The Arewa Youth Merger Group, APC has faulted former Kano State Governor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso over his claim that the people of Kano do not support the position of Islamic cleric, Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir on the Muslim-Muslim ticket in Nigeria.

This was contained in a statement signed by the National Coordinator of the Group, Comrade Musa Mujahid Zaitawa and made available to journalists.

The group described Kwankwaso’s criticism of Sheikh Jingir’s opinion as his personal view and not the position of the people of Kano State.

“It is wrong for Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to interfere with the opinion of a cleric who is exercising his constitutional right as a Nigerian citizen to express his views,” the statement read.

The group further stated that it was shameful for Kwankwaso to criticize the Muslim-Muslim ticket when FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, a Christian and member of the PDP, had publicly said there was nothing unconstitutional about it.

The Arewa Youth Merger Group also noted that even Mr. Peter Obi, the NDC presidential candidate for whom Kwankwaso a running mate, had admitted that there was no problem with the Muslim-Muslim ticket and had apologized for introducing religious division into his previous campaign.

The group said Kwankwaso’s attempt to challenge Sheikh Jingir was disgraceful and urged him to desist from making statements capable of causing division among Nigerians just to satisfy his personal political ambition.

The Arewa Youth Merger Group also reaffirmed its support for the Tinubu/Shettima Muslim-Muslim ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The National Youth Service Corps has distanced itself from the proposed N200 annual levy by the National Association of Nigerian Students, saying payment of the levy is not a requirement for students seeking mobilisation for national service.

The NYSC stated this in a statement shared on its official X account on Tuesday, following reports that NANS was considering linking payment of its dues to the NYSC mobilisation process.

The Scheme said it had neither discussed nor agreed to the proposed arrangement with NANS, adding that it had not entered into any Memorandum of Understanding with the student body on the collection of any levy.

“The NYSC wishes to state unequivocally that it has not, at any time, discussed, agreed to, or entered into any Memorandum of Understanding with the National Association of Nigerian Students regarding the collection of any levy from students in connection with mobilisation for national service,” the statement said.

The NYSC explained that its mobilisation process was conducted through established official channels involving the management of the Scheme and the Heads of Corps Producing Institutions, which provide information on their graduates for mobilisation.

“The mobilisation process is neither linked to nor contingent upon the activities of any student association or organisation,” it added.

The Scheme consequently advised prospective corps members and students to disregard any information suggesting that payment of a levy to NANS or any other student association was required for NYSC mobilisation.

“For the avoidance of doubt, NYSC mobilisation process is straightforward and is conducted through established official channels,” the statement said.

The clarification followed comments by the NANS National President, Akinteye Babatunde, that the association was considering a system under which students would pay an annual N200 due.

Babatunde had also indicated that NANS would work with the NYSC and that students might be required to show proof of payment of the association’s dues before being mobilised for camp.

The NYSC, however, reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining a transparent, credible and efficient mobilisation process in line with existing government policies and guidelines.

A prominent Kano Islamic scholar, Sheikh Alaramma Hadi Inuwa Maihula Sanka, has criticised the Kano State Government’s widow marriage programme, describing the practice as “Haram”, urging the government to discontinue it.

Sheikh Maihula made the position known during an interview with journalists in Kano on Tuesday evening, arguing that marriage, like other major religious obligations, is subject to a person’s ability and means.

According to him, Islam does not compel a person who lacks the financial capacity to undertake marriage, just as obligations such as Zakat and Hajj are not imposed on those without the means to fulfil them.

“Marriage, Zakat and Hajj are never made obligatory on anyone unless they have the means,” he said, citing teachings contained in the Qur’an, particularly Suratul Nur, as well as Hadith narrated by Imams Bukhari and Muslim.

The cleric therefore questioned the use of public funds by state governments to organise or finance special marriage programmes, describing the collection or expenditure of public resources for such purposes as religiously unacceptable.

He argued that government resources should instead be channelled into addressing pressing social challenges affecting citizens, including inadequate healthcare, water supply and support for vulnerable workers.

“Kano city does not have enough hospitals, there are not enough qualified doctors, there is no Portable drinking water, and pensioners have not all been settled,” he said.

Sheikh Maihula also questioned the concentration of specialist healthcare services in Kano metropolis, saying residents from distant local government areas are forced to travel to the city to access medical treatment.

He specifically mentioned Gwarzo, Takai and Tsanyawa, asking why similar hospitals could not be established in such communities to bring healthcare closer to residents.

“Since Gwarzo, Takai or Tsanyawa, the community has been coming to Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, and this hospital was built in 1928. Why can’t a similar hospital be built in Takai, Tsanyawa or Gwarzo?” he asked.

The Islamic scholar also warned that government-sponsored marriages could create additional financial responsibilities for the state if couples subsequently have children and require assistance with their upkeep.

He argued that rather than spending public funds on marriage ceremonies, governments should empower widows and other vulnerable women through vocational training, entrepreneurship support and other forms of sustainable livelihood assistance.

Maihula urged the Kano State Government, as well as other states considering similar programmes, to reconsider the initiative and redirect resources towards programmes that would enable beneficiaries to become economically self-reliant.

He maintained that empowering women to earn sustainable livelihoods would provide longer-term benefits than one-off marriage interventions.