By Abdulgafar Oladimeji

Nigeria Football Federation, NFF has resort to seeking spiritual assistance to rescue the ailing world cup qualifying campaign , so far mounted by the Super Eagles.

The president of the federation, Ibrahim Gusau has sent a passionate appeal to spiritual leaders to help the federation look up to heaven in search of redemption from the looming possibilities of Nigeria missing out from the next edition of the largest global football party.

Recall that Nigeria failed to show up for the prestigious football party at the immediate past edition of the senior men’s world cup hosted in Qatar.
Gusau speaking in Kano last Saturday night at the Kano state Football Association , KSFA awards nite had admitted that the Super Eagles of Nigeria were struggling in the chase for the sole FIFA world cup ticket , available in CAF qualifiers group C.
The NFF honcho directly appealed to the chairman, council of Ulamas, Kano state, Shiekh Ibrahim Khaleel, who graced the night to kindly and urgently present his request to the body of spiritual leaders in Kano and beyond seeking for their spiritual assistance to save the worrisome situation.
He said, it is not in doubt that , Nigeria’s national team is struggling in the world cup qualifier series , adding that at this time Nigeria’s world cup 26 fate is in dire need for prayers.
He noted that, the federation is not resting on its oars in doing the needful to get the team to fly Nigeria’s flag at the FIFA world 26, however he appealed to sheikh Khaleel to help the federation solicit for spiritual support from his clergy peers.
Nigeria is currently occupying 6th position in CAF group C, with 3 points from 4 matches, Rwanda is top on the group with 7 points from 4 matches been fiercely chased by Bafana Bafana of South Africa also with 7 points from 4 matches.
Benin republic is placed third on the group with 7 points from 4 matches, Lesotho is 4th place on the log with 5 points from 4 matches, Nigeria is 5th placed with 3 points from 4 matches, while Zimbabwe occupies the bottom of the table with two points from 4 matches.
The FIFA World cup 26 is the 23rd edition , it is the first in the quadrennial competition’s history that will be featuring 48 teams and the first to be co hosted by three countries, namely Canada, Mexico and USA.

This afternoon, June 22, 2024, Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general elections and former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, was seen at the Daura residence of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Nigerian media reported the visit , captioning pictures of Atiku as paying Sallah homage to the former two-term President of Nigeria, who handed over to President Tinubu on May 29, 2023.

However, an impeccable source privy to the meeting between Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and former President Muhammadu Buhari disclosed that the PDP Presidential candidate informed President Buhari of his intention for a merger with other political contenders ahead of the 2027 Presidential elections.

The source told NIGERIAN TRACKER that former President Muhammadu Buhari encouraged Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to proceed with the merger talks, noting that it would strengthen democracy. President Buhari reportedly told Atiku that it was similar merger talks that helped the APC wrest power from the PDP in 2015.

Before leaving the Daura residence, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar hailed former President Muhammadu Buhari for playing the role of an elder statesman.

Those accompanying the former Vice President included Senator and former Governor of Sokoto State, Sen. Aminu Tambuwal, and former Governor of Adamawa State, Bindo Jibrilla, among others.

During the 2023 Presidential election, Atiku came second after President Bola Ahmad Tinubu, which many political analysts view as a failure on the part of the opposition to merge and defeat the APC.

Those seen as potential allies for Atiku Abubakar are his competitors in the 2023 general elections, namely Mr. Peter Obi of the Labour Party and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

Not fewer than 30,000 children are out of school in Katsina state due activities of bandits.

The Senior Special Assistant on banditry and Internally Displaced Persons (lDP), Saidu lbrahim Danja disclosed this to newsmen in KATSINA.

Danja said the figure was obtained after an assessment conducted by his office and State Universal Basic Education Board.

According to him, Katsina state government has commenced sending back the affected children to school and provide them with writing materials.

Danja further explained that currently, the state has 252, 000 displaced persons due banditry, adding that: “We inherited 278, 000 displaced persons at time we took over from previous administration.

He added that, “The figure reduced to 252,000 as peace gradually returned in the affected areas.”.

Danja said for fear of possible attack by the bandits, government has closed down about 52 health facilities.

He added that the government is working with eight international organisations to improve living standard of those affected by banditry.

He said the organisations are also assisting for the return of peace in Katsina.

Triumph