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BUK, Ummah for Earth Launch Green Hajj and Umrah Guide in Hausa

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Participants at the launch

 

 

The Ummah for Earth Alliance, in partnership with the Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Bayero University Kano (BUK), has launched a Hausa-language version of the Green Guide for Hajj and Umrah to promote environmentally responsible pilgrimage among Nigerian Muslims.

Speaking at the launch held at the Center for Dryland Agriculture, Professor Aliyu Salisu Barau of BUK’s Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences welcomed guests and emphasized the urgency of ecological awareness during Hajj. “As Muslims, we must reflect on how to perform Hajj responsibly, especially considering recent climate challenges,” he said, citing the deaths of over 1,300 pilgrims in 2023 due to extreme heat and 51-degree temperatures recorded at Masjid al-Haram during the 2024 pilgrimage.

Prof. Barau also noted that over 300 million litres of treated sewage are flushed daily into the Red Sea, underlining the environmental pressure the holy cities face during pilgrimage seasons. “This guide has been introduced in other languages like Malay and Hindi, but Nigeria—being among the top contributors of pilgrims—deserves one in Hausa,” he added.

Rianne Ten Veen, a representative of Ummah for Earth, highlighted that the alliance comprises over 50 organizations worldwide, working toward environmentally conscious Islamic practices. “Nigeria is leading in this space, and we are advocating for policy changes through initiatives like the Islamic Finance for Earth campaign,” she said.

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Dr. Saidu Ahmad Dukawa, representing the International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT), expressed appreciation for the collaboration with BUK. “We’re proud to support this initiative that ties faith with environmental stewardship,” he said.

Book reviewer, Professor Murtala Uba, noted that Hausa is the tenth most spoken language globally and the most spoken in West Africa. “This 46-page guide shows how environmental values are embedded in Hajj rituals,” he said. He praised the simple, clear language and symbolic green and white cover but pointed out some errors. “For example, on page six, ‘ku guji’ was incorrectly written as ‘kugudi,’ and some Qur’anic verses like Wala tubazzir tabzeera were not fully contextualized to reflect broader meanings.”

Sheikh Ibrahim Khalil, Chairman of the Kano Council of Ulama, stressed that protecting the environment is integral to Islamic conduct. “The Prophet said if the Day of Judgment comes while you’re planting a date, continue planting it,” he noted, adding that managing waste and limiting air pollution are critical during Hajj. “This is why building in Mina is discouraged to allow air circulation,” he explained.

He also emphasized the role of human behavior in environmental degradation. “If you want to clean the environment, you must first purify human conduct,” he said, citing Islamic teachings on health, hygiene, and moderation during Hajj.

Professor Amina Mustapha, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation at BUK, closed the event by stating that universities must be at the forefront of knowledge dissemination. “Translating this guide into Hausa is critical, given the number of Hausa speakers who travel for Hajj annually,” she said.

NIGERIAN TRACKER reports that the guide encourages eco-conscious behaviors such as avoiding excessive water use during ablution, not littering, minimizing carbon footprints, and respecting animal and plant life—all rooted in Islamic teachings.

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ADC Crisis Deepens as Party Loyalists Reject Claims of Candidate Imposition in Kano

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Comrade Adnan Tudunwada

 

Fresh controversy has emerged within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kano State following allegations by some party stakeholders that the leadership imposed a governorship candidate ahead of the next election cycle.

Reacting to the allegations in a statement, Adnan Mukhtar Tudun Wada said reports from a recent press conference by some individuals claiming to be ADC stakeholders were misleading and did not reflect the position of the party leadership.

According to Tudun Wada, the individual who presented himself as the chairman of the party in Kano was no longer recognized in that capacity following a judgment of the Federal High Court. He stated that the party would constitute a caretaker committee after concluding ongoing efforts to address issues relating to aspirants seeking various political offices across the country.

Tudun Wada further dismissed claims made by a self-acclaimed chairman of an elders committee, insisting that the ADC never endorsed or appointed anyone to such a position. He alleged that the actions of the individual were driven by personal interests and a quest for political relevance.

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The party loyalist argued that those making the claims were attempting to create confusion within the party at a critical period when consultations and consensus-building efforts were ongoing. He maintained that such actions could undermine the party’s internal processes and unity.

Providing details of recent consultations, Tudun Wada said the party organized a consensus meeting involving two leading governorship aspirants, Alhaji Ibrahim Ali Amin Little and Ibrahim Khalil. According to him, both aspirants agreed to work together and accept whichever decision the party eventually reaches regarding its governorship flag bearer in Kano State.

He explained that while party members were awaiting the final report of the consensus committee, they were surprised to learn of a press conference where a particular aspirant was allegedly endorsed and claims were made that an election had already taken place.

Questioning the credibility of such claims, Tudun Wada asked why Ibrahim Khalil would have signed a consensus agreement in Abuja if he genuinely believed that a valid election had already been conducted to determine the party’s governorship candidate.

Tudun Wada emphasized that he and other supporters remained loyal members of the ADC and would not engage in any activity capable of undermining the integrity of the consensus committee or the party’s democratic processes. He noted that they would continue to await the final decision of the national leadership.

Expressing confidence in one of the aspirants, Tudun Wada said Ibrahim Ali Amin Little remained committed to the growth and development of the ADC. He added that party supporters were optimistic that Amin Little would eventually emerge as the party’s governorship candidate.

According to Tudun Wada, supporters of Amin Little are prepared to mobilize across Kano State to celebrate his emergence should the party leadership eventually choose him as its standard-bearer for the governorship election.

 

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UK Prime Minister Officially Resigns

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his resignation on Monday after less than two years in office, in a term characterised by policy U-turns and deep public unpopularity.

“Every decision I have taken has been about putting the country I love first. That is why I will resign as leader of the Labour Party,” Starmer said as he choked up in an emotional speech outside 10 Downing Street.

Starmer said the process of picking a new leader for the centre-left party would be launched in July, and he would remain as prime minister until his successor is chosen, to be in place before parliament returns from the summer recess in September.

Starmer’s main rival, veteran politician Andy Burnham, is due to be sworn in as a member of parliament on Monday after winning a crucial special election on Thursday, allowing him to return to parliament and clearing his path to run for party leader.

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“I will remain in post as prime minister until the contest is complete, and I will do everything I can to ensure an orderly handover of power,” Starmer added.

Until the weekend, Starmer had insisted he was going to fight on and remain as prime minister as he fought off challenges and calls to step down.

He has clung to that position for months after multiple scandals and high-profile resignations that piled the pressure on him and his Labour Party.

But Britain is now set to get its seventh prime minister in a decade.

Starmer’s widely anticipated announcement comes a day before the 10-year anniversary of the Brexit referendum, which triggered the UK’s exit from the European Union and an unprecedented churn of prime ministers.

Starmer has been credited with reshaping Labour into an election-winning party, which clinched a decisive victory in 2024, ending 14 years of Conservative rule.

But his term was derailed by missteps ranging from benefit cuts to criticism over defence spending plans.

He was nearly ousted in March over his ill-fated decision to appoint Peter Mandelson, a known associate of the late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as the UK’s ambassador to Washington.

He has also struggled to fight off the rapid rise of the far-right, anti-immigration Reform UK party — which defeated Labour in local elections in May, further weakening Starmer’s position.

“I will also give my successor my full and unequivocal support, knowing that they will inherit a Britain that is far stronger and fairer than the one I inherited two years ago,” Starmer said in his resignation speech.

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2027: PRP Raises Alarm Over Alleged Hijack of Party Nomination Forms by Kwankwaso

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The Chairman of the PRP Northwest Stakeholders Forum, Abdulkadir Musa Guza, has accused Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of attempting to take control of the nomination tickets of several political parties ahead of 2027 general elections.

Speaking at a press conference in Kano, Guza alleged that nomination forms for all 69 elective positions under the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) had been purchased by an individual who is not a member of the party.

He claimed that similar actions had also been carried out in more than seven other political parties, describing the development as a threat to democratic practice and internal party democracy.

Guza said the forum was particularly concerned by reports linking Kwankwaso to the exercise, questioning why the former Kano State governor would seek to have the nomination tickets of several political parties under his influence.

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According to him, such actions amount to political deception and could deny genuine party members the opportunity to contest elections on their preferred platforms.

The PRP chieftain described the development as “political robbery” capable of creating confusion, disputes and disorder in the electoral process if left unchecked.

He maintained that the PRP is a party founded on principles and democratic values and would not tolerate any attempt to hijack its internal processes

Guza said the party has many loyal members interested in contesting various elective positions and insisted that their rights must be protected.

He appealed to Kwankwaso to allow political parties to operate independently and democratically, adding that the PRP should be spared from what he described as interference in its affairs.

The chairman warned that the forum would have no option but to seek legal redress should the alleged actions continue.

 

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