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

On Tuesday, June 18th, some social media pages were inundated with pictures showing that Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, visited Emir of Kano Muhammad Sanusi II.

The pictures posted by several social media platforms show Alhaji Aliko Dangote kneeling down and offering his traditional greetings to the Emir of Kano.

However, a fact check by Nigerian Tracker and information gathered from palace sources reveal that Alhaji Aliko Dangote never visited the palace on that date.

Another palace source told this newspaper that on the day the picture was posted, Alhaji Aliko Dangote supposedly visiting Emir Sanusi, the Emir did not even hold court throughout the day.

Nigerian Tracker further investigated and found that the picture showing Alhaji Aliko Dangote kneeling before Emir Sanusi II was actually taken around May 2019, which means it was five years ago, a year before the dethronement of Emir Sanusi on March 9, 2020.

Therefore, there is no truth to the claim that Alhaji Aliko Dangote visited Emir Sanusi II on Tuesday, June 18, 2024.