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News Analysis: Emergency Rule on Return to Democracy

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By Abbas Yushau Yusuf

When Nigeria returned to democracy on May 29, 1999, General Olusegun Obasanjo was the first beneficiary of the country’s return to civilian rule. A four-star general who had handed over power to President Shehu Shagari on October 1, 1979, twenty years later, destiny beckoned on Obasanjo, and he took charge again as Nigeria’s President.

But before General Obasanjo’s return in 1999, Nigeria, especially the northern part of the country, experienced serious religious upheavals and uprisings, starting from the Maitatsine riots of 1980 in Kano and the Zangon Kataf religious crisis of 1987 in Kaduna State, in which former Governor of Rivers State, General Zamani Lekwot, was the mastermind.

Then another religious crisis engulfed the city of Kano over the visit of a Christian monk in 1991, Reverend Rent Harnboky. The people of Kano resisted the visit because earlier, a renowned Islamic scholar of comparative religion, Sheikh Ahmad Deedat, intended to visit the state. He was denied, and when that of Rent Harnboky was approved, it turned into serious attacks on non-Muslims in the state.

It took the military Governor of Kano state retired Major General Idris Garba to deploy soldiers in Mosques and churches across the city.

Another deadly religious riot that shook northern Nigeria again was the 2000 religious Shariah crisis in Kaduna when former Governor Ahmad Makarfi intended to introduce Shariah in the state. An unaccounted number of people were killed during the Obasanjo regime. Another killing took place in Lagos by the Odua People’s Congress during the time of Governor Bola Ahmad Tinubu, now President Tinubu, in the year 2000.

In 2001, the once peaceful northern city of Jos, Plateau State, was rocked with a serious crisis of unprecedented proportion in which many Muslims and Christians were killed.

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During the second term of President Olusegun Obasanjo, a local government in the depths of Plateau State, Yelwa Shendam, was thrown into religious conflict during the time of Governor Joshua Chibi Dariye, where Muslims were killed in unprecedented proportions.

On May 11,2004 , the Yelwa Shendam crisis spilled over to Kano, where reprisal attacks took center stage, in which many Christians were killed.

On Tuesday, May 18, 2004, President Olusegun Obasanjo addressed the nation, in which he declared a state of emergency in Plateau State and removed democratic structures in the state.

President Obasanjo accused Governor Joshua Chibi Dariye of aiding the Plateau crisis. He appointed General Chris Alli as the administrator of the state for six months, where it ended on November 18, 2004.

Analysts say the removal of Governor Dariye by President Obasanjo was because the crises were threatening the whole country, hence his decision to take decisive action.

In his address, Chief Obasanjo said the crisis had already reverberated to Kano and was now threatening the FCT and some parts of Katsina State. While his state was boiling, Governor Joshua Dariye was somewhere in Abuja attending the National Sports Festival.

Another political crisis in 2006 engulfed Ekiti State, where President Obasanjo suspended democratic structures, including Governor Ayodele Fayose, and appointed an administrator.

Obasanjo’s state of emergency differs from that of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, who declared a state of emergency in three northeastern states of Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe in 2013 as a result of the Boko Haram crisis that turned the states into a killing field.

Governors Murtala Nyako, Kashim Shettima (now Vice President), and Governor Ibrahim Gaidam were not affected, as President Jonathan did not suspend the democratic structures, only massively deployed the military.

Jonathan’s approach, analysts say, is more in tandem with Nigeria’s constitution than Obasanjo’s. Now, President Tinubu’s declaration in Rivers State, where Governor Fubara and the state assembly were suspended on March 18, 2025, through a presidential broadcast, has sparked debate.

Some lawyers flayed President Tinubu’s declaration as autocratic and partisan because the Minister of the FCT is being accused of fueling the Rivers crisis due to the lack of influence he has over his successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Many international human rights associations did not back President Tinubu’s declaration in Rivers State because they see it as more political than aimed at returning peace to the oil-rich state.

Of the four Presidents Nigeria has had from 1999 to date, only the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and President Muhammadu Buhari did not declare a state of emergency in crisis states like Zamfara, Borno, and Yobe during the term of President Muhammadu Buhari from 2015 to 2023, when banditry took a serious toll on the lives of many.

 

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Tinubu Swears in Disu as Substantive IGP

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

President Bola Tinubu has sworn in Olatunji Disu as the substantive Inspector-General of Police at a ceremony held at the Council Chambers, State House, Abuja.

Disu took the oath of office at 2:53 pm, following the reading of his citation by the State House Director of Information and Public Relations, Mr Abiodun Oladunjoye.

The ceremony was witnessed by Vice President Kashim Shettima, cabinet members, and other dignitaries.

President Tinubu arrived at the Council Chambers at 2:48 pm, after which the National Anthem was rendered, followed by the presentation of citations for the appointees.

Immediately after Disu’s swearing-in, the President also swore in newly appointed commissioners of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission and the Federal Civil Service Commission.

The ceremony preceded the commencement of the Federal Executive Council meeting, which began at 03:01 pm.

The FCSC officials include Prof. Ngbea Gabriel (Benue) and Omoregie Idahagbon (Edo).

RMAFC commissioners were Abubakar Wamakko (Sokoto), Sen. Marafa Abba (Taraba), Ahmed Waziri (Adamawa), Hadizatu Mustapha (Borno), Helen Bob (Bayelsa) and Oladele Gboyega (Osun).

Disu’s confirmation as substantive IGP follows the unanimous endorsement of his appointment by the Nigeria Police Council on Monday.Overseas education consulting

The swearing-in ceremony took place at the Council Chambers, State House, Abuja, at 2:00 pm shortly before the Federal Executive Council meeting, the first for the year

Disu took the oath of office before Vice President Kashim Shettima, Ministers, Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Tunji Olaopa, family members and other guests.

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Also in attendance were the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila; Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam; FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike; and Head of Service, Mrs Esther Walson-Jack.

According to the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu spoke glowingly about Disu during Monday’s Police Council meeting, commending him for his exemplary services, particularly during his tenure as Commander of the Rapid Response Squad in Lagos between 2015 and 2021, where he earned recognition for excellence in crime control.

Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule also commended the President’s choice, noting that Disu’s appointment was based on his excellent career record.

FCT Minister and former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike lauded Disu’s professionalism, recalling his service in Rivers State as Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department and anti-kidnapping unit between 2014 and 2015.

Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah seconded the motion endorsing the appointment during Monday’s Council meeting.

Disu’s confirmation comes barely a week after President Tinubu appointed him acting IGP following the resignation of Kayode Egbetokun on February 23, 2026.

Although Egbetokun officially cited “family issues” in his resignation letter, The Summitpost reported that the former police chief was summoned to the Presidential Villa and asked to step down over his resistance to the President’s directive to withdraw police officers from VIP protection duties, his opposition to state policing, and alleged vindictive conduct toward colleagues.

Disu, 59, was born on April 13, 1966, in Lagos State and joined the Nigeria Police Force on May 18, 1992, as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police.

He holds multiple qualifications in public administration, forensic investigation, criminology, security, legal psychology, and entrepreneurship.

Before his appointment, Disu served as Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Special Protection Unit and the Force CID Annex in Lagos.

Like his predecessor, Disu served under President Tinubu during his tenure as Lagos State Governor from 1999 to 2007. While Egbetokun was the Chief Security Officer, Disu served as Aide-de-Camp.

During his decoration as acting IGP last week, President Tinubu charged him to “make the police better than you met it,” emphasising the need to strengthen discipline, enhance inter-agency collaboration, and restore public confidence in the Nigeria Police Force.Overseas education consulting

In his response, Disu pledged to end the era of impunity within the Force and enforce zero tolerance for corruption and human rights abuses.

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Nigeria’s Education Minister Tunji Alausa Weighs Resignation to Run for Lagos Governor

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, is reportedly weighing resignation from the Federal Executive Council as he considers a bid for the governorship of Lagos State, according to sources familiar with internal discussions.

Several unconfirmed reports have it that Dr Alausa has been consulting political allies and key stakeholders over the possibility of entering the race ahead of the next electoral cycle.

While there has been no formal announcement from the minister or the presidency, the development has stirred conversations within political circles in Abuja and Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital.

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If confirmed, the move would signal a significant political transition for Alausa, who has overseen policy initiatives within the education sector, including reforms aimed at strengthening tertiary institutions and improving regulatory oversight.

Political analysts say a resignation to pursue elective office would be consistent with Nigeria’s electoral laws and long-standing practice, which often require public office holders to step down before participating fully in partisan primaries.

Lagos State remains one of Nigeria’s most strategically important political battlegrounds, given its economic weight and symbolic influence in national politics. The governorship contest is expected to draw high-profile contenders across party lines.

Neither the Federal Ministry of Education nor the Presidency has issued an official statement at the time of publication.

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Umar Haruna Emerges as New Kano APC Chairman, Pledges Unity and 2027 Victory

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Umar Haruna Doguwa, former Commissioner for Water Resources, has emerged as the state Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano.

Doguwa, who resigned from the cabinet of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf on Monday to contest the plum seat of the ruling party, emerged unopposed to take over from Abdullahi Abbas, a close associate of former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

Doguwa, who handed over the party leadership to Abbas after he led the party for four years under the second tenure of Senate Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, returned to the party leadership 10 years after.

Doguwa emerged alongside 23 state executives through the stakeholders’ consensus and was subsequently admitted by the affirmation of 2,420 delegates at the Congress held at the Indoor Sports Hall, Sanu Abacha Stadium, Kofar-Mata, Kano.

Other state party executives include Salisu Ahmad, Vice Chairman; Professor Mohammad Yusuf, State Secretary; and Professor Nura Yaro Dawakin-Tofa, Assistant Secretary.

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Also elected are legal adviser Abdul Adamu Fagge SAN; Kabiru Sule Rogo, Treasurer; Umar Yusuf, Assistant Treasurer; Mauruf Abdullahi Garo, Financial Secretary; Dr. Kabiru Husaini Zawachiki, Organising Secretary; and Hauwalu Abdullahi, Publicity Secretary.

Declaring the new state executive winner, Mr. Lateef Daban, team lead of the National Congress delegation at APC headquarters, affirmed the option of affirmation that produced the new leadership while applauding the party’s stakeholders for working in the spirit of unity.

The outgoing Chairman Abbas expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve the party for 10 years and sought forgiveness from stakeholders for any mistakes he may have made while executing the mandate of his office.

Abbas, reminded that the party will remain more united and stronger, delivering Bola Tinubu as President and Abba Kabir Yusuf as Governor of Kano State in 2027.

“Everything that has a beginning definitely has an end. The time has come for me to step aside for new leadership of the party after serving for 10 years. It is indeed a privilege, and I really appreciate members’ support and the opportunity to serve.

“Let me use this medium to seek forgiveness from whoever I have offended during the course of our duty, and I thank all those who supported us throughout our tenure. I want to specially appreciate Dr Abdullahi Ganduje and party members for their support. I call for support for those coming to the leadership, the way you have supported me.” Abbas said.

In his acceptance remarks, the new Chairman, Doguwa, pledged to build a stronger and more united party structure to deliver an overwhelming victory for President Tinubu and Governor Yusuf in the 2027 election.

The Congress was attended by Governor Yusuf, Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, Speaker, Kano State House of Assembly, Ismaila Falgore; member representing Bichi Federal Constituency, Abba Bichi, and special stakeholders.

The conduct was carried out in the presence of officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), led by the state resident electoral commissioner, Amb. Abdu Zango.

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