No fewer than 40,000 families may benefit from the Aliko Dangote Food Intervention Programme.

Borno State Governor Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum said the donation of 40,000 bags of 10kg rice to the people of Borno State by the Aliko Dangote Foundation(ADF) will help cushion economic hardship in these families.

The Governor made the statement at the flag-off of the Food Intervention Programme on Wednesday in Maiduguri, Borno State capital.

The Aliko Dangote Foundation penultimate week commenced the distribution of one million bags rice worth N16billion across the 774 local government areas in Nigeria.

The Governor was represented by the Director General of Borno State Emergency Management Agency(SEMA) Mr. Ali Abdullahi Isa.

He said: “Today marks a significant milestone in our collective efforts to alleviate the suffering of our people, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan.”

The Governor said the generous donation is a testament to the Foundation’s commitment to supporting vulnerable communities and promoting social welfare.
“We are deeply thankful to Alhaji Aliko Dangote and the entire foundation for their kindness and philanthropy.”

He urged the people of Borno State to continue to pray for peace, stability, and prosperity of the state and country.
In his early remarks, representative of the Aliko Dangote Foundation, Mr. Usman Muhammad, said the gesture is aimed at supporting government effort, adding that the Foundation focuses on improving the living conditions of Nigerians.

Mr. Muhammad said the donation is targeted at the poor and the vulnerable persons in the State.

A beneficiary, Ms Aisha Modu, 50, said as a displaced person, the donation of rice by the ADF will go a long way in alleviating her economic hardship.

In the same vein, another beneficiary, Umaru Aliyu, 60, said he will use the rice to feed his six children, while praying God to continue to bless the chairman of the Aliko Dangote Foundation.

As part of its generosity, the World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY) has donated a massive borehole project to the tune of N10M to the Kano State Sharia Commission. The project, launched on Thursday, aims to alleviate the commission’s water scarcity challenges.

In a statement signed by Comrade Musa A Ibrahim (Best Seller), Acting Director Public Enlightenment, Kano State Sharia Commission, said the project is part of the Assembly multiple commitment to serve humanity.

Sheikh Ali Danabba, speaking on behalf of the commission, expressed profound gratitude to WAMY for the charitable gesture. “The construction of a 150-meter borehole is a commendable and welcoming idea,” he said.

“We struggled with water scarcity, so far everyone cry for help, but WAMY has made a great effort to provide water at a cost of over N10 million.”

Sheikh Abbas Abubakar Daneji, Chairman of the Commission, praised WAMY’s humanitarian activities, urging other groups and individuals to emulate their good work.

Speaking earlier WAMY Chairman, Hisham Abdussalam, highlighted the Assembly’s commitment to developing Islam and Muslims worldwide.

Established in 2003, During the then Ibrahim Shekarau ‘s Administration, the Kano State Sharia Commission has been instrumental in promoting Islamic values in the state.

In a statement signed by acting Director public enlightenment Musa A Ibrahim said the Commission according to Daneji regain it’s lost glory with Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s renewed focus on the commission, hopes are high for its restoration to its former glory.

The cancellation of a parallel Durbar initially planned by the 15th Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, during the coming Eid-el-Fitr Sallah celebrations in Kano, has been dismissed as a charade.

A researcher and author, Malam Ibrahim Ado Kurawa told newsmen on Thursday that Bayero couldn’t have staged the Sallah Durbar in the first place, having been disposed of instruments and protocol associated with the traditional heritage.

Kurawa, a renowned Kano emirate historian said it is practically impossible for 15th emir to rewrite over 500 years history of Durbar, insisted that the earlier announcement of a parallel Durbar was politically motivated to destabilize the relative peace in state.

Kurawa, is the author of the only book on Kano Durbar whose citation was used by UNESCO to recognize and designate the festival as world intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

Besides, Kurawa added that Aminu Bayero did not have a single key emirate councillor amd custodian of the tradition ike Shamaki, Dan Rimi, Madakin Shamaki, Madakin Dan Rimi, Sallama to showcase the colorful tradition. He also added that the Makaman Kano leads the procession. None of these principal officers is with Aminu Ado Bayero.

According to Kurawa, “Durbar is a ceremony or procession that has been going on for over 500 years. It has its processes, and its protocols. You cannot have Durbar if you are not in Gidan Rumfa, because Rumfa was the first Sarkin Kano who initiated it, and he has designated specific events, specific codes and specific protocols for each Durbar.

“For example, if you are going for Sallah, you have to come out with white clothes from a particular gate called Fatalwa Gate at the Gidan Rumfa Palace, and then proceed to the Eid Ground on foot. And after the Eid prayer, you must come back through a different route where you will address the people before proceeding back to the palace and enter through another gate.

“Now, if the emir is going for another ceremony, like going to visit his mother he follows protocols established over 500 years ago. For Hawan Daushe to visit Mai Babban Daki (Emir’s Mother) the way to do it was established over 500 years ago. The Emir comes out from Kofar Kwaru and then return through Kofar Kudu. So, if you are not there, where are you going?

The researcher further explained that since Aminu Bayero is not operating from Gidan Rumfa, he has already been incapacitated as far as Sallah Durbar is concerned, saying only an emir who is residing in the Gidan Rumfa Palace possesses the authority to lead Durbar.

“So, he was only joking because he lacks the authority and the legitimacy. He was only going to bring confusion by his dramatization. Therefore, he was not cancelling the Durbar, but only cancelling his dramatization. He would have only ridden horses and that’s all, but would not have qualified as the Hawan Sarki Durbar that is rooted in culture and tradition.

“he was the one who was breaching the peace in the first place. If he has resolved not to breach the peace any more, we commend him for that. Aminu Bayero has been doing all that he has done so far because the federal government has been backing him. If the federal government has allowed the state government to discharge its statutory responsibility, things would not have turned out this way”. He noted.

Kurawa reminded that when Governor Ganduje decided to depose Emir Sanusi back then, the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) did not resist or challenge his removal in the court because he believed it was worthless.

He insisted that Aminu Bayero is muzzling all the energies to resist his removal all because of the security cover being extended to him by the federal government.

He finally called on the people to go about their normal lives as the official Durbar takes place, and he advised the state government to reach out to stakeholders and do its duties in maintaining peace and order.