News

Senator Kawu Sumaila Commends President Tinubu’s Decision on Local Government Autonomy

Published

4 weeks ago

May 27, 2024

Senator Sulaiman Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila, representing Kano South Senatorial District, has praised President Ahmed Bola Tinubu for his recent decision to grant autonomy to local governments. In a statement he signed, Senator Sumaila described the decision as timely, emphasizing the urgent need for policies that alleviate the suffering of the Nigerian masses.

According to Sumaila, President Tinubu’s commitment to local government autonomy aligns with the senators’ efforts to address the challenges faced by the grassroots. “I am happy that Mr. President has begun to follow our path to salvage our people by giving local governments the autonomy to operate as enshrined in the constitution. The decision to compel the 36 states of the federation to grant autonomy to local governments is a step in the right direction,” he said.

Sumaila highlighted the potential benefits of this autonomy, particularly for rural areas. “This will surely help in bringing development to our people, especially those at the grassroots in rural areas. It will equally boost the nation’s economy by increasing our Internally Generated Revenue through the agricultural value chain and other commercial activities that will emerge once local governments gain their autonomy,” he added.

However, Senator Sumaila also appealed to President Tinubu to address issues related to local government elections, which he identified as another significant challenge affecting grassroots progress under democratic governance. “I would be glad if President Tinubu will also address the challenges affecting the conduct of local government elections in the nation. The president should do something to stop politicians from manipulating the processes of local government elections for their personal interests,” he urged.

Sumaila criticized the current state of local government elections, highlighting the undue influence of state governors. “We are all aware of how local government elections are being conducted under the watch of state governors in this country. From the primaries to the main elections, the processes are always being manipulated by politicians for their personal interest against the interests of the majority. That should not be so under democracy, and I am appealing to Mr. President to urgently address this problem. I am sure this will complement the autonomy of the local government, thereby extending the dividends of democracy to the grassroots,” he asserted.

Senator Sumaila emphasized the collaborative efforts of the legislative and executive branches of government in supporting local government autonomy. “We, at the National Assembly, have raised the matter and supported the autonomy for local governments, and the executive has also agreed with us. It is now over to the judiciary to appropriately exercise its constitutional rights in deciding the case before it on local government autonomy,” he said.

Sumaila thanked Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Deputy Senate President Barau I. Jibrin for giving him the opportunity to present the matter before the Senate and expressed gratitude to his colleagues for their support. “I thank the Senate President, Mr. Godswill Akpabio, and Deputy Senate President, Barau I. Jibrin, for giving me the opportunity to table the matter before the Senate, and my colleagues for supporting me on this issue,” the statement concluded.

News

Breaking:Sokoto Assembly Passes Bill To Strip Sultan Of His Powers

Published

10 hours ago

June 25, 2024

Nigerian Tracker

Sultan Muhammad Saad Abubakar

The powers of the sultanate hangs on the balance as the bill for the amendment of the Sokoto Emirate Council law has passed through the first and second readings.

The Sokoto State House of Assembly passed the bill on Tuesday.

The amendment, if passed into law, will strip the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, of powers to appoint the kingmakers and to appoint district heads without government approval, among other things.

This development comes a day after the Muslim Rights Concern raised concerns about an alleged plan by the Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, to depose the Sultan of Sokoto.

In a statement on Monday, MURIC’s Executive Director, Prof. Isiaq Akintola, expressed alarm over the potential move, which comes amid controversy and tension following the deposition of several monarchs in Kano State.

News

FIFA World Cup 26 ticket: Nigeria football federation begs for spiritual help

Published

3 days ago

June 23, 2024

Nigerian Tracker

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.

News

EXCLUSIVE: How Buhari Encourages Atiku on Merger Ahead of 2027

Published

3 days ago

June 22, 2024

Nigerian Tracker

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar (RIGHT) after meeting former President Muhammadu Buhari

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).