The Northern Youth Assembly (Majalisar Matasan Arewa) has called for the immediate withdrawal of all charges and the unconditional release of minors alleged to have raised foreign flags during an “End Bad Governance” protest in Nigeria. The protest took place from August 1 to 10, 2024, across the country.

In a press release issued which was signed by Dr. Ali Idris Mohammed, President of the Northern Youth Assembly, and Dr. Garba Abdulhafiz, Secretary General.the Assembly, representing the nineteen northern states chapters, expressed their dismay over a viral video showing underage children looking hungry, depressed, and malnourished, arraigned before the high court in Abuja. “It is our adamant belief that the event at the court was nothing but yet an additional damage done on the little integrity left of the Nigerian Judiciary, and the Nigerian criminal administration system, as a whole,” the statement read.

The assembly criticized the continued detention of the minors by federal government authorities, describing it as a blatant disregard for the provisions of Nigerian criminal law, which mandates that all criminal cases must be presented before the courts within 48 hours. “The continued detention of those helpless and poor children by the Federal Government authorities is not only a blatant disregard to the provisions of the laws of the land but also a deliberate scheme to destroy the future of those young people or even jeopardize their lives,” the statement added.

The Northern Youth Assembly highlighted that raising foreign flags during protests is a global practice, indicating citizens’ dissatisfaction with their government. “It is our understanding that this Government has assumed the status of an undemocratic regime which has no regard for the written or extant laws of the land,” the assembly stated.

The assembly also referenced a recent protest led by Yoruba Nation advocate Mr. Sunday Igboho in London, where no arrests were made despite the gravity of the actions. “Except for some minors who raised some foreign flags at the behest of the mastermind and sponsors, none has also been arrested or exposed by the Nigerian security operatives,” the statement noted.

The APC government began the trial of minors arrested in August for participating in the protest against poor governance. The assembly described the sight of malnourished young protesters collapsing in court due to severe hunger and sickness after over 90 days of detention as an affront to the criminal justice system, humanity, and democracy. “It is both unacceptable and deeply disquieting that children, minors, and young Nigerians have been held since August on the allegation that they had sought to destabilize the government,” the statement emphasized.

The Northern Youth Assembly implored President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to order the withdrawal of all charges and the release of the minors unconditionally. “We wish to implore His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to order the withdrawal of all the charges and the release of those boys unconditionally, to avoid further embarrassment to the Government and to the Nigerian criminal justice system,” the statement concluded.

.By Usman Bature

Erstwhile secretary, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN Kano chapter, Abdulgafar Oladimeji has been conferred with the membership status of the International Arbitration Council.

The international headquarters of the council located in the Netherlands , in an official letter dated 1st November 2024 had confirmed his membership of the highly revered international body.

He would be tasked with functions in various committees, which includes trade, commercial disputes, media and technology.

Abdulgafar Oladimeji became an associate of the chartered Institute of Arbitration in 2013, he is privileged to have served as a member of the Panel of Neutrals, Kano –Multi Door Court, Kano state High Court of Justice.

He recently had the priviledge to serve as secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ Constitution Review Committee ,Kano council committee.

Abdulgafar had worked as a member of various mediation committees and fact finding panels at the national, zonal and state .
He recently swerved as the secretary of the mediation committee that was set up by NUJ Kano council to resolve the dispute between, Kano Pillars fc and sports journalists in the state.

A two term assistant secretary SWAN Kano chapter, and one term secretary( then dubbed as the most powerful secretary in the SWAN family)due to his commitment, focus and vast wealth of knowledge in issues relating to sports trade unionism.

A well travelled sports journalists with countless FIFA, UEFA, CAF, Concacaf and AFC media accreditations in his kitty.

He is a sports journalists, PFSA and IPSO trained football scout, he holds qualifications in journalism, law and philosophy from prestigious institutions from the US, UK, France and Qatar.

A mentor , when quizzed by this reporter, he simply said “ I come from a very strong background, where values are cherished, I am a strong believer in philosophy. I am an product of precept, statues, and ordinances .

“it may sometimes takes time to understand my stands, I travel not too fast, because of how i travel, many still find it hard to believe that I am the son of one of the first generation of management experts trained in northern Nigeria, alhaji Busari Alabi Oladimeji, who served with merit under late Sardauna of Sokoto and premier of the northern region, sir Ahmadu Bello.

“alhaji my father, justice Akanbi, alhaji Adams, the renowned chartered accountant, I grew up watching them live a life worthy of emulation.
“also, many cant believe I am the son of the then Mrs Oladimeji of West African Drugs, who was popularly called madam Cafenol by the northern business community.

“many still find it hard to believe that I am deeply related and connected with one of the most successful business and academic in the US and UK, because of how I trek my path, its deep”

“no doubt I am from a traditional home from Offa both from my paternal and maternal heritage, I have been living my life and would continue to live my live, in the fear of herein and hereafter, that is the code, bro.”

“why I told you this little story is because, where my elder brothers and sister opted for other fields and live in US and UK, I choose sports and I always return back home, after my foreign trips, my father and mother believed me, I recalled the day my father and mother were discussing my issue, when I opted to do sports , though my mother would always warn me, she would say to me, Akanbi always be brave, fear Allah, then do your sports with education, my dream in sports was to see the world through sports and I think to some extent, I have seen the world, America’s, Africa, Europe and Asia .”

“I will ever remain grateful to all those who have made it worked for me, too numerous to mention, but would find time to write a special thank, in my upcoming work, titled Kano Boy, where I intend to mention all, I am human I make mistakes, in my dealings , but one thing is sure, I hardly repeat same mistakes.

“the task ahead is big, well, I have chosen the path and it is my duty to brave it to see how far I can go, promoting and projecting sports arbitration is my mission.”

Reactions have continued to trail the recent cabinet reshuffle which replaced Abdullahi Tijjani Gwarzo as Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development with former lawmaker Yusuf Abdullahi Ata.

The removal of Gwarzo, a loyal supporter of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu since 2006, has sent shockwaves in the state, stirring reactions among citizens and party chieftains.

Ibrahim Danyaro, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano, expressed his dismay over Gwarzo’s dismissal.

“I was shocked when I heard that Gwarzo was among the dismissed ministers. He has shown loyalty; I don’t understand what criteria labelled him as ineffective. It’s a big mistake for the APC, considering his record.”

On her part, Ladidi Yau, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress and former Women Leader of Tarauni Local Government described Gwarzo as a politician of note who should not be taken for granted.

“He always picks up calls and responds to text messages. He has always been accessible to party men and women. This alone earns him our respect. The President should reconsider him,” she said.

Political commentator, Adnan Mukhtar, described the sacking of Gwarzo as a political blunder by the President, calling it a misstep influenced by local rivals.

“The President was misled by someone claiming influence over state politics. This is a serious mistake and an affront to Kano. The state deserves an additional ministerial slot, not a reduction—especially when the person affected is a devoted supporter of the President’s agenda,” Gentile said.

On his part, Alhassan Kura described the reshuffling as a miscalculation that would hunt the party sooner or later

“I don’t think we are ready for 2027, if you say you remove Gwarzo to bring someone from the Kano Central why not a better candidate? We have a former Deputy Governor and gubernatorial candidate in 2023, we have Bashir Lado, Inuwa Waya and many more. Why Ata who even worked against the President in 2023?” he queried.