By Rabiu Ibrahim Just how did Mohammed Idris Malagi, media executive and publisher of the Blueprint newspaper become a frontrunner in the race to choose who becomes governor of Niger State in the upcoming delegates’ primaries election, a few days away, and the chase for popular votes in early 2023. Just how? It beats my imagination. He, Malagi, that was a while ago a quiet and unassuming media tender who mostly strutted the public relations and advertising space. Is this a 7th wonder? Apparently, I am not alone in this…
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SANI ZORRO: THE COMING OF A SKILLED SHEPHERED AS THE SPIN DOCTOR OF THE SHIFT
By Bala Ibrahim I read this morning with delight, the news that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Muhammad Sani Zorro, journalist, politician and former lawmaker as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs and Strategy, Office of the First Lady. The appointment is credited to a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu. Although I got the news from sources that are credible, nonetheless, I chose to ply the path of the persuasive, by…
Read MoreKano Crisis And The Pre-eminence Of Personal Post-mortem
By Bala Ibrahim Pursuant to the thorny issue of factional control of the ruling party in Kano, and the distressful situation the state has found itself in today, a call is coming for the rapid rescue of the state from the hands of the politically insensitive, who seem to be showing the feeling of no concern for the future of the state. Yes, no evident concern, but apparent appetite for the aggrandizement of wealth, through the exploitation of situations that came not by reputation, but unmitigated opportunity. I know a…
Read MoreKanu, PMB And The Prejudice Of Sectional Sentiments
By Bala Ibrahim Yesterday Friday,19/11/21, a group of Igbo leaders, led by First Republic parliamentarian and Minister of Aviation, Mbazulike Amaechi, met with President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential Villa, during which they asked for the release of secessionist Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Biafra group, IPOB. Kanu is being detained and prosecuted on treason charges. According to a statement issued by the president’s spokesperson, Femi Adesina. Mr. Buhari told his guests that an ‘unconditional release’ of Mr Kanu ‘runs contrary to the doctrine of separation of powers…
Read MoreWhy we urgently need a Commodities Price Regulatory Agency to stem Nigeria’s galloping inflation
By Aminu Imam Never has there been a time more than ever before in our nation’s economic history when there is an urgent need for the introduction, or rather re-introduction, of a price control mechanism like the Price Control Board by past governments decades ago. A simple general sampling of some major market prices across the various markets in the country of recent reveals that the price of commodities, from essential to non-essential, have been extremely irregular and unpredictable. The scenario is such that various categories of retailers, i.e. food…
Read MoreNigeria’s Insecurity and Communication Problems
Dr. Salihu Moh. Lukman On Wednesday, October 20, 2021, reports emerged in the Nigerian media, alleging that Nigerian Armed Forces are yet to fully deploy the A-29 Super Tucano fighter jets procured from the United States against bandits in the North-West because of an agreement, which require Nigeria to only use the jets on terrorists and insurgents. Interestingly, the next day, Thursday, October 21, 2021, so-called bandits planted explosives on Abuja-Kaduna rail line and attack passenger train, which led to the suspension of the Abuja-Kaduna train services for almost 48…
Read More61 Years of Nigeria’s Membership of the United Nations: Partnership for a Better World
By; Abubakar Ahmed The Month of October is indeed sacred in the life of Nigeria; not because it is the month the country got her independence from erstwhile colonial masters; Britain, but because it is also a month the country applied and was subsequently admitted into the United Nations as the 99th Member on October 7, 1960. The resolution on her admission was sponsored by Tunisia, representing the independent African States and the 10th Commonwealth Nations which were already members of the United Nations. Viz; Australia, Canada, Ceylon (now Sri-Lanka),…
Read MoreGombe Summit: Rethinking Governor Yahaya, Sultan’s Irrefutable Lessons On Peaceful Coexistence, Social Cohesion
By Yakubu Bayambe The concepts of peace and social cohesion are fundamental and perhaps inseparable in the dictionary of any society which hopes to advance the course of humanity in general. Over the years, but more recently, Nigeria is arguably undergoing one of its worst security, economic and political challenges in history. It would be adequate to say these challenges are threatening the corporate existence of the nation with secessionists agitating and advocating for self-determination. On the religious front, suspicion and distrust between the two major religions of Christianity and…
Read MoreSouthern Governors surreptitiously supporting seccession?
By Bala Ibrahim The call for coup today, for the first time by people in power, which was announced by no less a person than a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, (SAN) and governor of Ondo State, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, on behalf of the southern Nigerian governors, is a call that must be taken with the seriousness it deserved. Arising from the meeting of their Forum in Lagos, today Monday, 05/07/21, the southern governors of Nigeria made a pronouncement on how they want Nigeria to go. Although they claimed to be…
Read MoreService Chiefs: Marching orders, mismatching outcomes
By Bala Ibrahim The people of Malumfashi town in Katsina, the home state of President Muhammadu Buhari have woken up today, to the rocking sound of bomb explosions. Reports have it that no fewer than seven persons have died in the bomb blast, while another five are unconscious at the Malumfashi General Hospital. This is coming only two days after the President had dispatched top security chiefs to interface with stakeholders in Zamfara, on the lingering security challenges in the North West. Katsina state used to be one of the…
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