By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Since the flame war began between the Tinubu led APC and Mallam El-rufai, the former’s camp has been experiencing sleepless nights. And since those employed, officially, to tackle such issues–if any arises–are obviously not up to the task, the renowned opportunist of our time–Reno Omokri–has, obviously, agreed to display his mercenary skill sets in their defense.

But then, it has been confirmed that even their so called Mercenary is not also up to the task. In his usual cunning manner of presenting issues to the gullible ones amongst us, Reno Omokri has presented some points against Mallam Nasir El-rufai of which, this piece is serving as a rejoinder to all those malicious claims.

Firstly, amongst his claims is the narrative that El-rufai is wailing because he was denied being made a minister under the administration of Tinubu due to his inability to secure a security clearance. Stating that issues like the crisis which went on almost everyday in the southern region of Kaduna State is considered to be a handwork of El-rufai.

To refute this claim and then make it explicit how Reno is a confused human being with an amnesia problem, it’s on the record that the southern Kaduna crisis started way longer before El-rufai assumed office as the governor of the state. In his words: “please, fact check me.”

When Namadi Sambo was picked as the vice president by the then president Goodluck Jonathan after the death of Umaru Musa Yar’adua in May, 2010, Patrick Yakowa–who was the deputy governor to Namadi Sambo–automatically became the governor of the state. This development was what brought the said crisis to the state. The Muslims were not comfortable with the fact that a Christian was the governor of the state, hence the rift and crisis between the regions in the state.

The crisis escalated even more after the late Yakowa contested against a CPC candidate, Haruna Sae’ed and won with a slight difference in the numbers of the votes in the 2011 gubernatorial election. A year and some months later, he was involved in an aircraft crash and died at the spot. These aforementioned developments were the origins of the crisis which Reno is faulting El-rufai who became governor of the state some years later for.

And for the fact that the crisis is still ongoing in the present administration of Uba Sani shows that the attack is personal and out of jealousy. They hope that, with the tarnishing of image tactics which they have employed against El-rufai, whatever plans he has against them coming 2027 will die.

Secondly, Reno also accused El-rufai as the one who carried out the Shi’ites massacre that happened in December, 2015. If not one who suffers from amnesia, who doesn’t know that it was the Nigerian Army that carried out the operation in 2015? But because Reno is a shameless opportunist who thinks with his anus, the incident is now attributed to the government of El-rufai.

The honest revelation of the scenario was that the Shi’ites movement blocked roads in Zaria, stopping anyone from using the roads because they were performing some of their rituals. The ugly situation surfaced when they tried the stupidity with the then Chief of Army Staff–major general Buratai Tukur.

The Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Army then revealed that an assassination attempt on the life of Tukur Buratai was their reason for the brutal retaliation against the members of the movement and then the subsequent capture of their leader, Zakzaky. How does this narration concern El-rufai who even established a State Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the incident?

Thirdly, he also made mention of the demolitions carried out by El-rufai as part of the reasons why he couldn’t secure the security clearance. And I ask: the same demolition of houses and mosque which Wike carried out in Rivers State and then secured a security clearance to be part of Tinubu’s administration?

Moreover, all the demolitions carried out by the administration of El-rufai had moral justification. For instance, the demolition of the house which was kept for a sex party by some morally deteriorated human beings in the state is justifiable. Such morally bankrupt activities must not take place in the home of Sir Ahmadu Bello, the late Sadauna. No demolition was carried out without the Kaduna State Urban and Development Agency giving reasons for such action.

The fact remains that, the president changed his mind along the line and didn’t want El-rufai in his government for reasons best known to him. If it was because of inability to secure the security clearance, how come the likes of Bello Matawalle of Zamfara state got nominated and passed the security screening? An average Nigerian knows that Bello Matawalle championed bandits operation in the state during his tenure as it was alleged by even the bandits lord–Bello Turji, and the present governor of the state, Dauda Lawal.

It’s also imperative for Nigerians to take note of the fact that the power issue in the country isn’t ordinary. As stated by El-rufai on Arise tv during his recent interview, president Tinubu gave him a challenge to fix the power issue of the country and he gladly accepted it because, accepting a challenge and conquering it has become his hubby.

If we all could recall, during his presentation at the National Assembly, El-rufai pointed out the problems imbedded in the ministry and how he intended to providing a lasting solutions to them. One who can decipher should understand that the cabals in that ministry are the ones against his nomination. And, to obey to the agreement, the president had to let them have their say. Had El-rufai been allowed into that ministry, all hell would have been let loose by now. They know the kind of person he is and that’s why he was stopped.

Reno Omokri is actually the one crying because El-rufai relieved him off the duty of handling his Facebook page while he was the FCT minister. He has been at loggerheads with El-rufai ever since then. Plus, his newly found job with the Renewed hope gangs, PR consultants, El-rufai must not rest. But he should be aware that the likes of us will always be around and ready to keep him on his toes whenever he mentions El-rufai’s name.

The same Reno who described Tinubu as a bad product that the APC wanted to sell to Nigerians. Same he who described the president as an indecisive person and shouldn’t be made president. The same mealy-mouthed Reno who tagged the APC government as one that has increased the poverty rate in Nigeria. The same so called Gospeller who went to organize a protest against Tinubu at the Chatham house in London. He is the same person they employed to defend them now and he accepted because he has no other means of earning than the PR consultancy scheme.

BY Muhammadu Dan Sa’idu

My attention was drawn to a newspaper opinion article titled Dear Governor Abba Kabir, Beware of Waiya authored by one Isma’il Auwal. Ordinarily, I may not have bothered to respond to the baseless submissions of the author, but silence in the face of falsehood and mistepresentation of issues amounts to concent and endorsement of such reckless personal attacks on innocent law abiding citizen who by share destiny was called to serve his people.
The writer in the figment of his imagination thinks he can rubbish the decision of His Excellency, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf in choosing one of the best

brains in the civil society community, Comrade Ibrahim Waiya to serve as member of the State Executive Council and Commissioner of Information and Internal Affairs. This is in addition to other adhoc assignments such as the Chairmanship of the High-Powered Committee on the profiling of CSOs and NGOs in Kano State.
From the submission of Isma’il, it is clear that the writer lacks even elementary knowledge of how government works and how decisions are made. Also, it was clear the writer was acting a script of some unpatriotic and unscrupulous elements who are not pleased with the stirling performance of Comrade Waiya since he assumed office as the state Commissioner of Information. Moreover, the writer didn’t only show personal hatred and envy for Comrade Waiya but went so

low to attempting to armtwist the Governor into sack the workaholic, vibrant, energetic and creative Commissioner. This is uncharitable and uncouth for someone claiming to be a member of an enlighten society, the CSO.
The write-up was populated with fat lies, misrepresentation of facts and attempts to ignite in-house inferno among the appointees of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf. The writer failed to rewrite history by refusing to acknowledge the contributions of Comrade Waiya who was one of the leaders of the CSOs that stood behind Governor Abba Kabir in the 2019 and 2023 political and legal struggles to ensure justice was done in face of glaring attempts to deny justice for the people of Kano State.
Contextually, the write-up was a
U-turn against earlier resistance and

rejection of the state high-powered committe on the profiling of CSOs and NGOs by some dishonest, unrealistic individuals claiming to be speaking for the CSO/ NGO scommunities. This is because, having failed to armtwist, blackmail and intimidate the state government to rescind its decisions on the creation of the committee by dissolving and discarding the idea of profiling the CSOs and NGOs, the sponsors of the move resort to personal attacks on the Chairman of the Committee and Honourable Commissioner of Information, Comrade Ibrahim Waiya.
It is clear that the battle for the disbanding the High-Powered Committee was dead on arrival hence the resort to attack on the personality of the Chairman of the Committee. This too will definitely fail as the Governor has high confidence the ability of Comrade Waiya to deliver on

assignments given to him with optimum result. This is even more instructive going by the excellent performance of Comrade Waiya since he assumed duty as the state Commissioner for Information. Clearly, credible and genuine CSOs and NGOs don’t have any problem with both the profiling and the composition of the Committee let alone its Chairman. This is because as the saying goes ‘only the guilty are afraid’. Now we know, those that are likely to be exposed by the committee are the ones spearheading the move to cause confusion and distract the government from undertaking this all important assignment.
In the argument of the author of the sponsored attacks on the personality of Comrade Waiya, he argued that Comrade Waiya was a wrong choice for the job. I beg to disagree, this clearly shows the

naivety of the writer who failed to understand that for Waiya to be so appointed as a Commissioner, he has indeed underwent serious security due diligence and recieved all the necessary clearance less more of an adhoc committee work either as Chairman or a member. For the benefit of the author of the ill fated opinion article, committee Chairmanship of any sort doesn’t bestow absolute power on the Chairman. In the instant case, it is even an insult for the committee and the government that formed it to insinuate that the Chairman will use the platform to settle scores and advance his personal vindictive agenda. I urge Isma’il Auwal to apologise to the committee. This is because looking at the composition of the committee, the Chairman, Waiya is too small to outsmart them. Please Isma’il, I urge you to be

humble and apologise to the committee for portraying them to be a willing tool in the hands of Conrade Waiya. This is disgusting, reprehensible and irrational of you.
On citing some government appointees such Sanusi Bature, Iro Ma’aji and Muhiyi Magaji by Isma’il Auwal in his write-up, this is tantamount to igniting an in-house unhealthy rivalry that will do ko one any good thereby distracting the government. In this regard, I expect the aforementioned appointees to caution the witer, demand a retraction and dissociate themselves with the write-up. That is the only way to ensure cohesion and unity of purpose in serving the good hood people of Kano State under the government of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf. Anything to the contrary will send a wrong signal.
As for the genuine, law abiding and

patriotic CSOs and NGOs, it is expected that you will rise to the occasion and support the High-Powered Committee on Profiling to undertake its assignment diligently with a view to sanitising your operations for common good of all.

Dan Sa’idu writes from Hotoro Quarters, Kano

Aminu Bala Madobi Feb 24th, 2024

I’m compelled to respond to the recent letter published in the dailies, which launched a vicious attack on the person and character of Ambassador Ibrahim Waiya, the Honourable Commissioner of Information in Kano State.

The letter, penned by a self-styled “Concerned Citizen of Kano”, is a tissue of lies, misrepresentations, and barefaced distortions.

Firstly, we take umbrage with the writer’s attempt to impugn Ambassador Waiya’s character by alleging that he has a history of conflicts with certain groups.

This is a blatant falsehood, as Ambassador Waiya has always been known for his bridge-building abilities and his capacity to work harmoniously with diverse stakeholders. In fact, Ambassador Waiya has been instrumental in fostering partnerships between the Kano State Government and various civil society organizations, which has led to significant improvements in the lives of the citizens of Kano State.

Furthermore, the writer’s assertion that Ambassador Waiya’s presence in the committee has turned what should be a platform for oversight into a battlefield for personal grudges is a gross exaggeration.

Ambassador Waiya has always conducted himself with the utmost professionalism and decorum, and his contributions to the committee have been invaluable. It is on record that Ambassador Waiya has been a key driver of the committee’s efforts to promote transparency and accountability in governance, and his expertise has been sought by various stakeholders, including civil society organizations and the media.

I also find it curious that the writer would suggest that Ambassador Waiya should be replaced by Sanusi Bature, the Director-General of Media. This is a clear attempt to sow discord and create unnecessary tension within the government.

Sanusi Bature is a respected colleague, but he is not a substitute for Ambassador Waiya’s unique skills and experience. Ambassador Waiya’s expertise in information management and his ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders make him an indispensable asset to the Kano State Government.

Moreover, flabbergastedly amazed by the writer’s audacity in attempting to dictate to the Governor of Kano State on how to run his government. The writer’s suggestion that the Governor should “pull Waiya back from the brink” is a clear example of meddling in the internal affairs of the government.

I’m using this podia to urge the Gov. Yusuf to ignore this unsolicited advice and continue to work with Ambassador Waiya and other officials to deliver on his campaign promises to the people of Kano State.

But what is most galling is the sheer hypocrisy of the self-styled “Concerned Citizen of Kano”. This individual, who has suddenly developed a keen interest in the affairs of Kano State, has no credibility whatsoever. Their track record of activism is non-existent, and their sudden concern for the welfare of Kano State is nothing but a thinly veiled attempt to gain relevance.

We challenge this individual to come clean about their true motives and to explain why they have chosen to launch a vicious attack on Ambassador Waiya.

It is also important to highlight the significant role played by Ambassador Waiya in the Ministry of Information. Since his appointment, the ministry has undergone an amazing metamorphosis, transforming from a sleepy, ineffective department into a vibrant, dynamic hub of activity. Ambassador Waiya’s unique leadership style, which emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and results-driven performance, has been instrumental in driving this transformation. Under his watch, the ministry has launched a range of innovative initiatives, including a comprehensive reform of the state’s information management systems and a major overhaul of the state’s media landscape.

Ambassador Waiya’s historic background as a human rights activist and a champion of social justice is also worth noting. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a deep commitment to the values of transparency, accountability, and human dignity. His work has taken him to the forefront of some of the most pressing social and economic issues of our time, from the struggle for democracy and human rights to the fight against poverty and inequality. It is this wealth of experience and expertise that he brings to his role as Honourable Commissioner of Information, and it is this that has made him such a valuable asset to the Kano State Government.

In conclusion, we urge the good people of Kano State to disregard the malicious and unfounded attacks on Ambassador Ibrahim Waiya. Ambassador Waiya remains a dedicated and loyal servant of the state, and his commitment to the development and progress of Kano State is unwavering. We will not be swayed by the petty machinations of those who seek to undermine the government and its officials.

Aminu Bala Madobi, writes from kano, Reach me via aminubalamadobi00@gmail.com