News

Khalid And The Crazy Commotion Caused By The Clerics

Published

4 years ago

April 6, 2022

Sheikh Nuru Khalid

By Bala Ibrahim.

By their calling, clerics are expected to be good ambassadors of the Prophets, through the preaching for peace, love and things that would bring greater unity among the people. Should any cleric choose to go in the reverse, he or she must be ready to be damned, and consequently condemned by God, with the likelihood of suffering eternal punishment in hell, God forbid.

Since last week, when the former chief Imam of Apo Juma’at Mosque in Abuja, Sheikh Nuru Khalid was suspended, pursuant to his slap-happy sermons, the airspace was thrown into a state of confusion, with comments and counter comments coming in chorus.

The commotion became more intense, when Senator Muhammadu Saidu Dansadau, Chairman of the mosque Committee announced that the mosque had finally expelled the Sheikh, for not being remorseful.

While the congregants are saying Khalid cannot lead them in prayers, because he is partisan, and a mosque is a place of worship and not an arena for politics, Khalid is adamant, insisting that, he would rather be carrying load for pay, than to stop telling the truth.

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The intention of this article therefore, is to arrive at the true meaning of the truth, or make the truth be seen in accordance with facts or realities on the ground, and juxtapose it with the preaching of an Imam. That’s the prism, through which I intend to peruse the pulpit, and the practice of people like Imam Khalid, alongside the character of people like Senator Saidu Dansadau.

I used to pray in Imam Nurah Khalid’s mosque, but from his sermons, I long concluded that he is more of a grandstander, than an Imam that can provide Islamic guidance. He picks good topics for his sermons quite alright, but almost always, because of the calibre of people in attendance, mostly high profile politicians of the opposition, he behaves in a way that is meant to attract their attention, or even impress them. Sometimes I even have the suspicion that he may be amongst the beneficiaries of the infamous Dasuki Armsgate scandal.

Such behaviour does not tally with that of a man intending on telling the truth.

To support the argument that Khalid’s behaviour does not tally with that of a man intending on telling the truth, the controversial sermon was condemned even by a fellow controversial cleric, and prominent Buhari critic that is based in kaduna, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, who described it as sentiments overriding in intellect.

This is a suggestion that Imam Khalid is not on the same page with the claimed truth.

To also buttress the lie in the assertion that Khalid was fired because he is critical of President Buhari, many have given names of sheiks and priests, that are critical of the President, including Barrister Aliyu Abdullahi, who described Imam Khalid as the PDP Imam on the pulpit, saying there’s Sheikh Bello Yabo of Sokoto, who is worse in terms of criticism of the President, but no one stopped or sacked him as Imam. He listed the uncommon transformation and support given to the military for the fight against insurhency by Buhari, which Imam Khalid refused to see.

Again this is a suggestion that Imam Khalid is not on the same page with the claimed truth.

As for the character of Senator Saidu Dansadau, the Chairman of the mosque Committee that sacked Imam Nurah, it may interest the reader to know that he is a front line politician that is adjudged with the strong virtue of integrity. Dansadau is a known critic of Buhari, and one that one time rejected a brand new car gift offered to him by then Governor Ahmed Sani Yerima of Zamfara State.

Although a member of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, the then party of Buhari, he declined to return to the Senate in 2007, and together with like minds, formed the National Rescue Movement, NRM, with the intent to rescue Nigeria from misguidance.

So Imam Khalid and Dansadau may be pursuing the same objective of changing the change, but with a difference. While Imam Khalil is doing it from the pulpit, Dansadau is doing it on the platform of a political podium.

So Dansadau is closer to reflective reality, while Khalil can be said to be far way from the claimed truth.

This is not the first sermon of Imam Khalil that generated commotion, there was one particular one last year, where he showed his party affiliation on the pulpit, saying Buhari should return Nigeria to how he met it, impliedly Nigeria under PDP, or Allah will punish him.

I found the response of Cham Faliya Sharon appropriately suitable to the circumstances of the crazy commotion caused by clerics, and without his permission, which I would seek later, I hereby reproduce it:

WHEN ALLAH GRANTED HIM HIS WISH AND HE BECAME ANGRY!

In August last year, Sheik Nuru Khalil said Buhari should return Nigeria to how he met it (PDP Nigeria) or Allah will punish him. But because Allah doesn’t want to punish Buhari, He simply took us a little bit into how Buhari met Nigeria – acute fuel scarcity and the bombing of a train – yet the Sheik and his supporters became angry! Or is he going to tell lies against Allah that Buhari didn’t meet Nigeria with regular bombings and monthly fuel scarcities?

That was the Nigeria Buhari met, and that was exactly what Sheik Nuru Khalil wished for. But when it popped up briefly, he got mad instead of appreciating Allah for granting him his request. Which means he knows that the way Buhari met Nigeria was totally unpalatable. He couldn’t even make sermons criticising anyone in a mosque, and if he doubts me he should remember late Sheik Albany and others who were specifically targeted in their mosques and killed for daring to preach truth to power. That was the Nigeria Buhari met.

Once again, let’s ask Sheik Nuru Khalil whether he truly wants Buhari to return Nigeria to the way he met it. If so, then he may wish to install a whole new set of bomb detectors in his new mosque, because that’s how Buhari met Nigeria. And if not, then he owes us – those of us without short memories – a long apology.

And I add, a long apology for telling lies, which do not tally with the calling of a cleric.

News

Ambassadorial Posting: FFK, Reno Posted to Germany, Mexico

Published

15 hours ago

March 6, 2026

Nigerian Tracker

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the postings of 31 career and 34 non-career ambassadors to various countries and the United Nations.

In the list which was released by Bayo Onanuga, Presidential spokesman, on Friday afternoon, a total of 65 ambassadors and High Commissioners were posted across the country.

The Senate confirmed the ambassadors-designate last December last year.

Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmud Yakubu, was posted to Qatar, Femi Fani-Kayode was posted to Germany, while Reno Omokri was posted to Mexico.

Senator Jimoh Ibrahin was posted to the United Nations; former Chief of Army Staff and Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau was posted to China, while ex-Governor Okezie Ikpeazu is the new ambassador to Spain.

Below is the list:

POSTINGS OF NON-CAREER AMBASSADORS / HIGH COMMISSIONERS

S/N NAME MISSION APPROVED
1. SENATOR GRACE BENT: LOME-TOGO
2. SEN. ITA ENANG: SOUTH AFRICA
3. IKPEAZU VICTOR: SPAIN
4. NKECHI LINDA UFOCHUKWU: TEL-AVIV, ISRAEL
5. MAHMUD YAKUBU: QATAR
6. PAUL OGA ADIKWU: THE VATICAN CITY HOLY SEE
7. VICE ADMIRAL IBOK-ETE EKWE IBAS: THE PHILIPPINES
8. MR. RENO OMOKRI: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
9. HON. (ENGR.) ABASI BRAIMAH (FMHR): BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
10. MRS. ERELU ANGELA ADEBAYO: PORTUGAL
11. BARR. OLUMILUA OLUWAYIMIKA AYOTUNWA: TOKYO, JAPAN
12. RT. HON. UGWUANYI IFEANYI LAWRENCE: ATHENS, GREECE
13. BARR. CHIOMA PRISCILLA OHAKIM: WARSAW, POLAND
14. AMINU DALHATU: UNITED KINGDOM, UK
15. LT. GEN ABDULRAHMAN BELLO DAMBAZAU: BEIJING, CHINA
16. HON. TASIU MUSA MAIGARI: GAMBIA
17. OLUFEMI PEDRO: AUSTRALIA
18. BARR. MUHAMMED UBANDOMA ALIYU: ARGENTINA
19. LATEEF KAYODE ARE: USA
20. AMB. JOSEPH SOLA IJI: RUSSIA
21. SEN. JIMOH IBRAHIM: UN PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE
22. FEMI FANI KAYODE: GERMANY
23. PROF. ISAAK FOLORUNSO ADEWOLE: OTTAWA, CANADA
24. AJIMOBI FATIMA FLORENCE (F): AUSTRIA
25. MRS. LOLA AKANDE (F): SWEDEN
26. AYODELE OKE: FRANCE
27. YAKUBU N. GAMBO: SAUDI ARABIA
28. SENATOR PROF. NORA LADI DADUUT: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
29. BARR. ONUEZE CHUKWUJIKA JOE OKOCHA SAN: DUBLIN
30. DR. KULU HARUNA ABUBAKAR: TUNIS, TUNISIA
31. RT. HON. JERRY SAMUEL MANWE: PORT OF SPAIN, T&T

POSTINGS OF CAREER AMBASSADORS / HIGH COMMISSIONERS LIST

S/N NAME MISSION APPROVED
1. AMB. NWABIOLA EZENWA CHUKWUMEKA: COTE D’IV/OIRE
2. BESTO MAIMUNA IBRAHIM: NIAMEY-NIGER
3. MONICA OKWUCHUKWU ENEBECHI: SAO TOME, STP
4. AMB. MOHAMMED MAHMUD LELE: ALGIERS-ALGERIA
5. ENDONI SYNDOPH PAEBI: OUAGADOUGOU-BURKINA FASO
6. AHMED MOHAMMED MONGUNO: CAIRO EGYPT
7. AMB.JANE ADAMS (NEE OKON) MICHAEL (F): KINGSTON-JAMAICA
8. AMB. CLARK-OMERU ALEXANDRA (F): LUSAKA-ZAMBIA
9. CHIMA GEOGGREY LIOMA DAVID: BAMAKO-MALI
10. AMB. ODUMAH YVONNE EHINOSEN: MALABO –E/GUINEA
11. AMB WASA SEGUN IGE: BEIRUT, LEBANON
12. RUBEN ABIMBOLA SAMUEL (F): ROME, ITALY
13. AMB.ONAGA OGECHUKWU KINGSLEY: MAPUTO, MOZAMBIQUE
14. AMB.MAGAJI UMAR: KINSASHA, DR CONGO
15. AMB.MUHAMMAD SAIDU DAHIRU: NEW DELHI-INDIA
16. AMB. ABDUSSALAM HABU ZAYYAD: DAKAR-SENEGAL
17. AMB SHEHU ILU BARDE: ACCRA GHANA
18. AMB.AMINU NASIR: ETHIOPIA
19. ABUBAKAR MUSA MUSA: N’DJAMENA, CHAD
20. AMB. HAIDARA MOHAMMED IDRIS: THE HAGUE-NETHERLANDS
21. AMB.BAKO ADAMU UMAR: RABAT-MOROCCO
22. AMB. SULU GAMBARI OLATUNJI AHMED: MALAYSIA
23. AMB.ROMATA MOHAMMED OMOBOLANLE (F): TANZANIA
24. AMB. SHAGA JOHN SHAMAH: BOTSWANA
25. SALAU, HAMZA MOHAMMED: TEHRAN, IRAN
26. AMB.IBRAHIM DANLAMI: KENYA
27. IBRAHIM ADEOLA MOPELOLA (F): COTONOU-BENIN
28. AMB.AYENI ADEBAYO EMMANUEL: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
29. AMB.AKANDE WAHAB ADEKOLA: BERNE-SWITZERLAND
30. AMB. AREWA (NEE ADEDOKUN) ESTHER (F): WINDHOEK-NAMIBIA
31. AMB.GERGADI JOSEPH JOHN: LIBREVILLE-GABON
32. AMB. LUTHER OGBOMODE AYO-KALATA (F): SIERRA LEONE
33. DANLADI YAKUBU NYAKU : KHARTOUM-SUDAN
34. BELLO DOGON-DAJI HALIRU: BANGKOK, THAILAND

The statement added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already received agreement from the United Kingdom for the High Commissioner-designate, Ambassador Aminu Dalhatu.

Similarly, France has sent the agreement for Ambassador Ayo Oke.

It added that the Ministry has also conveyed the nominations of the other 62 designated envoys to all the countries concerned, including a request for their agreements in line with standard diplomatic practice.

News

FG Launches N250 Billion Single-Digit Loan Scheme for Smallholder Farmers

Published

16 hours ago

March 6, 2026

Nigerian Tracker

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The federal government has launched a N250 billion credit facility for smallholder farmers, channeled through the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) to provide much-needed access to credit at a single-digit interest rate. The initiative is designed to bolster agricultural productivity and enhance food security across the nation.

Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, disclosed this during the Quarterly Citizens and Stakeholders Engagement Session held on Friday in Abuja. He explained that a key priority for the ministry involves strengthening agricultural insurance and finance mechanisms by leveraging institutions such as the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC), the National Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), the Bank of Agriculture (BOA), and the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF).

In the past two years, the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation has provided risk cover worth N700 billion to 199,275 farmers, generating N2.43 billion in premium income while paying out N200 million in claims to enhance farmers’ resilience. The newly announced credit facility aims to build on such efforts by supporting food production, improving mechanisation, and creating sustainable livelihoods.

The Minister emphasised that the ministry’s overarching mission is to accelerate growth in the agricultural sector by boosting productivity and creating economic opportunities. He described the stakeholder engagement session as a critical step toward ensuring transparency and incorporating public feedback into government programmes.

Over the last two years, several initiatives have been implemented to strengthen the agricultural sector. These include the distribution of more than 1.9 million bags of fertilisers to nearly one million farmers, alongside 12,000 litres of organic fertilisers to promote sustainable soil management.

To combat the circulation of counterfeit fertilisers, the government has prosecuted offenders, constructed a National Reference Laboratory, and upgraded the National Fertiliser Management Platform to enhance quality control and transparency. Additionally, 109 fertiliser inspectors and over 329 industry stakeholders have received training on regulatory compliance.

International collaborations have also been established with Russia, Türkiye, India, and Canada to facilitate technology transfer and improve fertiliser production capacity. More than 3,500 farmers have been trained on organic fertilisers and soil management techniques to encourage sustainable agricultural practices.

The Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) has been driving transformative change through research and development, focusing on crop production and varietal improvement. The council has distributed 40 million cocoa seedlings aimed at revitalising the nation’s cocoa industry, supporting long-term plantation development and boosting export potential.

Meanwhile, the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) has recorded significant milestones over the past two years in advancing the agricultural sector.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described the engagement forum as a reflection of President Bola Tinubu’s governing philosophy rooted in transparency, participation, and accountability.

He stressed that governance must remain open and responsive to the people, adding that his ministry is committed to bridging the gap between policy decisions and public awareness. “Communication is not propaganda; it is accountability,” he said, noting that citizens should be well-informed and given the opportunity to provide feedback on government initiatives.

In his opening remarks, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Marcus Ogunbiyi, underscored that transforming Nigeria’s agricultural and food systems is not merely an aspiration but an urgent national imperative.

News

National patron, Moss Andishu condoles SWAN over the demise of two prominent sports journalists

Published

16 hours ago

March 6, 2026

Nigerian Tracker

By Abdulgafar Oladimeji

The national patron of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN, Moses Andishu has commiserate with the Nigerian sporting press over the death of two prominent Nigerian sports writers.

It would be recalled that, Tonex Chukwu and Niyi Oyeleke breath their last within the span of 24 hours.

Tonex served as the image maker of two time back to back African club football champions, Eyimba fc International of Aba.

Late Niyi Oyeleke former SWAN Lagos chairman, NTA sports reporter , until his demise was a contributing member of the Super Sports crew.

Tonex Chukwu, who nursed injuries sustained from an auto crash, which occurred on 14th February 2026, finally passed away.

Moses Andishu in a press statement issued by his country director for Nigeria, Joseph Andishu, on Wednesday evening in Kaduna, said “ with an heavy heart I send this condolence message to SWAN to offer you comfort, expressing my sympathy, and honor to the deceased veteran comrades , Late Tonex Chukwu and Niyi Oyeleke.

“ at this moments of grief, I offer my love, and support to my SWAN family, I am so sorry for your loss. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

“I am sending strength and love to all sports writers in Nigeria. My deepest condolences .

“I was so saddened to hear about the passing of Tonex Chukwu and Niyi Oyeleke. Within the span of hours in between they both transited to the great beyond .

“Words cannot express how sorry I am for the loss”.

“Sending you love and strength during this difficult times for the sports journalism fraternity in Nigeria.”

“may almighty God in His infinite mercies grant them eternal rest. Amen.”

“May the soul of all the departed, rest in peace .” Amen.