News
2023 general election: Sultan of Sokoto decries resurgence of insecurity
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III on Thursday, decried the resurgence of insurgency and banditry in the country just after the 2023 general election.
Speaking at the 2023 Nigeria Inter-Religious Council NIREC quarterly meeting in Abuja, Alhaji Abubakar who is the Co-chairman of the council said the reappearance of series of insecurities could be as a result of reports in the media.
Though acknowledging that the media played both positive and negative role in the general election, he maintained that the media must understand the situation in the country and demonstrate utmost professionalism in their reportage at all times.
“The resurgence of insecurity in the country is very alarming. Throughout the campaigns and elections, we heard nothing about bandits, killings but all of a sudden, after the elections, we heard killings of scores of people in Plateau, Niger, in Kaduna and other places. Why these insurgents? Definitely these insurgencies have nothing to do with religion.
“When bandits go into people’s community and kill them, burn their houses with little or no resistance from the security officials, and after the deeds has been done, the security agencies will now go there, to do what? To look at the ashes that is being burnt?
“Few days ago, it was reported that some United States Embassy staff were killed and burnt in Anambra state. That’s barbaric and shouldn’t have happened because there’s no justification for that.”
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Co-chairman of NIREC, Archbishop Daniel Okoh said the theme of the event “Media and Effective Leadership for Nation Building” was designed to foster unity and working relationship between the media and the leadership of the country.
He said: “The media can help to enrich the conversation of leaders by providing well investigated and research stories to improve the religious literacy of the leaders, which simply means having basic knowledge of other religions and engender respect for other religions.”
Declaring the meeting open, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha re-emphasized the importance of peaceful coexistence among Nigerians amidst cultural and ethnic differences.
“If God has entrusted the deliverance of Nigeria into the hands of Christians and Muslims alike, then failure to entrench peace in the nation will be akin to failing God. I pray that God should continue to guide the leadership of the Council with a united mission and sincerity of purpose to achieve the mandate for which it was established”.
The SGF who will soon be handing over to a new administration commended the religious leaders for their support over the years.
He however assured that the next government will support the council for smooth formulation and implementation of policies and programmes for ultimate success.
In her presentation of the paper titled Media and Effective Leadership for Nation Building, Mrs Eugenia Abu believed that the unity of the country could be achieved through quality contents in the media.
She however stressed the need for capacity building and effective training of media practitioners noting that this will reduce the spread of misinformation and fake news.
According to her, “Nigeria have a vibrant media and sometimes we take it for granted. Because we are able to read paper, we think every country is like that. We are not all the same across Africa. Nigeria remain the leading light and because we are the leading light we have to be responsible as media leaders. Leaders rally people round and the leaders are expected to possess the necessary skills and knowledge to make informed decision and solve problems effectively.
“It is very easy to call on the media and say, they could have done it this way, they could have done it better. As a media leader myself, I found out that it is very difficult to train media persons because of funding and if you don’t train them, they will transmit their lack of knowledge on TV, in Print. So we need to build the capacity of the media. They need to understand the country better”.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has expressed his heartfelt condolences to the Governor of Katsina State, Malam Dikko Umar Radda, over the passing of his mother, Hajiya Safarau Umar Baribari.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu, Dr. Ganduje described Hajiya Safarau’s death as a profound loss that has left a deep void in the hearts of her family, friends, and the people of Katsina State.
Extending his sympathies, the APC National Chairman condoled with Governor Radda, the bereaved family, and the entire people of Katsina State during this difficult time.
He acknowledged the remarkable contributions of the late Hajiya Safarau and prayed for Almighty Allah (SWT) to grant her eternal rest in Jannatul Firdaus while strengthening the family to bear this irreplaceable loss.
Dr. Ganduje urged Governor Radda and others affected to find comfort in the cherished memories and enduring legacy of the deceased.
Reaffirming the APC’s support, the former Kano State governor assured the people of Katsina State of the party’s solidarity in their time of grief and prayed that Allah (SWT) grant the departed soul Al-Jannah Firdaus. Ameen.
The wife of Senator Isah Jibrin (Echocho), Hajia Aishat has offered cash and food items worth millions of naira to widows and vulnerable women across Dekina local government Councils, promises to take similar gesture across the nine local government in Kogi East.
The exercise which was tagged: “Widows Empowerment”, saw the Senator’s wife distributing cash and food items to cushion the effect of Ramadan.
Items distributed are bags of rice bags of salt, cartons of seasoning, maggi etc, which were evenly distributed to widows and vulnerable women across party lines.
A beneficiary who spoke with our correspondent at Odu in Dekina Local Government Council, Hon Fitumi thanked Hajia for her continuous effort in coming through for widows and vulnerable regularly.
She acknowledged similar gesture by Senator Isah Jibrin (Echocho), a fortnight ago at Ankpa when youths in their numbers from three Local Government Areas were trained in Agriculture and empowered, stressing that people are now living testimony to the effort of the lawmaker.
“”We are aware of several intervention projects, empowerment and developmental projects of Senator Echocho and we are not surprised seeing Hajia toeing the similar path.
“The distribution of food items and cash today is not only a rekindling of hope to the beneficiaries, but an encouragement that despite their condition, they were not forgotten.
Hajia Labran, and other APC Women leaders who spoke on behalf of women, applauded Hajia Aisha Echocho and pray Allah to strengthen her to carry on, urged others to emulate her sustainable initiatives.
The women advised other political office holders to emulate what is good and just, which they believed would strengthen the party.
As part of the activities to celebrate the golden anniversary of the University of Calabar, the wife of the President of the Senate, Mrs Ekaette Unoma Godswill Akpabio was on Saturday, March 22, 2025 conferred with an honorary doctorate degree in Education Management.
The ceremony held at the main campus of the institution in Calabar, Cross River State also saw the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike awarded the honorary doctorate degree in Law.
Other awardees included Major General Moses Bisong Obi (rtd) (Doctor of Peace and Conflict Studies) and Supreme Court Justice, Emmanuel Akomaye Obi (Doctor of Law).
In her acceptance speech after the conferment by the 15th Emir of Kano and Chancellor of the University, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, the wife of the Senate President, Mrs Akpabio thanked the Governing Council and Management of the University for finding her worthy of the honour.
A statement by the Special Assistant on Media/communication to the President of the Senate, Anietie Ekong quoted Mrs Akpabio as saying “I am happy to be honoured with this award from the prestigious University of Calabar that I have heard so much about from my dear husband, an alumnus of this great institution.
“I was wondering when I will join him as a great Malabress and that day has come and I am grateful to the University for this honour,” she said.
Mrs Akpabio promised to work with other awardees especially the Minister of the FCT to provide infrastructural assistance to the university.
In a citation the University extolled Mrs Akpabio for her philanthropic and humanitarian efforts towards uplifting the lives of women and the vulnerable of the society through her non governmental organisation, the Family Life Enhancement Initiative.
She was also recognized as a Champion of women’s rights and as one who used her position as the First Lady of Akwa Ibom State to fight for the inclusion of more women in governance.
On his part, Chief Wike said he was honoured to be among the recipients of award. He extolled the Visitor of the University, President Bola Tinubu for working tirelessly to promote tertiary education in the country.
-
News6 days agoBill to establish National Cashew Production and Research Institute in Kogi passes first reading in Senate
-
News6 days agoShehu Sani debunks Governor Uba Sani’s alleged diversion of LG funds, challenges El-Rufai to publicly tender evidence
-
News6 days agoReport of attack on Wike’s Port Harcourt residence false, misleading – Police
-
News5 days agoPlateau gov’t expresses concern over violence in Shendam LGA, calls for calm
-
Sports1 week agoMerino gives Arsenal win over Chelsea
-
Politics3 days agoOpposition leaders announce coalition to challenge Tinubu in 2027
-
Interview7 days agoSenators Natasha-Akpabio saga should have been resolved privately – Rev. Mrs Emeribe
-
News1 week agoAs Committee Chairman, I did not authorise Natasha to petition IPU over her suspension from Senate – Jimoh Ibrahim