on the door of anarchy.

But it all issued from the first invite, by which the Police asked Ajaero to report at Force Headquarters, Abuja, on August 20.  But Ajaero, with his lawyers, picked August 29 to appear — and triumphantly marched on Force Headquarters, with lawyers and sundry activists in tow. 

So, you can pardon Upah for hallucinating over “some programmes have already been fixed”.  It’s one hubris NLC may yet sorely regret should, after a long waiting game, the Police decide to hang Ajaero and co with own long ropes.  Hubris!

Still, this route of bad faith is a lose-lose.  What does it take to play the civil citizen, go to the Police as invited, then use the same democratic institutions to establish your innocence?  Aren’t there enough systemic checks and balances to do that?

Shortly after that first visit, Ajaero bragged: the Police had nothing on him — which may well be.  But a second invite might just show the man had bragged too soon. 

Either way, it really doesn’t matter — the relay of interviews.  What matters is a clean process to firmly establish allegations for a fair trial — or non-evidence to close the case.  Both parties should be committed to such.  Nevertheless, bad faith makes it unnecessarily complicated.

In fairness to Ajaero and co, though, Labour isn’t the only organized body that takes advantage of its set-up to impose citizen impunity.

Anytime a journalist runs into a storm, the media are all too eager to jump into the fray to defend “free speech” and “human rights”.  It’s an instinctive jump, powered by preening dogma, with little objective analysis of the facts of the case.

The other day too, a former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) was in the dock for alleged failure to declare correct assets — a routine call that comes with his high office. 

Many a petal in the flower of Nigerian Bar all but told the embattled ex-CJN to resist trial; and spit at the same law that created his office to sit in judgment over fellow citizens — co-citizens that are the CJN’s equal, in the eye of the law. 

Might the CJN then be above that very law that exalted him above others? Arch-folly!

Thank God, though: good sense prevailed.  The ex-CJN got convicted at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT). But the jurist stays alive to fight his appeal, before the courts right now. 

That’s due process: submit, even if you have a doubt. Then, prove your innocence.  If Ajaero had followed this process, this distraction wouldn’t have arisen. 

He — with NLC — would have found quality time to fight the cause of workers whose check-off dues gift them their huge salaries and generous allowances.  But no!  A play to the gallery is irresistible! But how does that advance workers’ cause and welfare?

In truth, Ajaero’s self-distractions have caused workers dear — and not the least on the N70, 000 new minimum wage.  After making much row about an outrageous N615, 000, and filibustering over N250, 000, NLC eventually accepted N70, 000, pretty much as a face-saving measure.

Had Ajaero not picked too many needless battles before then, perhaps he could at least have secured N100, 000 for the lowest earner?   By the time the NLC agreed to N70, 000, the threat of strike, NLC’s most potent weapon, had all but lost its sting.

Before then, Ajaero had attempted three failed strikes: one after he was battered black and blue at Owerri, for using NLC to strong-arm voters, to favour the Labour Party (LP) candidate, in the Imo State gubernatorial election.

That ended as double — or even treble? — jeopardy: the LP candidate didn’t only take an electoral hiding, Ajaero himself has since become a near-personal non grata in smart Alec, Julius Abure’s LP.  Add Ajaero’s Owerri drubbing, and it’s a clear treble.

During another strike, some desperadoes switched off the national grid — a clear security and economic sabotage that the government just let slide. 

But it might just be as the Yoruba say: the child abused the Iroko and flushes with early victory.  Does the poor lad think the Iroko crushes traducers in the immediate?

No one — but deluded Labour itself — frets over insane threats to go on strike at the drop of a hat.  It won’t stop anything if plausible evidence exists against Ajaero.

But the government too must be fair to Ajaero.  No government worth its democratic name would frame any citizen — even the most unreasonable of all gadflies.

But a parting advice for Ajaero and co: untrammeled rights lead to blatant wrongs, which coast to anarchy.  Anarchy itself swallows democracy and its flower of rights.