By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate in Kano State, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, is absent from the final list of governorship candidates released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The three-page list, signed by INEC Secretary Rose Oriaran-Anthony, contains 17 governorship candidates and their running mates for the Kano election, but neither Gwarzo nor any other NDC candidate appears on it.

Those listed include Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abacha Muhammed Sani of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and candidates from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Labour Party (LP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Action Alliance (AA), African Action Congress (AAC), Action Democratic Party (ADP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), and New Democratic Party (NDP), among others.

The document provides the names, political parties, ages, genders, and educational qualifications of the candidates and their deputy governorship candidates.

INEC did not state why the NDC candidate was omitted, and the published list does not indicate whether the omission is connected to the party’s nomination process, documentation, or another issue.

The development raises questions about the NDC’s participation in the Kano governorship election, although the list alone does not establish the reason for Gwarzo’s absence.

The Dawakin Tofa Academic Forum has held its maiden Heroes Day and awards ceremony, honouring 10 distinguished late indigenes of Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State for their contributions to education, public service, politics, community development and other fields.

The event, organised by the Dawakin Tofa Academic Forum, brought together academics, community leaders, elders and other stakeholders to celebrate the legacies of prominent personalities who contributed to the development of Dawakin Tofa, Kano State and Nigeria.

Speaking at the ceremony, the chairman of the forum, Dr Junaidu Danladi, said the organisation was established in 2018 to bring together educated indigenes of Dawakin Tofa, including professors, associate professors and other professionals from tertiary institutions.

Danladi said the forum had grown significantly since its establishment, with more than 100 members committed to promoting educational development and recognising individuals whose contributions had positively shaped the community.

He said the maiden Heroes Day was organised to preserve the history of Dawakin Tofa and ensure that the achievements of its prominent sons were documented and remembered by present and future generations.

In his remarks, Surveyor Muhammad Nadu Yahaya, an elder and former commissioner for lands, budget and planning, described the initiative as a timely and commendable development, saying the recognition of distinguished personalities from Dawakin Tofa was long overdue.

Yahaya said the forum represented the intellectual elite of Dawakin Tofa, whose members had demonstrated a commitment to advancing the community through knowledge, innovation and public service.

He commended the organisers for introducing the Heroes Day initiative, describing the selected award recipients as eminent personalities whose influence extended beyond Dawakin Tofa to Kano State and Nigeria.

Yahaya also called on the people of Dawakin Tofa to make additional efforts to distinguish the local government through educational advancement, community development and other innovative initiatives.

He prayed for Allah’s blessings upon the award recipients and the organisers, urging the forum to sustain the programme as an annual event that would inspire younger generations.

Similarly, Madakin Kano, Yusuf Nabahani Cigari, commended the Dawakin Tofa Academic Forum for recognising the achievements of the community’s late prominent figures.

Cigari said Dawakin Tofa was blessed with accomplished individuals across politics, the economy and public service, adding that the local government had a rich history of producing personalities who contributed to the development of Kano State and the country.

He urged the people of Dawakin Tofa to remain united and work collectively towards the progress of their community, stressing the importance of preserving its heritage and celebrating its achievements.

The former chairman of the Dawakin Tofa Academic Forum, Dr Ameer Abdul Aziz, presented the profiles and contributions of the personalities selected for the maiden edition of the Heroes Day.

Abdul Aziz explained that hundreds of deserving indigenes could be considered for recognition, but the forum selected 10 individuals for the inaugural edition, with the intention of honouring more distinguished personalities in subsequent editions.

Among those honoured was Bello Kano, also known as Madakin Kano, who was born in 1907 and died in 1987. Abdul Aziz said Bello Kano began his career in education as an assistant teacher before rising to become a headteacher at a middle school.

According to Abdul Aziz, Bello Kano also served in different administrative and legislative capacities and contributed to the establishment of primary and post-primary schools in Dawakin Tofa, helping to expand access to education in the area.

Another recipient was Alhaji Adamu Danguguwa, who lived from 1913 to 1988. Abdul Aziz said Danguguwa acquired Qur’anic education and later attended Samaru Agricultural School, where he received agricultural training.

The forum also recognised a former governor of Kano State, “Alhaji Abdu Dawakin Tofa,” born in 1932 and died in 2003, who studied at Kansas University in the United States and served as commissioner for agriculture, deputy governor and governor of Kano State from May to October 1983.

The late Imam of Dawakin Tofa, Mukhtar Iman, who lived from 1935 to 2008, was also honoured for his contributions to reconciliation and efforts to combat illiteracy, according to Abdul Aziz.

The forum recognised Ahmad Ismail Dungurawa, who lived from 1945 to 2008, for his role in struggles for justice and his efforts to promote the interests of ordinary people.

Another award recipient, Aminu Garba Yaro, was celebrated for his generosity and support for children, including assistance to young people seeking educational opportunities. Abdul Aziz said Yaro, who worked with United Bank for Africa, made contributions to the welfare and advancement of others.

The forum also honoured Engineer Magaji Abdullahi, a water engineer who lived from 1947 to 2016, for his contributions to Dawakin Tofa, Kano State and Nigeria. Abdul Aziz said Abdullahi’s professional work and services had made a lasting impact on the community ,a prominent politician and a former Deputy Governor of Kano state from 2003 to 2007.

Abdullahi Maikano Rabiu, who lived from 1949 to 2021, was recognised for his commitment to supporting students, including those he knew personally and others who approached him for assistance, according to Abdul Aziz.

Abdul Aziz described Rabiu as a compassionate individual and a man of wisdom whose generosity helped many people pursue their educational ambitions.

The forum also honoured Alasan Dawakin, who was born in 1946 and died in 2023, for dedicating about five decades of his life to teaching and learning, according to the former chairman.

Another honouree was Malam Abdullahi Maikano, who lived from 1942 to 2023, in recognition of his contributions to the community.

The organisers said the Heroes Day was designed not only to honour the achievements of the deceased personalities but also to encourage younger generations to emulate their commitment to education, service, integrity and community development.

The maiden edition marked an effort by the Dawakin Tofa Academic Forum to document the history of prominent indigenes and establish a platform for celebrating individuals whose contributions might otherwise be forgotten.

The forum is expected to use the initiative to strengthen community ties, promote educational values and encourage the emergence of future leaders committed to the development of Dawakin Tofa and Kano State.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration over its 30-day petrol discount initiative, describing the measure as a temporary palliative that would not provide lasting relief to Nigerians grappling with rising living costs.

Atiku, in a statement, accused the Federal Government of introducing the discount as an election-season gesture after more than three years of economic hardship, questioning what would happen when the 30-day period expires.

The former vice-president said the government’s decision to offer a ₦50 discount on petrol at Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) stations amounted to a temporary intervention rather than a comprehensive solution to the country’s economic challenges.

“What happens on day 31?” Atiku asked, arguing that Nigerians required sustainable policies capable of reducing fuel costs and easing the burden of transportation, food and other essential commodities.

Atiku said the rising cost of living had continued to affect households, businesses and farmers, accusing the Tinubu administration of implementing economic reforms without providing adequate protection for citizens struggling with their consequences.

He said Nigerians had endured higher food prices, increased transportation costs, rising business expenses and growing insecurity, adding that the government should not expect a short-term petrol discount to compensate for the prolonged economic difficulties experienced by citizens.

According to him, the administration had spent more than three years asking Nigerians to endure economic sacrifices, while the cost of essential goods and services continued to rise.

The former vice-president also accused Tinubu of introducing the petrol discount only after his administration had dismissed similar proposals for targeted support to reduce the burden of fuel costs.

Atiku said he had previously advocated targeted assistance to ease the impact of petrol prices but was criticised by the government for what it described as a lack of understanding of economic policy.

He argued that the government’s latest initiative had effectively adopted the principle behind his proposal, although he maintained that the administration had failed to implement it in a comprehensive and sustainable manner.

“When I proposed targeted support to ease fuel costs, you called me ignorant of economic policy. Your government said it could not be done. Now, in a desperate and clumsy retreat, you have shamelessly embraced the principle you mocked,” Atiku said.

He demanded an apology from the president but stressed that his greater concern was the need for the government to explain how Nigerians would be protected from rising fuel costs after the discount period ended.

Atiku distinguished his proposed production subsidy from the government’s 30-day discount, describing his approach as a long-term intervention designed to support local refining and reduce the cost of fuel.

He argued that a properly structured production subsidy could help lower domestic fuel production costs while providing more durable relief to consumers.

According to him, the government’s temporary discount lacked the policy framework required to guarantee stable transportation fares, predictable operating costs for businesses and affordable living conditions for households.

“Atiku described Tinubu’s 30-day discount as a ‘sugar rush masquerading as economic policy,’ arguing that the temporary reduction in petrol prices would be followed by renewed hardship once the initiative expired.

“Families cannot plan their meals around a temporary discount. Transporters cannot set stable fares on it. Businesses cannot invest or plan for the future on it,” he said.

The former presidential candidate maintained that Nigerians needed a sustainable economic relief programme rather than a short-term reduction in petrol prices that could offer only limited respite.

He also accused the president and his economic team of failing to adequately consider alternative policy proposals aimed at reducing the hardship associated with the government’s economic reforms.

Atiku said that during his State of the Nation address on September 18, 2026, he had offered to share his economic relief plan with Tinubu in the national interest.

He expressed disappointment that the president had not accepted the offer, alleging that the government had instead introduced a limited intervention that failed to address the underlying problems.

According to Atiku, the administration’s decision reflected what he described as intellectual laziness and an unwillingness to acknowledge alternative approaches to economic management.

He further accused the government of seeking public approval for a temporary discount after presiding over years of rising living costs.

“Now you offer a ₦50 petrol discount for 30 days and expect applause for returning a fraction of what Nigerians have lost?” he asked.

Atiku said the government should be judged by the overall impact of its economic policies rather than by the announcement of temporary relief measures.

He added that Nigerians were capable of distinguishing between a government pursuing a comprehensive economic strategy and one introducing short-term interventions to manage public dissatisfaction.

The former vice-president also questioned the practical implementation of the discount, particularly the government’s plan to prioritise public transport operators.

He asked whether the initiative would translate into lower transportation fares for passengers and what mechanisms the government would establish to ensure that transport operators passed the savings on to commuters.

“Do not hide behind the word ‘discount.’ You say public transport operators come first. Will fares fall? Who will enforce that?” Atiku asked.

He maintained that without clear enforcement measures and a sustainable policy framework, the initiative might fail to deliver meaningful benefits to ordinary Nigerians.

Atiku urged the administration to adopt a lasting economic relief strategy focused on reducing fuel costs, supporting local refining and easing the pressure on households and businesses.

He said Nigerians had endured significant economic difficulties and deserved policies that would provide predictable and sustained improvements in their living conditions rather than temporary relief measures.

The former vice-president says the public would ultimately judge the Tinubu administration by its ability to address the country’s economic challenges and improve the welfare of citizens.