BY
MUDASSIR ALIYU YUNUSA.

It is often said that ‘a cracked wall could easily be penetrated’ and ‘a scattered stick is fragile and easily broken as opposed to bundles of sticks’. This is obvious to what is exactly happening in our country. Nigeria is a heterogeneous country with diverse nature of ethnic, tribal and religious backgrounds. After the attainment of independence in 1960, Nigeria was divided into three sub division, Northern, Western and Eastern regions. Each region was under the leadership and control of Premier who mostly possess large span of control, though in each region there is bound to have major ethnic group and number of minorities among the people, yet the diversity then was so negligible as the country’s development was prioritized above any sentiment, our attitudes and mindsets were geared towards uplifting the country wholeheartedly, that is why the development’s slogan of Northern Nigeria was ‘One North One People irrespective of People’s identity’ and at that time all Northerners are called ‘YAN AREWA.

Later, the country adopted Federalism and the peaceful co-existence still remained even after the Civil War, our leaders were so patriotic and were always ready to serve the country to attain development. Likewise the followers were living together peacefully and harmoniously, with respect, trust and self confidence, at that time there were little or no issues of ethnic and religious rivalries.

Sometimes I used to reflect back and rewind so many life incidences during our childhood days (though not too far from), but there was good, cordial and egalitarian relationship among the community more importantly the neighborhood setup within a typical Hausa locality. At that time children within the community belongs to all parents, and certainly all neighboring houses were also belong to all children too. Our parents were living with free minds, shaping, influencing, dictating and commanding discipline towards all children regardless of any close or bond of relationship as against present day’s notion of ‘my children are only mine and nobody should interfere with my family no matter how the correlation exists including one’s biological siblings.

I remember some elders that influenced and made sure the children are behaving within the community on the right track and indeed in a good manner and mannerism .

I can also recollect some moments of childhood we observed in common within my peers like going freely and jumping from one house to another playing, watching, eating and to some extend taking bath without any feelings of indifference or fear of humiliation and embarrassment from the respective households.

We fall in and out to various houses among which are Gidan Alhaji Garba Yola, Gidan Senator Ahmed Birniwa, Gidan Alhaji Saleh Runin Gado, Gidan Alh Ahmed Daneji, Gidan Alhaji Aminu Bello, Gidan Alhaji Lawan Ibrahim, Gidan Alh Saleh kafin Hausa, Gidan Bintan Ali, Gidan Alh Sani Gwarzo, Gidan Hadizan Doctor, Gidan Sule Custom, Gidan Ladi Ho, Idin Iye na Adamu Sima and many houses within our main line and beyond.

At that time there was no feeling of heterogeneity and religious and tribal differences were seized to exist, because we live together peacefully; we intermingled, interact and blend together with other tribal people some of them are Muslims and NON Muslims Yoruba and Ibo friends like Nuraini, Chimeaze, Ifanyo, Anthony, Kosi, Kofi, Kojo without any discrimination, we go on errand together, we ate their tribal foods and they freely came to our house to play, watch TV, eat and had siesta during day times while played some jumping and hiding games by the moonlights.

The quality of relationship that exists then, the decent and good morality as well as the cordial attachment, respect and admiration amongst the people especially the neighbors were so overwhelming and making me feeling nervous particularly when I remember how we used to be the same as members of a given household particularly in the event of marriage or naming ceremonies, we move freely and enjoy the same domestic privileges with members of different houses. At the time of Boarding schools visiting, we go to see our sisters from the other houses, and our friends from the other are also invited to pay a visit to our sisters in boarding schools. That was my first opportunity to visit some towns like Taura, Danbatta, Jogana, Kura, Babura, Sumaila, Garki, Goron Dutse etc all in the name of visiting of my biological and other neighbouring sisters within my locality.

Today, the narration is no longer the same; our attitudes and characters are completely not the same, the pattern of upbringing children of nowadays has changed from what we have grown to know. I wonder how Parents of today have deviated from many good traditions they were adopted upon during their childhood and adolescent age. It is obvious that many children of today are no longer children of the community rather they are proudly considererd as only fathers and mothers wards, this to some extend give them an impression of not respecting elders within the community, many do not accept the notion of behaving and respecting the command of any elder apart from their parents. And the bad thing that is happening is unacceptable, to the extend that if somebody outside tried to command and discipline the children for doing wrong some parents boldly shows their anger which discourage members of the community to disregard any wrongdoing by those children.
However, with strong tribalism and antagonistic relationship that was deliberately created per say the strong shield among the diverse people has broken down while hatred, enmity and hostilities among people surfaces which overturned the long existing peaceful co-existence and pave way for corruption, nepotism, tribalism, banditry and above all insurgency within the polity.

if there is no issue of the above mentioned negative factors Nigeria and Nigerians would never allowed any discrimination against one another not to talk of other external force to throw threats no matter how powerful and influential they are.
This threat is therefore, could be a turning point for Nigerians to fight against diversitoes like ethnic rivalry, religious bigotry, social discrimination and class differences. It is time to reflect back and readopt the peaceful relationship more importantly our leaders should wake up and ensure justice and fair play among the diversed people so that the lost glory, the peaceful coexistence will be restored. Nigerian Government as a matter of urgency should work tirelessly with intense political will and should wage a serious war against corruption and high level of kleptomaniac attitudes within government and nongovernmental spheres.

No doubt if Nigeria and Nigerians will forget any form of diversity and heterogeneity; work together as one entity and similar people, I m sure all the treachery and foul play in the name of ethnic rivalry and religious intolerance would definitely seized to exist from within the country and this would not allow any crack not to talk of a threat or aggression from outside forces.

As a Nigerian, I respect that everyone is entitled to their opinion, as guaranteed by the Constitution. However, the right to express an opinion does not include the license to distort facts or spread concocted falsehoods.

I was genuinely baffled when I read the news story published by The Sun Newspaper on November 4, 2025, titled “Ex-NUJ president, Garba, slams Kano govt on restrictive media space, validates WSCIJ report on press freedom in Kano” As a concerned indigene of Kano State who witnessed firsthand the Ganduje administration and its approach to governance, I find it deeply troubling how Muhammad Garba, Ganduje’s spokesperson and a former NUJ President, treated journalists and the media with utter disdain.

As a former NUJ President and Ganduje’s mouthpiece, he has no moral ground to lecture anyone on press freedom. His claims are easily debunked by the documented repression under his own tenure.

Under Garba’s watch as Commissioner for Information during Ganduje’s administration, constructive engagement was replaced with intimidation and censorship.

Journalists were arrested, harassed, and media houses were threatened for reporting on corruption and governance failures, Example: In 2019, Daily Nigerian publisher Jaafar Jaafar faced threats and police summons after releasing videos allegedly showing Ganduje receiving bribes.

Many People were arrested, prosecuted and put in prison custody under stringent conditions for expressing their opinion about Ganduje’s land racketeering and corruption saga notably among them was Abdulmajid Danbilki Commanda who was arrested buggled and brought to the court for exercising his constitutional rights.

Ironically, Garba now dismisses awards when his own principal never received much for media friendliness. Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, on the other hand, has been recognized by almost every major national daily as one of the most media-friendly governors in Nigeria.

Although the Kano state Government already through a press conference rejected Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism’s reports describing it as mischievous, malicious and misleading

Public still don’t know the indices as well as methodology the center used to arrived at this conclusion. As a student of social sciences and humanity I learned a conclusion like this nature needs an verifiable and empirical data backed by statistics. Any conclusion beyond this stands to rejected and questionable from its entirety.

As Center for investigative journalism, it is very important not use imagination or what some people imagining to draw a conclusion.

It is on record that Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has received a multiple media awards including that of Nigeria Union Of Journalists, NUJ further testify that the Muhammad Garba is arm chair critic who is jealousy about the impressive performance of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf that ousted his master.

Governor Yusuf has demonstrates that engaging journalists openly, attending press events, and ensuring their welfare is a key societal development. That is why his activities recieved a large massive coverage across national dailies, online platforms and other platforms unlike Ganduje’s administration who was sorrounded by Land racketeering, corruption, family affairs in Governance affairs and media intimidation.

As a two-term NUJ President, Garba should have been a defender of press freedom. Instead, he used the platform he benefited most to from grace to disgrace.
His current posture is not about defending journalism, it’s about politicizing a report to score cheap points against a government that has outshined his own in transparency and media engagement.

Governor Yusuf has been honored by multiple national newspapers for his openness and support for journalism. His administration has never used police or courts to harass journalists, contrary to Muhammad Garba’s insinuations.

The government has dismissed the WSCIJ report as unfounded, citing lack of evidence and reaffirming its commitment to press freedom.

Muhammad Garba’s statement is not only misleading, it’s a desperate attempt to distort history. As a concerned indigene of Kano State, you have every right to ask for this inconsistencies. The era of Ganduje was marked by repression; the era of Yusuf is marked by openness. Let the facts speak louder than Garba’s political spin.

Sani Isa Suleiman is a concerned citizen of Kano State

By Danlami Ibrahim

It’s laughable enough to read a statement issued by former NUJ President, Malam Comrade Muhammad Garba, in which he accused the present Kano State Government of press intimidation by validating the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism’s report on media intimidation in Kano.

Maybe Muhammad Garba, who was the image maker and chief information officer of the Kano Government, where he served as the state commissioner for information, easily forgets how the former Ganduje Government gagged the media through intimidation and threats.

Maybe Muhammad Garba was intoxicated by power then, as the state commissioner for information, which is why he is now slamming the present Government of Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf for gagging the press.

There were many atrocities committed under the government in which he served as information commissioner not only intimidating the press, but to borrow a word from an article once written by one of Nigeria’s veteran journalists, Bala Ibrahim, titled “Governor Ganduje Going Gaga.”

Not only “going Gaga” in 2018, the publisher of Daily Nigerian was asked to come to Kano and testify before the state assembly on the Dollar video. From the Kano airport to the state assembly, the Daily Nigerian publisher was accompanied by heavy security due to fear of the unknown if he were allowed to come alone.

By 2021, Jaafar Jaafar had to flee Nigeria due to fear for his life and that of his family. As such, former Governor Ganduje was accused of “going Gaga.”

During the March 9 inconclusive election that returned Governor Ganduje for a second term, in Gama ward where the inconclusive election and other wards took place many journalists, including those who came from Lagos and some members of the Correspondents’ Chapel, had to flee for fear of their lives as thugs were recruited to attack them. Some were even attacked, but for one reason or another, the journalists themselves kept mute. Some said they were persuaded by Garba to keep quiet. Only Freedom Radio aired the story.

For the record of students of media history, let me also remind Comrade Garba, who was a two-term president of the NUJ, how government media reporters at the Emir’s Palace were withdrawn when the Government of Ganduje drew a battle line with Emir Muhammad Sanusi II.

Another scenario was the expulsion of a Freedom Radio reporter attached to Kano Government House during Governor Ganduje’s tenure Abbas Yushau Yusuf—over a robbery incident he reported, which affected Governor Ganduje’s convoy on their way to Jos.

It was under Comrade Muhammad Garba’s watch that journalists in Kano were divided, as his ministry excluded some from its activities. Instead of carrying all journalists along, the then government had a selective approach, which brought serious division.

Another incident was when former Governor Ganduje’s convoy was again attacked on its way from Zamfara to Kano. Many journalists in the crew developed a sense of fear and chose not to report the incident. Reports say they were even warned not to report it, which is a clear breach of their constitutional mandate.

The government in which Comrade Garba served as commissioner for information had, on several occasions, come out to falsify reports by the media that the state government perceived as negative.

It’s good to always reflect on records and history.
Danlami Ibrahim writes from Kano.