By Abba Anwar

Today’s piece looks into some parts of the finding of a study recently conducted by a teamwork of experts, who specialize in the study of political risk framework and development, over some key political personalities from Northern Nigeria. The study was conducted on state by state basis.

The one that is readily available now, is that of Kano state and other few states. In the report, the Deputy Senate President, Distinguished Senator Barau I Jibrin, CFR, is seen as one of the leading political figures from North, one of the pillars, who suffers too much political persecution from within his party and from without.

Be that as it may, the years long orchestrated ploys, designed framework for political fall down and display of open hatred to the identified individuals included in the study, differ from an individual politician to another across the states.

“What is more fascinating about our findings, is the fact that, all those targeted for disruptive political life, across our states of study, Northern Nigeria, are waxing stronger day in day out. In real term, some of their detractors have started diminishing down the ladder,” the study reveals.

The study further reminded that, “The political challenges of the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin started since during his membership of House of Representatives, from 1999 to 2003, from Tarauni federal constituency. Under the banner of People’s Democratic Party (PDP).”

Referring to the time when Right Honourable Ghali Umar Na’Abba, was the Speaker House of Representatives. While Barau was the Chairman House Committee on Appropriation.

Looking back to history, the report reminded all that, Barau was confronted with internal political blackmail, harassment and intimidation from PDP circle. Then, he was one of the closest, members to Speaker Na’Abba. When the then President Olusegun Obasanjo fought Na’Abba’s re-election in subsequent election, through the state governor, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, Barau also falled victim as Na’Abba.

As returning match, during the same election, Na’Abba, Barau and other strong minds, put heads together and pushed Kwankwaso aside in 2003 general elections. Then the debut of Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, under All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) platform.

While acknowledging that, throughout the political history of Kano, in recent political development, it was only Senator Barau who, switched from one Senatorial District to another entirely different District, vied for an elective position, which was higher, than the one he left, and emerged victorious.

Do you remember that? After the return of democracy in 1999, Barau contested for the House of Representatives in Tarauni federal constituency, which was under Kano Central Senatorial District, from 1999 to 2003. As a result of distortions, persecution and manipulations he suffered from his party men, he joined his ancestral space, Kano North, where he contested for a Senatorial seat and got it.

His political relocation to Kabo local government, of Kano North, created another corridor for his elevation to higher position of a Senator of the Federal Republic and now Deputy Senate President in the 10th Assembly.

The authors of this study, know clearly how and where Barau started from, the faces and manifestations of persecutions he suffered, unwanted display of bitterness by his long standing detractors and largely internal hatred, which all culminated into his elevated position. With the socio-historical and political background of the DSP, as understood by the study, he could be called the last man standing, in that arrangement, since the return of democracy after prolonged military rule.

“Distinguished Senator Barau I Jibrin is also the first Deputy Senate President from Kano state. This also places him above many of his contemporaries. We are also aware of how he has been getting his tickets for the seat he is occupying now, in previous and last elections. We all believe that it is Almighty Allah Who Guides his path,” according to the study.

Many qualities of the DSP’s political life and positions, are soundly acknowledged in the study, that I cannot discuss them here. But people will get to know more when the result of the study is released.

Senator Barau’s interventions across the spectrum are well acknowledged and appreciated by the study. Ranging from his constituency projects, genuine and meaningful empowerment and other interventions since when he was a Member of House of Representatives from Tarauni federal constituency, up to the feats he achieved as a Senator.

They include his scholarship programmes, in local and foreign universities. Commending the choice of courses of study and schools selected. Like in the Nigerian universities, students were sent to study degree programmes in some of our premier universities, like Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Bayero University, Kano, University of Lagos, alongside other universities.

While a lot is said on the DSP, the study believes that, he won’t panic, no matter how deeper machinations he could face, as build ups to 2027. Assuring that, “… after our research we have come to realize that, Distinguished Senator Barau is not an ordinary politician. While his political fortunes are waxing stronger, his influence, is covering larger geo-political spaces.”

In the case of Honorable Alassan Ado Doguwa, member representing Tudunwada/Doguwa federal constituency, in Kano South the study enlists him as second to Senator Barau in the face of stiffer political persecution and repression. Yet, he, like Barau, is waxing stronger, day in day out and year in year out.

With all the stiffer and enhanced political persecution, within and outside his political base, Doguwa was the ONLY House of Representatives contestant who won his election in 2023, under the banner of All Progressives Congress (APC), then. Yes he was faced with so many challenges and opposition, without any good backing and support from his APC base, then, yet with Allah by his side, he emerged victorious!

This study appreciates Doguwa’s political maturity and strength in slugging it out almost alone, for his image, his constituency and his party, at large. Signaling that, “Honourable Alassan Ado Doguwa, is another Barau in disguise. Many at times he is left with weak support from his party, at the state level, yet his influence, followership and strength are inching forward. At a speed that only Divine view can explain.”

Anwar writes from Kano
Saturday, 15th November, 2023

By AbdurRaheem Sa’ad Dembo anipr

Death is an inevitable transaction as no one has immunity against its mode of operation, and it stings like rampaging bees.

On 5th November,2025 Major General Abdullahi Mohammed Adangba(rtd) succumbed to the cold hand of death.Innalillahi waina Ilaihi rajiun.I would have prepared this tribute a day after his demise but I have been in transit from one place to another since I’m currently on my annual leave.Be that as it may, better late than never.

The former Chief of staff to President Obasanjo and Yar’adua was a gallant officer with an impeccable character.He was also an intelligent officer,who served as a former Governor in the old Benue-Plateau State between 1975 -1976 and Founder of National Security Organisation now Department of State Service from 1976 to 1979

Last week when I was in Abuja and I paid a visit to my mentor in the PR profession and the publisher of PRNigeria, Yushau Shuaib,he described the late Major General Abdullahi Mohammed as one of the most intelligent Army officers in the history of Nigerian Army.He also said the country would miss him as his advice in the area of counter insurgency would have helped a great deal

Adangba,as we usually referred to him,as a Chief of Staff to Obasanjo touched many lives positively in Ilorin and beyond.This is not hearsay but what I knew,saw and heard.He facilitated many employment opportunities for Ilorin indigenes across military ,paramilitary agencies and MDAs.A very meticulous Army officer who did not believe in the so called public endorsement when he offered help.

Through his magnanimous employment opportunities,a friend of mine,a friend of my friend,a friend of my nephew and so on benefitted from him.He was a man who would be running around for you without your consent just for you to be great and be of help to others.He was a builder of men

Significantly, some of those he had assisted are also in position, where they are currently offering help to others

I owe him this piece not because I have benefitted directly from his selflessness but humanity emphasises on paying good with good.If I had not benefitted from him at least hundreds of Ilorin indigenes did and invariably I have benefitted too.He was a builder of men

In a statement by Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu Described General Mohammed as a disciplined,loyal, and patriotic officer whose remarkable service to the nation spanned decades of distinguished contributions to Nigeria’s stability and governance.

Talking about Late General Abdullahi Mohammed’s integrity and commitment to service of the country would be inexhaustible as many eminent Nigerians include Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Dr Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, Former President Obasanjo,Gov Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, Former Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Senator Saliu Mustapha and others have paid tributes to the late astute General.

May Allah in His infinite mercies forgive his shortcomings and grant him aljannah Firdaus, and give his family, Ilorin Emirate and Nigeria the fortitude to bear the loss

abdurraheemsaaddembo@gmail.com

By Bala Ibrahim.

The altercation between the minister of the Federal capital territory Abuja, Nigeria, Barrister Nyesom Wike and Naval officer, Lieutenant Yarima, has opened a new chapter in the place of principles, power and pride. Yes, each has a seat, and they need to sit where they should sit. When power, which by definition, stands for the ability or capacity to do something or act in a particular way, particularly the kind of power that is utilised with pride and arrogance, comes in collusion with a principled personality, the outcome would result in Sir Newton’s third law of motion, which states that, for every action, there would be an equal but opposite reaction.

In other words, when power is poorly paraded with pride, on a person that has principles, he would react proportionally, in a manner that would neutralize the paraded brigandage. And exactly that’s what happened in Abuja on Tuesday. As a result, everything in the chain and command machinery of Nigeria’s Security system, is now undergoing a reset, it seems. It is also the ambition of this article, to see a change in the political setting of the system.

I’ve seen video clips of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, making an unambiguous statement, to the effect that, the police must desist from engaging in unlawful activities, including escorting people to settle land-related maters or disputes. I don’t know what prompted those remarks, but when juxtaposed against the circumstances of the Wike/Yarima drama, the statement can only be called, apt. We all know that it is the duty of the police to police the society, for our collective comfort, and in the discharge of that responsibility, some people in power, are assigned police personnel, for protection and the smooth execution of their legal duties. But sometimes, inferiority complex comes to play amongst those to whom the police are attached.They use the police wrongly, thereby making them, knowingly or unknowingly, accomplices in the commission of such crimes.

Public servants are people employed by the government, either through election or appointment, to perform public duties, including political appointees, security agents and career civil servants. They are paid to work for the public and are responsible for serving the interests of the public, rather than humiliating or intimidating them. But when such people come to power with an exaggerated sense of purpose, they become arrogant or too proud, to the extent that they always look down on others. With time, a new sense of entitlement comes in, to make them develop the feeling of excessive self-importance or superiority over everyone.

If care is not taken, pursuant to this self developed sense of self worth, or abilities to do wonders, they can begin undermining the principal, in order for them to be on the throne, rather than serving the man on the throne. Yes, science has since established that, through justifiable research. Because of their feeling of excessive self pride, the word fool, will become a permanent resident in their mouth. At the slightest feeling of insecurity, they would call you a fool. When in actual sense, the reverse is the case. In his song, Foolish pride, Jimmy Cliff, the Jamaican reggae and soul musician, called them the selfish people with foolish pride:

Foolish pride will bring you helpless.
Foolish pride, will bring you emptiness.
Foolish pride, is only play and just,
Your small mind, you will find or you incline.
Foolish pride can bring you stormy day. Foolish pride, can eat our heart away. Foolish pride can lead your heart astray. suffer you, wake you up and make you cry. Selfishness, is what you′re thinking of. But it’s all foolishness, just to glorify, glorify, glorify self. Foolish, foolish, foolish, foolish, foolish pride.

It is however heartening, to hear and see the national unanimity in defence of the displayed behaviour of young naval officer Yarima, including the volume of gifts that are coming to him from good samaritans. I am particularly happy with the position of the military high command, which has also commended the officer for doing that which he was trained to do. The government is today facing multifaceted challenges, with poor public perception as the major one. The critics would always want to see a glass half full from the position of half empty.

As supporters of the government, our task is to help in correcting these misinterpretations, by highlighting the good sides of the efforts being done, and where necessary, calling on the government to make the kind of changes that will remove from the system, those people whose nuisance value, by far outweighs their political value. Because, it may be the case of a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Equally important, with respect to the displayed discipline by the young officer Yarima, is the need to rejig our conscience, in order to position properly, the place of power, principles and pride.