By Abdulrazak Usman Ph.D

The temptation to assume that a piece written by Abba Anwar, titled “Reassessment of DSP Barau’s Projects in Kano North: One Building, Three Names,” was motivated by patriotic zeal and a genuine desire to speak for his community is understandable. However, the events of October 18, 2026, provide a compelling reason to question that assumption.

Until recently, Anwar was among the ardent admirers of the Deputy President of the Senate, Distinguished Senator Jibrin Barau. He consistently praised the DSP’s political astuteness, resilience, and remarkable infrastructural interventions across his senatorial district.

In the July 3, 2025, edition of Daily Trust, Anwar published an article titled “How Barau, Doguwa Rose Amid Political Persecution,” in which he commended the DSP for surviving numerous political challenges and going on to achieve remarkable feats beyond those of many of his contemporaries.

A few months later, in another article published by Daily Trust on November 15, 2025, titled “The Debut of DSP Barau and Natural Occurrences,” Anwar again offered glowing commendation of the DSP’s leadership, drawing extensively from the findings of a research study conducted by experts.

Among the many observations he made was one that now raises a fundamental question: How does someone who so enthusiastically endorsed a political leader’s achievements suddenly turn around, within less than a year, to disparage the same individual?
Anwar wrote:

“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 he was a Member of the 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.”

For someone who, by conviction, went to such lengths to endorse the findings of experts and extol the virtues of a political leader, only to turn around months later to ridicule that same leader, something is clearly amiss.

And one does not have to look far to understand what may have changed.

* The October 18 Turning Point*

On October 18, 2026, Anwar published a rejoinder to a Weekend Trust report concerning a deep-pocketed member of the House of Representatives from Kano.

In the process of defending the lawmaker, he took the opportunity to disparage serving legislators from Kano State through innuendos that now appear to provide context for his latest attack on the Deputy President of the Senate.

In that rejoinder, published more than a week before his current article, Anwar offered a revealing glimpse into his emerging political alignments. He criticised certain legislators from Kano for allegedly failing to complete their projects, although he conspicuously refrained from mentioning their names.

He wrote:
“One encouraging aspect of the photographs (used by Weekend Trust) is that they show completed projects. This stands in contrast to the situation involving some prominent legislators who frequently boast about their projects but whose projects, unfortunately, remain incomplete or are executed to only a negligible extent.

“Even more troubling is the practice of presenting existing structures as newly executed projects, sometimes for the purpose of claiming credit for work that was already completed.”

These statements suggest that Anwar had already embarked on a campaign to undermine certain members of the National Assembly from Kano, a development that became more apparent with his subsequent attack on the Deputy President of the Senate.

While Senator Barau has weathered numerous political storms, as Anwar himself previously acknowledged, there is a compelling need to set the record straight. This is necessary to correct the distortions in the article and prevent unsuspecting members of the public from accepting claims that misrepresent the facts.

* ON THE KANO–GWARZO–DAYI ROAD*

It is important to clarify that the N56 billion earmarked for the Kano–Gwarzo–Dayi Road has been provided for in the budget, although the funds have yet to be released. This, rather than the malicious insinuations being peddled, remains one of the major impediments to the pace of work on the project.

It will be recalled that the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, recently met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to express concern over the slow pace of work and appeal for a change of contractor to ensure the timely completion of the project.

What a merchant such as Anwar know, but is unwilling to acknowledge because of their mercantile proclivities, is that projects of this magnitude require substantial funding and considerable time to complete.

The Abuja–Kaduna–Kano Road, for instance, has been under construction for about a decade, while several other projects across the country have remained incomplete since 1999 due to paucity of funds.

Despite these challenges, Senator Barau continues to work tirelessly to ensure that the Kano–Gwarzo–Dayi Road is completed as soon as possible.

Facilitating a major infrastructure project that benefits multiple communities is a significant achievement for any senator.

* ON THE IMMIGRATION TRAINING SCHOOL, BICHI, AND NSCDC TRAINING SCHOOL, GWARZO *

Even a cursory understanding of legislative functions reveals that facilitating the establishment of a federal institution is fundamentally different from executing its construction. Works at the schools are ongoing.

* ON THE FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, KABO*

During the last Senate, Senator Barau sponsored a bill to establish the Federal Polytechnic, Kabo. The bill was passed by the National Assembly and assented to by the then President. Two sets of graduates have since passed through the institution.

In the current Senate, he sponsored another bill to upgrade the Polytechnic to a full-fledged university. Following its passage by the National Assembly, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu graciously assented to the bill, paving the way for the establishment of the Federal University of Science and Technology, Kabo.

For the 2026/2027 academic session, the university has shortlisted students for admission, and the processes are still ongoing, contrary to the false claims being circulated by Anwar in what appears to be an attempt to appease his paymaster.

Since 1999, no other lawmaker in Kano State has facilitated the establishment of a federal university through the legislative process. This is a record that deserves recognition, not distortion.

* A WORD OF CAUTION TO ANWAR*

At this juncture, one is compelled to advise Anwar to desist from the path popularly described in Nigeria as the “anywhere belle face” syndrome.

With each passing day, his writings increasingly expose what appear to be serious deficiencies in intellectual rigour, credibility, and an unrestrained appetite for financial inducement.

This explains why his articles are often characterised by contradictions, ad hominem attacks, and disjointed conjectures rather than coherent arguments grounded in verifiable facts.

An example beyond the present controversy is his article titled “Kebbi: The Performing State Nobody Sees,” which attracted a response from Ibrahim A. Jombali, Special Adviser on Public Enlightenment and Orientation to the Governor of Kebbi State. Jombali’s rejoinder, titled “Kebbi Is Not Invisible: A Rejoinder to Abba Anwar’s Media Visibility Theorem,” pointed out the contradictions in Anwar’s argument.

One understands that the times are difficult. However, making a living by accepting assignments to malign individuals and political leaders is a despicable practice that undermines the integrity of public discourse.

Anwar would do well to reflect on this counsel and reconsider the path he has chosen. At the very least, he should endeavour to preserve whatever remains of his credibility.

Patriotism is not a convenient cloak for political opportunism, just as criticism should never be reduced to a transactional exercise.

The public deserves honest, consistent, and fact-based commentary—not a spectacle of political turncoatism masquerading as patriotism.

Abdulrazak Usman Ph.D, wrote from Kano.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Federal Government has approved a N70,000 monthly transport intervention for public service workers across all levels for six months, beginning in November 2026, to cushion the impact of rising living costs.

The approval was one of the resolutions reached at a conciliation meeting between the Federal Government and the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress in Abuja on Tuesday, following renewed pressure from organised labour over the cost of living, workers’ welfare and outstanding agreements.

The government also approved the payment of peculiar allowance arrears, effective from May 1, 2026, in three equal monthly instalments beginning in November.

However, the parties failed to agree on the effective date for implementing the national minimum wage, although they agreed that the Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee would be constituted and commence meetings immediately.

The resolutions were contained in a memorandum of understanding signed at the end of the meeting by the Director-General of Budget, Timi Yakubu; NLC President, Joe Ajaero; the Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Garba Abdul S.U.; and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi.

The document, titled ‘Resolutions Reached at a Conciliation Meeting Held at Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment Between the Federal Government and the Leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress on Tuesday, 27th October, 2026’, outlined agreements on minimum wage negotiations, transport support, outstanding allowances, health workers’ remuneration, tax relief and hazard allowances for agricultural officers.

The meeting followed an earlier conciliation session held on October 22, 2026, convened by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment to address disagreements between the government and organised labour.

On the transport intervention, the document stated, “That transport intervention of Seventy Thousand Naira (N70,000) commencing from November 2026 would be paid across all levels for a period of six months.”

The document did not specify the payment date within each month or provide details of the administrative arrangements for disbursement.

The agreement comes amid continuing concerns over transportation costs and the prices of other essential goods following the removal of the petrol subsidy in May 2023, which contributed to rising living costs across the country.

Organised labour has repeatedly demanded measures to ease the economic pressure on workers, including reductions in petrol prices, improved wages and the implementation of outstanding welfare agreements.

The memorandum also noted the NLC leadership’s concerns about the government’s handling of its demands.

Addressing the disagreement, it stated that the NLC leadership “expressed concern over the Federal Government’s attitude towards the above issues.”

It added that the Federal Government, in response, “stated that it fully respect the right of the Congress to advocate for improved working conditions for Nigerian workers, and is genuinely trying to address every aspect of it through a structured intervention.”

On the national minimum wage, the parties agreed that the Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee would be constituted and commence meetings immediately.

However, the effective date of implementation remained unresolved.

The document stated, “It was agreed that the Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee would be constituted and commence meeting immediately. It should however be noted that there is a disagreement on the effective date of implementation.”

The disagreement leaves a key issue outstanding despite the commitment to begin negotiations without delay.

The national minimum wage became a major issue in 2024 when the Federal Government and organised labour negotiated an increase in the statutory minimum monthly wage from N30,000 to N70,000. The new rate was subsequently enacted into law through the National Minimum Wage Act.

The Registered FC Bayern Munich Fans Club, Kano State, Nigeria, has congratulated the club’s striker, Harry Kane, on his reported victory in the 2026 Ballon d’Or award, describing the achievement as a moment of pride for Bayern Munich supporters in Kano State, Nigeria, and across the world.

In a statement issued by the Chairman of the FC Bayern Munich Fans Club, Kano State, Mujtaba Bature Marmara, the club extended its heartfelt congratulations to Harry Kane, the management of FC Bayern Munich, and the entire Bayern Munich supporters’ community worldwide.

The statement described Kane’s reported achievement as a testament to his exceptional performances, dedication, consistency, professionalism, and commitment to the game, noting that his contributions to the team have continued to demonstrate his importance to the club.

According to the Chairman, the recognition did not come as a surprise to the club’s supporters, considering Kane’s impressive performances, goal-scoring ability, and determination to achieve success since joining Bayern Munich.

“We are delighted to celebrate Harry Kane and this remarkable achievement. His dedication, consistency, and commitment to excellence have continued to inspire us as supporters of FC Bayern Munich.
“His recognition is a source of pride for our club and supporters. We believe that his achievements will further strengthen Bayern Munich’s rich footballing heritage and inspire other players to pursue excellence in their careers,” the statement quoted the Chairman as saying.

Marmara further noted that Kane’s contributions have added to the club’s rich history, pointing to the striker’s performances and record-breaking accomplishments since his arrival at the Allianz Arena.

He said the achievement further demonstrates the quality, ambition, and competitive spirit associated with FC Bayern Munich, one of the most prominent football clubs in Europe.

The Kano FC Bayern Munich Fans Club Chairman also congratulated the club’s management, technical crew, players, and supporters worldwide for their continued commitment to maintaining Bayern Munich’s reputation and competitiveness in domestic and international football.

He added that Kane’s success should be celebrated not only as an individual accomplishment but also as an inspiration to young footballers who aspire to reach the highest levels of the game.

As part of its efforts to celebrate the reported achievement, the FC Bayern Munich Fans Club, Kano State, disclosed plans to organise a befitting celebration in honour of Harry Kane.

The proposed event is expected to bring together members, supporters, and other football enthusiasts to celebrate the striker’s achievements and strengthen the spirit of unity among Bayern Munich fans in Kano State.

According to the statement, the planned celebration will also provide an opportunity for members to demonstrate their continued loyalty to the club and promote the values of sportsmanship, unity, and peaceful coexistence through football.

Marmara called on all FC Bayern Munich supporters in Kano State to remain united, active, and committed to the growth of the supporters’ community.

He also encouraged supporters who have yet to register with the Kano State chapter to do so, stressing that a strong and organised fan base would help promote the club’s identity, strengthen members’ relationships, and support the association’s future activities.

The Chairman reaffirmed the association’s commitment to expanding its membership, encouraging responsible fan engagement, and promoting FC Bayern Munich’s values among football lovers in Kano State and Nigeria at large.

He stressed optimism that the club would continue to achieve greater success and that its supporters would remain steadfast in their loyalty, regardless of the challenges and competitions ahead.

For membership registration and further enquiries, interested supporters are encouraged to contact the Chairman, Mujtaba Bature Marmara, through the
0803 630 6968

Signed
Mujtaba Bature Marmara Chairman, FC Bayern Munich Fans Club
Kano State, Nigeria.