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Buhari:The Basis For The Blitz Against The Baseless Bashing

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By Bala Ibrahim.

“Ya shugaba na, the defence for the Buhari Administration is too much. Universities remain closed, security issue, virtually every aspect of life has collapsed”.

The cliché above was sent to me by a very close friend, who, from our ‘aluta’ and students unionism days in the University, has unilaterally allocated to me the title of, “Ya shugaba na”, which in hausa means, oh my leader!

The friend in question is a patriot par excellence, who frowns at treachery or anything in the realms of betrayal of trust, and one that vigorously supports his country, and is prepared to defend it against any enemy or detractor. Yet, perhaps out of the feeling for the less privileged, my blue blooded friend thinks, the time has arrived for me to put a halt on the Buhari publicity blitz.

I don’t want to disagree with my cherished friend, because I know the magnitude of the negative narrative making the rounds about Buhari’s performance, and how that is having an impact on the public perception of his leadership in Nigeria. However, I wish to assure my humble friend that, the Presidency is not unaware of such slush.

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Some years back, at a public lecture, titled, “The Unravelling of Boko Haram and the Rebuilding of the North-East of Nigeria’’, at the Harvard University’s Weather head Centre for International Affairs, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, made attempt to assuage that feeling, when he said, PMB is determined to change the narrative and perception of leadership in Nigeria and Africa, because of his widely acclaimed uprightness and honesty.

On my side also, I have long developed a thick skin over the attack of being a paid agent of the Buhari administration. And I wouldn’t have bothered responding, had it not been for the fact that the comment came from a dear friend, who must have written with an honourable intention.

Yes, much as I cannot convince all the critics all the time, and at the risk of doing what I was advised to slow down upon, I want to reassure my friend and the other reasonably minded, about the merit of good intentions, and how nature has vested such virtue in President Muhammadu Buhari.

In doing that, I would publish a material copied from the Defence News Nigeria, which has this to say about the Paradox of our country Nigeria, and the way some of us think:

“We have a lot of political zealots on this page. You see them in the comment section turning every tweet and every conversation into some opportunity to slam the government. I could be making a tweet about a recent successful airstrike, and you will get them leaving comments about how the NAF bombed civilians the other day.

There used to be a time when most of us, no matter where you stand politically, you kind of want the best for the country. Today, wanting the best for the country makes you a paid propagandist.

What’s worse, they choose to display this madness by latching on any positive news about the country, forgetting we are shooting ourselves in the foot.

Over $70 billion of investment came to Africa in the last ten years. Of that figure, only $4 billion came to Nigeria. Why? The venture capital investment industry is driven by just two emotions- fear and political instability.

Over 80% of Nigeria’s industrial capacity is located in the South, the region protected from the decade long insurgency that has ravaged the north.

Industrial capacity has quadrupled in recent years. New industries have sprung up. Lagos is now the Tech start-up hub of Africa. Naturally, investors, multinational corporations are eager to tap into this dynamic market. And just about when they announce their intentions, the self proclaimed activists and their army of saboteurs swing into action, describing how evil and dictatorial the government is, manufacturing social unrest when there is non, scaring away investors into moving to safer climes, to places like Ghana and losing thousands of potential jobs.

This is the Great Paradox of Nigeria.

People want development and FDI. And when seeds of developments are sewn, the same people see it as something that will rob favourably on the government, and would rather self sabotage, than allow anything punch a hole on their narrative.

Nigeria borrowed a ton of money revamping the nations railway infrastructure. Terrorists, who cannot stand development attack these infrastructure and people rally behind the terrorists in celebration, because it’s an opportunity to show how incompetent the government is. And when the FDI needed for development is diverted to other countries, we cite it as an example of a failed government, and the vicious circle self perpetuates.

China, South Korea, Japan, Dubai developed because of Foreign Direct Investment. No government can develop a nation.

Do you think Twitter was happy basing its regional HQ in Ghana with its puny 8 million Twitter users over Nigeria with over 48 million Twitter users?

It’s tragic.

Lagos is as safe as Accra, their investment portfolio is probably even safer, but we scared them away thinking we are hurting the Buhari government.

In the West, there is a vast academic literature, known as behavioural finance, which is devoted to the topic of understanding market psychology. Their heart may be in Nigeria but they apply common sense, not emotions to decision making.

They know letting emotions govern investment behaviour often leads to irrational decision making that can cost you dearly. So they opt to play it safe and seek safer grounds.

Who lost?

Two groups lost: TWITTER and NIGERIANS.

Nigerians accuse the government of stifling free speech, TWITTER responds by attempting to censor the government’s Tweet.

The FG bans Twitter.

By now Twitter has ditched its plans to setup its Africa HQ in Lagos and moved to Ghana.

Twitter misses out on one of the world’s most dynamic market over “perceived social instability”

The thousands of jobs that could have been created for Nigerians, with its attendant trickle down economic impact is forever lost.

Who losses?

The government in Abuja?

Now here we are again.

The current geopolitical situation in Europe has made it necessary for Europe to strengthen its relations with Nigeria, especially in the supply of gas. Nigeria has suddenly become a crucial partner of the EU at a time when Europe is trying to rid itself off its dependence of Russian oil and gas. Heck a delegation from the EU visited Nigeria just last month and secured Nigeria’s commitment to step up its production.

This is the time that self proclaimed activists like and have chosen to write crazy Op-eds, claiming Nigeria is run by a mafia regime and does not have the capacity to step up production, and we have Nigerians backing them up.

How stupid can we be?

We have a rich EU ready to pump billions into Nigeria’s energy sector to help boost gas production and the self saboteur brigade, together with the brown envelop copy and paste media, are already out in force trying scare the EU away.

Who are we hurting with these senseless pessimism and activism?

Buhari or our future generation?

Nigerians have to put on their thinking hats”.

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Zaura Foundation unveils Digital Entrepreneurship Initiative to Empower 90 youths in Kano

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No fewer than 90 youths across the three senatorial districts of Kano state scaled through the first batch of Digital Entrepreneurship initiative designed to empower younger generation.

The practical capacity training around various value chain of agribusiness, marketing, agro-production and other digital entrepreneur is anchored towards reducing unemployment among teeming youths.

Championed by AA Zaura Foundation, being founded by Kano Central Senatorial Candidate under the All Progressives Congress (APC) Abulkarim Abdulsalam Zaura, to promote self reliance among the youths.

Addressing journalists on Friday at the end of the screening, founder of AA Zaura Foundation, Abdulkarim Zaura explained that the digital empowerment was initiated to inspire modern agribusiness and connect Kano youths to innovative method of farming.

Zaura explained that, since the world is moving towards Artificial intelligence AI, Kano as an Agrarian and commercial state deserve to leverage on the emerging technology to develop the youths in order to be self reliant.

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He noted that, the foundation targets over 750 participants who began obtaining training on the digital Entrepreneurship on agriculture, out of which first batch of 90 beneficiaries will undergo two weeks practical training.

Zaura said the initiative being organized in partnership with London Academy Business School and the University of Sunderland brought experts to groom the young hearts in various aspects of agro-digital economy.

“This project is aimed at teaching the student or the beneficiaries the digital entrepreneurship in agriculture. Aimed at teaching them how to be productive, teaching them how to learn to conduct agriculture in a digital way.”

“As they come out from university, some of them are still undergraduate, some are already graduates, some are in higher institutions of learning like Polytechnic. At the moment, the start of this project is very amazing and astonishing, as it is embraced by the teeming youth of Kano State. The project, we intended to empower 50 youth, but we ended up having over 750 people.”

The Chief Executive Officer CEO who is also the lead consultant London Academy Business School Dr. Larry Jones said, Nigeria has the potentials to transform Agriculture in the continent, encouraging the youths to puts more efforts in the digital Entrepreneurship training.

“What we are bringing as the London Academy Business School is many, many years of experience in agricultural projects. In this case, we have come with a message to bring the digital environment of agriculture to your students, and already found them somewhat way down the road already in this space.

Also, the Project Manager and Chief Economist of the Project Mr. Anton Scheepers expressed satisfaction with the zeal and determination of the participants with optimism to succeed.

He said, “what we are bringing as the London Academy Business School is many, many years of experience in agricultural projects. In this case, we have come with a message to bring the digital environment of agriculture to your students, and already found them somewhat way down the road already in this space.

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Workers Day: HoR Minority Caucus commends workers sacrifices, urges FG to address economic challenges, pay living wage

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As workers celebrate globally on May 1st, the House of Representatives Minority Caucus has commended Nigerian workers sacrifices, contributions to development urging the Federal Government to address growing economic challenges and pay living wage.

This was contained in a solidarity message in commemoration of May Day by the Minority Caucus leaders, Rep Kingsley Chinda, Leader, Rt. Hon. Ali Isa J.C
(Minority Whip) Rt. Hon. Aliyu Madaki (Deputy Minority Leader)
Rt. Hon. George Ozodinobi
(Deputy Minority Whip) saying:

“The Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives, felicitates with Nigerian workers for its critical roles as a major contributor to national growth and development.

“Today, gives us another opportunity to have sincere reflections, and objective introspection about the state of the nation; and acknowledge that the Nigerian workforce, being the engine room have collectively given its best in the circumstances.

“The Caucus notes with serious concerns the disturbing social, economic, and political situations which are not only fearful, but also stifling the personal development of our people, particularly the workers. From galloping inflation to debilitating hunger, overarching hardship, and corrosive poverty, the Nigerian worker has been the main victims of these and more negative indices.

“Deeply concerned about the decline of the economy, renewed insecurity, accentuating job losses, and numerous other indices of under-development which is affecting the performances of workers in maximally carrying out their functions as the backbone of government activities.

“The Caucus urges Federal Government to take deliberate actions towards instilling confidence in workers.

Also, there must be pro-active, and intentional decisions by the Federal Government in not just addressing these negative issues but seeking ingenious ways towards improving the remuneration, welfare packages, and other incentives of Nigerian workers who are entitled to living wage and not minimum wage.

“Conscious of the fact that true nationhood is a collective, and continuous task, the Caucus enjoins the Federal Government to relate with the Nigerian Labour Congress, (NLC), Trade Union Congress, (TUC), and other relevant workers associations as major stakeholders in every efforts towards re-building, and re-positioning the country.

“Also, these labour bodies and others; that are umbrella institutions for all Nigerian workers should show commitment, and considerations by collaborating effectively with the Federal Government where and when necessary.

“As a responsive and responsible group, the Caucus is confident that when all stakeholders harness our strengths, Nigeria will progress from being a nation with enormous potential to one that will assume her rightful position among the comity of nations.

“We wish members of the Nigerian Labour a very fruitful celebrations.

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Despite Sacking of Palace Guards, Emir Bayero Attends Qur’anic Graduation in Style

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The 15th Emir of Kano Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero has attended the Qur’anic Graduation of an Islamic School at Kwalli Quarters of Kano Municipal with a mammoth crowd.

This is the 3rd Qur’anic Graduation of the school which was founded by Alhaji Aminu Babba Dan’agundi, a kingmaker and Sarkin Dawaki Babba of Kano Emirate.

Bayero who was accompanied by District Heads and well wishers urged the 72 graduands to imbibe and put the teachings of the Qur’an into practice.

He commended the teachers for their tireless effort in institutionalising learning and good character on the Students.

“Education is the most important thing you can give to your children, Islamic education and knowledge of the Qur’an should be given utmost priority by parents at a time moral decadence in our society is becoming rampant”. He said

 

This is coming a day after the sacking of some palace officials on the orders of the state government.

Despite the sacking, politics Digest reports that a large number of youth were seen in a new place guard uniform.

Zakari Uba, told this paper that he volunteered to serve the Emir on his own, out of love and patriotism.

This is the first time Bayero will make an official outing to the Kano city since his dethronement by the Kano State Government.

A source told this paper that the Emir decided to attend the graduation following an order of the court on the maintainance of status quo.

As it stands today, Aminu Bayero is the legitimate Emir of Kano says Sarkin Dawaki Babba Aminu Babba Dan’agundi in an interview with Arise Television.

“The Emir came out and return back home peacefully, nothing like he was booed or stoned. If it is the other one, the story could have been different. Did you see a single thug in Bayero’s entourage? He asked

One of the letters of the sacking was all over the social media where a Senior Clerical Officer of the Kano Emirate Muhammad Gidado Muhammad was fired for no reason.

The letter which was dated 25th March 2025 and signed by Alhaji Abba Yusuf, the Secretary of the Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II led Kano Emirate.

Politics Digest exclusively gathered that it was backdated because the victim received it 2 days ago.

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