The Director of Peter Obi Coalition 2023 (CPO), Sadisu Isyaku Hakimi, has expressed strong confidence in the leadership of Julius Abure, the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP).

In an interview with newsmen in Kano, Hakimi stated that if Abure’s footsteps are followed, the Labour Party has the potential to capture Northern Nigeria and ultimately the entire nation.

Praising Abure’s tenure as the best, Hakimi emphasized that the National Chairman’s focus on the interests of Northern Nigeria would lead to significant gains for the party. “Julius Abure’s tenure is the best. He has to look at the interests of Northern Nigeria, and the party will make it,” Hakimi remarked.

Hakimi further criticized the All Progressives Congress (APC), stating that the party is failing to protect the interests of the masses. “APC is not protecting the interest of the masses, and as such, the APC is going to lose the election,” he asserted.

Hakimi’s comments highlight the growing confidence within the Labour Party’s leadership and supporters. He believes that under Abure’s guidance, the party can address the needs and aspirations of the Northern Nigerian populace, leading to broader national support.

The interview has sparked discussions among political analysts and the public, with many watching closely to see how the Labour Party’s strategies unfold in the upcoming elections.

A former Provost Marshall of the Nigerian Army, Maj-Gen Pat Akem-Vingir (rtd), says the military needs at least 500,000 personnel to eliminate terror groups like Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

“Our army is small. We need to have an army of at least 500,000 personnel,” the retired general said on the Friday edition of Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a socio-political programme aired on Channels Television

The Nigerian military has about 230,000 personnel, according to the ranking platform, Global Fire Power. Maj-Gen Akem-Vingir said much of the successes of the military in the theatre of war in Nigeria’s North-East zone have been lost because of the lack of manpower to hold the ground after clearance operations.

He said until there is sufficient manpower to secure territories after terrorist dislodgement, the blood-thirsty marauders would continue to regain those places.

He said, “When you are fighting insurgency, you must capture ground and hold it. It takes troops to do that. When you capture ground, then you build and hold so that people can resume their lives and there will be security but if you are clearing areas and you are not holding, then they (terrorists) will come back.”

The retired general also said the government should not recognise the newly formed terror group Lakurawa wreaking havoc in the North-West geopolitical zone of the country.

Maj-Gen Akem-Vingir described the Lakurawa group as “one small tiny group” seeking attention.

He said, “We shouldn’t recognise them, we shouldn’t even discuss them because they will think they are being noticed now and want to do more.

“They are one small tiny group that shouldn’t even get out attention; that should be swatted away – that shouldn’t be given any energy to feed upon. They are seeking attention.”

He urged the government to empower the military with the right equipment, training, and the “full authority” to crush the enemies of the state.

The former army provost said, “The president needs to give the instruction to security agencies in the open where Nigerians will hear it.

“When he does that openly, and tell them I want to see your needs on my table in two weeks because, without security, you can’t be talking about governance.”

A fresh controversy has erupted within the All Progressives Congress (APC) as youths within the party strongly reject the proposed appointment of Asiya Ganduje, daughter of APC National Chairman Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, as Director of Community and Rural Development in the newly established Northwest Development Commission (NWDC).

A leaked letter circulating in the media reveals that the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, and Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, recommended Fatima Ganduje and 10 others for key director positions in the commission. This revelation has ignited backlash from APC youths, who are now calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reject the nomination.

Leading the opposition is renowned APC youth activist Sadiq Ali Sango, who has publicly condemned the appointment, describing it as an attempt by Ganduje to turn the APC into a family business.

According to Sadiq Sango Many loyal APC members worked tirelessly for the party’s success, yet Ganduje is only concerned about his family.

“He already holds two appointments, his son is a director in a federal agency, and now he wants to impose his daughter in the Northwest Development Commission. This is unfair, undemocratic, and must be stopped.”

He further stressed that the APC in Kano has a pool of qualified and competent individuals who deserve such appointments.

The youth activist urged President Tinubu to dismiss the proposal and appoint a more deserving APC member from Kano State.

“We call on President Tinubu to uphold fairness and reject this appointment. The APC is not a personal empire for a few privileged families. We demand justice for hardworking party members who have been sidelined.”

This is not the first time Sadiq Ali Sango has taken a stand against Ganduje. He was previously at the forefront of calls for Ganduje’s removal as APC National Chairman, a move that sparked heated debates within and beyond Kano State.