Landmark

By Gabriel Okino  A lot has been said about the former governor of Zamfara state and Minister for State for Defence, Hon Bello Matawalle. Interestingly, they dwelled in the realm of speculation and not reality. There is a fact that can't be washed away about Hon Bello Matawalle: he is a bold and courageous individual who does not suffer fools gladly. He might not be the darling of newspapers, but a close encounter with him would reveal the depth and quality of his thoughts and how pragmatic he can be in his methodologies. I had an encounter with him, and I was left speechless with the revelations that followed. I was confronted with someone who exuded brilliance and a grasp of governance issues. Although he presents a shy mien, he is not a shy individual. Rather, he is fierce in thoughts and actions. This much he has brought to bear as the minister of state for Defence. Indeed, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu saw and recognized these attributes in him, hence the appointment. I dare say...

By Mary Odoma There seems to be a huge partition between Nigerian industrialist Alhaji Aliko Dangote and other Nigerian economy drivers. His visionary gait and purposefulness are fixated on recreating the essentials required to prop up the depleting economic fortune of Nigeria amidst contending voices. Since 1977, when he ventured into business, trading in agricultural commodities and engaging in business supplies such as sugar and cement, Alhaji Aliko Dangote has never looked back. In 1981, he incorporated his numerous businesses, which eventually became a conglomerate. Today, the Dangote Group of Companies is a household name in Nigeria and beyond. The holding company's interest became so massive that its positive economic impact within Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa became profound, edging out numerous foreign products from the West African domestic market. A strong advocate of industrialization, Alhaji Dangote believes that dependence on the importation of finished products to ...

An alleged mastermind of the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria, Bashir Hadejia has been naming other masterminds of the violent protests as he confessed to their part of a plot to destabilize Nigeria following his arrest by the police for treason, subversive activities against the Nigerian government, Trans-border gun-running, heist and other transnational crimes. The suspect was caught with documents that incriminated him of impersonation, including tracking documents of high-profile personalities and an international passport of the Republic of Vanuatu valid till 14th of September, 2030. A source familiar with Hedejia’s confession revealed he named the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, Governor Dauda Lawal Dare of Zamfara State and the publisher of PointBlank News, Jackson Ude as co-mastermind of a comprehensive plot to destabilise Nigeria. He also named a former National Security Adviser, General Aliyu Gusau as the chief sponsor of the protest. Gusau is one of the key elements...

A coalition of civil society organizations under the umbrella of the Northern Stakeholders Consultative Forum (NSCF) has urged the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abass, to investigate allegations of corruption against a member of the House, Ikenga Ugochinyere. The convener of the group, Alhaji Yerima Shettima; spokesman, Ali Mohammed Sani and secretary general, Danjuma Paul, at a Press Conference today in Kaduna, said if the allegations are not investigated, they pose a significant risk to Nigeria’s democratic foundations and must be addressed with utmost severity. The coalition said its mission is to ensure that those who have been elected to serve the people adhere unwaveringly to their responsibilities. It said: “Accountability lies at the very heart of a functioning democracy; when representatives err or engage in misconduct, it is the duty of us all to highlight these discrepancies and demand justice. “In recent weeks, Nigeria has been enveloped in significant t...

  The Centre Against Injustice And Domestic Violence (CAIDOV), led by Comrade Gbenga Soloki, Women Arise and Amuwo Odofin Local Government have emphasised the need for the society to protect abused people with the right attitude and enabling laws.   They stated this at a Round Table Conference on Domestic Violence And Child Abuse, which held at Henry Ajomale Hall, Amuwo Odofin Local Government Council on Wednesday August 31, 2024.    Hon. Valentine Buraimoh, Chairman of Amuwo Odofin Local Government, said in his goodwill message at the event, that women and the girl child should be given an opportunity to lead the community, the state and the nation.    Buraimoh stated that women have contributed their quota to the development of the society and are still doing so.    “Women should be given more opportunities to represent their communities in the state assemblies and National Assembly.    “We have more women than men in Nigeria. God has ...

In a significant show of unity and support, the forum of Labour Party council chairmanship aspirants from the Abuja Municipal Area Councils (AMAC) paid a solidarity visit to the Labour Party National Transition Committee (LP-NTC) led by Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar.  The visit, which took place in Abuja, aimed to pledge their loyalty and support to the NTC, urging party faithfuls across the country to do the same. Speaking during the visit, Dr. Kingsley Okoronkwo, spokesman for the delegation, commended the integrity, hard work, and sincerity of the Omar-led leadership, stating that it represents the solution for the party's rebirth and emancipation from its tainted recent past under the defunct leadership of Barr. Julius Abure.  Okoronkwo emphasized that the AMAC forum's support for the NTC is crucial in achieving the party's widely desired transparent state congresses and all-inclusive national convention within the shortest feasible timeframe. Receiving the delegation, Comra...

The Christian Youth Forum of Nigeria (CYFN) has called for the immediate removal of Mele Kyari, the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Limited), over his handling of the persistent fuel queues across the country. In a statement by its National President, Rev. Phrank Ochiga, the group described Kyari's leadership as a "disaster" and accused him of being a "master of excuses, a king of incompetence, and a lord of lies." They also alleged that his tenure has been marked by controversy, including subsidy scams, importation of substandard petroleum products, and mismanagement of the Port Harcourt Refinery. The group lamented that the current situation has led to untold hardship on Nigerians, who are forced to buy fuel for over 1,000 Naira per liter, describing it as "economic terrorism" masterminded by Kyari. They accused him of showing no empathy, compassion, or willingness to solve the problem, but instead enr...