By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

A series of high-stakes meetings aimed at reshaping the political landscape in Kano State and at the national level unfolded this week, centering on Governor Abba Yusuf and his political mentor, Rabiu Kwankwaso.

According to Daily Nigerian, governor Yusuf held a late-night meeting with Kwankwaso at the latter’s Miller Road residence in Kano on Tuesday, sources familiar with the matter confirmed the development to the newspaper. The governor, accompanied by an intermediary known as Sarkin Gobir, reportedly arrived in a private vehicle around midnight. The meeting, which lasted over an hour, appears to have concluded without the governor achieving his primary objective.

Shortly thereafter, on Friday, Governor Yusuf traveled to France for a scheduled meeting with President Bola Tinubu.

According to sources within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) who spoke anonymously to the Daily Nigerian, Governor Yusuf’s mission was to make a final appeal to Kwankwaso to defect from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and join the APC. This move is believed to have been encouraged by President Tinubu, who is reportedly keen on bringing Kwankwaso into the ruling party’s fold.

A day after the private meeting, Kwankwaso addressed a gathering of supporters at his home, making his position clear. “People used to say in Nigeria that everyone has a price tag. If you are looking for who has no price tag, come to Rabiu Kwankwaso,” he declared. He cited public dissatisfaction with the APC’s handling of national security and the economy as reasons for his steadfastness.

Political Calculus and Backlash

The governor’s planned defection has reportedly encountered significant resistance. While a number of NNPP legislators and local government chairmen are set to join him in moving to the APC, the vast majority of the party’s grassroots base—the Kwankwasiyya movement—remains loyal to Kwankwaso.

“APC leaders are keenly observing what is happening in Kano. The Kwankwasiyya supporters have made a bold and clear statement that they are with Kwankwaso,” a political insider noted. “If Abba joins APC, Kwankwaso’s candidate may likely get a sympathy vote.”

This grassroots backlash is understood to be a key factor driving the continued push to convince Kwankwaso himself to switch parties, thereby potentially bringing his supporters with him.

Next Steps

Sources further revealed to Daily Nigerian that Governor Yusuf will brief President Tinubu in France on the outcome of his Kano meeting. The governor’s formal announcement of his defection to the APC is expected only after further consultations with the party’s top leadership in Kano.

Notably, key Kano APC figures—including former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, and state party chairman Abdullahi Abbas—have returned to Nigeria ahead of these anticipated consultations.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Federal Government has mandated the immediate implementation of the “No Work, No Pay” policy against striking members of the Joint Health Sector Unions and Assembly of Health Care Professionals (JOHESU).

The directive was issued via a circular from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (FMoHSW) on Saturday.

Addressed to Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors of all federal health institutions, the circular was signed by Dr. Disu Adejoke, Director of Hospital Services, on behalf of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare. The order is a direct response to the ongoing JOHESU industrial action, which began on November 14, 2025.

Effective January 2026, the policy will apply to all participating JOHESU members and any other staff who join the strike. Hospital managements have been instructed to ensure strict compliance with the policy.

While enforcing the sanction, the Ministry directed health institutions to maintain critical services—including accident and emergency care, labour wards, and intensive care units—using all lawful means. This may include hiring temporary locum staff. The circular explicitly states that staff willing to work must be allowed to do so “without hindrance or intimidation.”

Hospital authorities are also tasked with ensuring security within their facilities and providing regular updates to the Ministry on the strike’s impact on healthcare delivery. The government reaffirmed its commitment to preserving essential health services nationwide despite the industrial action.

Expert Warns of Systemic Risks

In a related interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Abuja-based public health expert Dr. Gabriel Adakole described the government’s move as a legally justified measure to end the strike. However, he highlighted serious implications for Nigeria’s already strained health system.

“JOHESU members—including nurses, pharmacists, laboratory scientists, and allied health professionals—are essential to hospital operations. Their absence critically weakens service delivery, even where emergency units remain open,” Adakole stated.

He cautioned that relying on emergency-only care and locum staff cannot replace full multidisciplinary services, which raises risks to patient safety and treatment outcomes. The policy, he added, could exacerbate financial hardship for health workers, further demoralize the workforce, and accelerate the ongoing exodus of medical professionals from Nigeria.

“Ultimately, patients bear the greatest cost through delayed treatments and reduced access to care,” Adakole emphasized.

While acknowledging that the “No Work, No Pay” policy may compel a quicker resolution, he stressed that lasting stability in the health sector requires meaningful dialogue, trust-building, and sustained investment in both health workers and infrastructure.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

President Bola Tinubu has intervened to address the escalating political conflict in Rivers State, reportedly summoning the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to a meeting abroad. This move comes amid renewed impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

The Impending Meeting

According to a top presidency source, the meeting is scheduled to take place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, following the President’s visit to France. The source indicated that President Tinubu views the latest political maneuvers as a potential threat to stability.

“The President must see the danger in what Wike is doing. I am aware he has summoned him to a meeting in Dubai… Wike cannot impeach Fubara; the President will call him to order,” the source stated. The insider further warned that targeting the state’s first Ijaw governor could provoke unrest in the Niger Delta, with severe consequences for the national economy.

Renewed Impeachment Move

The crisis intensified on Thursday when 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, loyal to Minister Wike, initiated fresh impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara and his Deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu.

The seven-count notice, read by Majority Leader Major Jack, accuses the governor of gross misconduct, including the demolition of the Assembly complex, extra-budgetary spending, and failure to comply with a Supreme Court ruling on legislative financial autonomy. Deputy Governor Odu faces allegations of reckless spending and obstructing the Assembly.

Speaker Martins Amaewhule defended the move as being “in the interest of Rivers State,” criticizing the governor for not presenting the 2026 budget.

This development shatters a fragile peace brokered by President Tinubu after a previous impeachment crisis led to a six-month state of emergency in March 2025. The truce collapsed shortly after emergency rule ended, with Wike accusing Fubara of reneging on agreements and vowing to block his second-term bid, despite both now being members of the All-Progressives Congress (APC).

While a presidential aide declined to confirm the foreign meeting, stating only Wike’s camp could do so, senior APC officials revealed growing party discontent.

A national leader confirmed plans to brief the President upon his return, noting that “some of our leaders believe Wike should have respected the President and the party because Fubara is now one of our governors.”

A member of the APC National Working Committee criticized Wike’s actions as “a show of disregard for the President, the APC, and national interest,” suggesting they project the President as weak.

An ally of Minister Wike denied his involvement in the impeachment plot, affirming that “Wike is the number one supporter of Mr President.” The ally confirmed the minister’s return to Abuja on Sunday but did not verify the meeting with Tinubu.

Former Senator Andrew Uchendu described the recurring crisis as “an embarrassment to the people of Rivers State” and called for an inclusive dialogue, urging the President to restore order.