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We won’t succumb to blackmail from our students, says NIPSS

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7 months ago

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The National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) has reiterated its commitment to grooming credible leaders for national development, declaring that it will not succumb to what it described as blackmail by students unwilling to abide by the Institute’s rules.

In a statement on Sunday, Head of Public Affairs at the Institute, Prof. Sola Adeyanju, reacted to a media report linked to a student identified simply as Yeshua, describing it as an attempt to discredit the institution.

Adeyanju noted that a petition allegedly sent to the President but instead published in the media contained claims of intimidation, which he dismissed as baseless. He maintained that NIPSS remains focused on its core mandate of training top decision-makers and policy-makers across the public and private sectors.

As Nigeria’s foremost policy think tank, NIPSS is mandated to build leaders who are effective, ethical, and capable of making sound decisions in their organisations and for the country,” he stated.

As Nigeria’s foremost policy think tank, NIPSS is mandated to build leaders who are effective, ethical, and capable of making sound decisions in their organisations and for the country,” he stated.

He said, “In doing this, it has set some parameters along the lines of discipline, time management, emotional intelligence, respect for rules and regulations, respect for other people’s rights, and many more. Those who have passed through the National Institute trainings, particularly the Senior Executive Course, leading to the award of the Member of the National Institute (mni), will attest to this.

The performance of the products of the National Institute has been acknowledged in Nigeria and around the world; that is in addition to its cutting-edge, top-notch research results for national development. It has not, at any time, been found wanting in the discharge of all its mandates and obligations.

This is the 47th Course and the graduates with mni are always proud and happy to raise their shoulders high wherever they find themselves for the level of moulding they have received from the National Institute.

Coming to the specific issue of Mal Yushau, it is a case of someone who would not allow himself to be subjected to constituted authorities in the Institute. One of the cardinal rules of the National Institute is to keep whatever is discussed within, particularly during plenary, confidential.

This is a rule that all participants have signed to uphold. It is modelled along the Chatham House Rule. The essence is to give all our resource persons the freedom of intellectual and academic independence to speak their minds. Whatever will be published should be after the course is concluded. In fact, some process their Individual Research Projects into books, with approval from the Management.

However, Mr Yushau, being a PR and media person, violated this rule by publishing what transpired in the Institute. He got it wrong by insinuating that he meant well. The truth is, the content is immaterial; the act of publishing when you are not supposed to is what matters.

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Mr Yushau knows very well that he signed the document where he promised to abide by this rule. Upon violation, he was queried and he responded by apologising. Thereafter, he was warned that it should never happen again.

However, it did not take Mr Yushau long before re-violating the same rule he was warned about. He published another story on the theme of the study given to the Senior Executive Participants of SEC 47, 2025, and NIPSS, which he belonged to, using his byline.

The study is still ongoing and should not, by any imagination, be published, in part or full, until the Course is over. This is in flagrant violation of the rules for which he was appropriately queried for the second time.

‘However, instead of replying to the query accordingly, Mr Yushau threw caution to the wind and decided to lecture and threaten the National Institute on the inappropriateness of issuing him a query. This he did in bad faith. Let us reiterate that the cheap blackmail of saying the content was to support Mr President on his agenda cannot hold.

We are all working towards the success of Mr President, as exemplified in the many detailed research and other activities of the Institute being submitted to Mr President from time to time.

Nevertheless, being an orderly and law-abiding Institution, with a reputation built over the years with a clear and known ethos and standards, Mr Yushau was given a suspension for six weeks, after receiving the second query for the same offence. He was still serving the suspension when he sent a letter of complaint to the media, insinuating bullying.

We need to stress here that all we asked Mr Yushau to do is obey laid down rules and regulations, and this is not tantamount to bullying in whatever way. The newspaper did a story on this, and the Director General gave a detailed response.

“As if that was not enough, his case is still being considered, as he has been invited by the Disciplinary Committee set up by the Management to look into his case and give him a fair hearing when he decided to publish (again) a petition meant for Mr President in the media. One would have thought that a petition meant for Mr President would be submitted in his office.

We are aware that he has been going from one media house to another in order to blackmail the National Institute. This is counterproductive, as the National Institute will not subject itself to blackmail by a candidate who refuses to obey simple rules and regulations.

“The National Institute, in line with the dreams of its founding fathers, many of whom are still alive, will not reduce the standard of producing decent, courteous, sound and effective leaders for the country. Let us say here that Mr Yushau is using his affiliation with the media for a negative cause.

Contrary to his claims, he is actually trying to denigrate the very National think tank, which is the pride of Nigeria, for his selfish end. That Mr Yushau’s nomination came from the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR (an organisation we are all proud of) speaks volumes.

He has not demonstrated the very tenet of public relations, as he has not only let himself down professionally, but he has let his nominating agency down. We are looking for leaders with emotional intelligence, not those who will betray his or her temperament when faced with the issue of discipline.

Without prejudice to the outcome of his letter to Mr President, let it be on record that the NIPR has also set up a panel of inquiry to look into his case. The questions Mr Yushau should ask himself are: how many participants are in his Course, and how many of them have been queried twice within two months? For the benefit of doubt, there are 96 of them, and he is the only one who has gotten two queries.

We leave this to the general public to judge. In conclusion, the Disciplinary Committee set up to look into his case has submitted its report to Management, and the six-week suspension has not lapsed, so we await the verdict of Management on his case. Until then, we want to thank all our media organisations for holding on to the truth.”

Nation

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NNPP Crisis:High Court Affirms Abiya as Acting Kano Chairman

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2 hours ago

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January 2, 2026

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As Court Fixes January 19 for Hearing of Case Filed by Dawakin Tofa Exco Against Former Chairman

The Kano State High Court has affirmed Hon. Abdullahi Zubairu Abiya as the Acting State Chairman of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in Kano State.

In the ruling, the court also upheld the suspension of the former State Chairman, Hashimu Dungurawa, and restrained him from interfering in the affairs of the party pending the determination of the substantive suit.

The interim order followed a motion ex-parte dated December 30, 2025, filed by members of the NNPP from Gargari Ward, Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area, seeking the court’s intervention over the leadership crisis in the party.

Justice Zuwaira Yusuf of High Court No. 13, Miller Road, Kano, delivered the ruling in an interim order.

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The applicants urged the court to uphold the disciplinary process that led to the suspension of Dungurawa by his ward executive over allegations of denigrating the office and person of Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, creating division within the party, and failure to pay party dues.

The court further fixed January 19 for the hearing of the substantive case filed by the Dawakin Tofa Local Government Executive Committee of the NNPP against the former chairman.

In the suit marked KN/1218/2026, the court restrained Dungurawa from parading himself as the NNPP State Chairman or interfering with party affairs pending the hearing and determination of the substantive motion.

The suit was instituted by Abdullahi Ali Uban Iya, Shuaibu Hassan, and Auwal Sani Abubakar.

Justice Yusuf also ordered that the suspension of the former chairman effected on December 30, 2025, be maintained, while directing that all court processes be duly served on the respondents.

The court further ordered parties to maintain the status quo ante as it existed after December 30, 2025, pending the determination of the case.

The court’s decision effectively maintains the status quo within the party leadership in Kano State until the determination of the case.

Meanwhile, the NNPP State Executive Committee has endorsed the emergence of Hon. Abdullahi Zubairu Abiya as Acting State Chairman following the suspension of Hashimu Dungurawa.

The endorsement was made during an emergency meeting of the party’s state executive held at the NNPP secretariat in Kano.

The decision was announced by the party’s Assistant Legal Adviser, Barrister Yusuf Mukhtar, who said Abiya’s emergence was in line with the provisions of the NNPP Constitution with the State Hight has affirmed today by the experte order.

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Call for Governor Yusuf to Join APC, a Welcome Development – Inuwa Waya

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2 hours ago

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January 2, 2026

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain and elder statesman, Mallam Inuwa Waya, has said that His Excellency, Governor Abba Kabir Yusif is an Excellent performer who received awards for good governance in improving education, agriculture, press freedom, accountability, infrastructure and urban beautification. He is therefore an asset to any political party.

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Mallam Inuwa Waya stated that the call for the governor to join the APC is a welcome development that would usher in a new era of reforms devoid of political chicanery, which is necessary for the survival of the APC in Kano State.

The elder statesman further stated that Governor Abba Kabir Yusif will bring his unique style of political sagacity necessary for internal democracy and cooperation among leaders and followers.

 

Inuwa Waya urged APC stakeholders to put aside personal ambition and support His Excellency Engineer Abba Kabir Yusif. As the Governor of Kano State, he is the undisputed leader of the party. Everyone must show loyalty and willingness to work with him for the greater good of the greatest number.

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Zaura Empowers 5,000 PWDs Across Kano”

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7 hours ago

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January 2, 2026

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Over 5,000 persons living with disabilities (PWDs) from all 44 local government areas of Kano State have received support through a wide-reaching empowerment program spearheaded by Abdussalam Abubakar Zaura known as A.A. Zaura.

The beneficiaries converged in Kano metropolis, where the empowerment forms were officially distributed.

Speaking at the event on behalf of AA Zaura, Alhaji Ado Abdullahi Zaura said the initiative was designed to discourage street begging and promote self-reliance among PWDs across the state.

He added that program was designed to enhance economic inclusion and improve the quality of life for marginalized communities across the state

He noted that the gesture was part of a broader commitment to support vulnerable groups and integrate them into productive economic activities.

Alhaji Ado, a former Deputy Chairman of Ungoggo Local Government Area, emphasized that years of neglect and lack of adequate support from both government and well-meaning individuals had pushed many PWDs into street begging.

He stressed that the empowerment programme aims to reverse that trend by providing sustainable means of livelihood.
According to him, AA Zaura resolved to come to the aid of PWDs by offering various empowerment opportunities, including start up capital for small-scale businesses, sewing machines, scholarships, and other forms of assistance tailored to individual needs and interests, including education.

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He further disclosed the introduction of a new initiative tagged “AA Zaura Aqidah Programme,” under which 27 participants will be selected from each ward across the state to benefit from further empowerment, with special focus on youths.

Also speaking at the event, Garba Nuhu Darki, former member of the Kano State House of Assembly representing Wudil Constituency and Director-General, Political Contact and Mobilization of the AA Zaura Movement, described the large turnout of PWDs as a clear indication of AA Zaura’s vision and leadership direction.

“To me, the gathering I witnessed today reflects the direction of AA Zaura’s ambition, especially considering that this empowerment programme is exclusively for persons living with disabilities,” he said.

He urged beneficiaries to make judicious use of the support provided and to continue supporting the movement in order to achieve its broader political aspirations.

Earlier, Chief Protocol of the movement, Abubakar Yawale (popularly known as Baba Yawale), said PWDs occupy a special place in the heart of AA Zaura, adding that for over 20 years, AA Zaura has consistently supported persons with disabilities to enhance their wellbeing and productivity in society.

In his remarks, Isa PA assured the beneficiaries that more empowerment programmes were underway.

He revealed plans to procure hearing aids for persons with hearing impairments, walking sticks for the visually impaired, and electric wheelchairs for physically challenged persons. He, however, encouraged beneficiaries to ensure they obtained their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

In her remarks, Hajiya Maimuna Shitu, popularly known as Uwar Marayu, commended A.A. Zaura for his initiatives aimed at enhancing the lives of persons with disabilities and, by extension, orphans.

She urged the beneficiaries to rally behind Zaura’s vision of advancing the socio-economic welfare of the populace.

Hajiya Maimuna noted that all his efforts in capacity building and economic empowerment have been carried out independently, without external assistance.

She highlighted that Zaura has been funding these initiatives from his personal resources, acting in his capacity as a businessman rather than a government official.

Some of the beneficiaries expressed their happiness for the gesture and affirmed their loyalty to AA Zaura.

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