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Former Senator representing Kaduna State, Shehu Sani, has urged the former governor of the state to address the allegations against him and clear his name, rather than diverting attention with what he described as “phantom claims” against the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

In a post shared on his X page, Sani questioned the timing of the claims, asking why such sensitive information was not disclosed earlier and only surfaced after the former governor was invited by authorities.

“The ex-Governor of Kaduna State should focus on the allegations before him and clear his name instead of diverting attention with his purported and phantom claims against NSA Ribadu.

“Why the delay in disclosing such sensitive information to the public until he was invited? His antics and deceptions should be ignored.”

He added that some individuals and families who were allegedly victimised during the former governor’s tenure have chosen forgiveness despite their experiences.

“For those of us whom he once traumatised, our families framed and dragged to the police and the courts in Kaduna, we forgive him, but urge him to learn to handle his karma with maturity, decorum, and faith.

“If our society continues to pamper and protect past leaders who should be held accountable for their actions while in power, it sends a clear and unconditional message to those in power today that they will also be protected after leaving office.”

Sani stressed that public officials must be held responsible for their actions while in office, warning that shielding former leaders from accountability could send a dangerous message to those currently in power.

Face your allegations, not Ribadu – Shehu Sani blast ex-Kaduna Gov, El-Rufai

The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, has identified poverty as the major cause of insecurity in Nigeria.

Obasa, who spoke on Sunday, also noted that the security of lives and properties in the country is not the duty of the police alone, but the responsibility of everyone.

He made these declarations in his keynote address at the 31st Pre-Ramadan lecture organised by the University of Lagos Muslim Alumni.

The event was attended by the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Is’haq Oloyede; the association’s President, Dr. Abdulmumini Alao; Chief Imam of Lekki Central Mosque, Dr. Ridwan Jamiu; and the Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, who was represented by his Deputy, Alhaji Umar Usman Kadafur.

Obasa, in a statement made available to DAILY POST at the end of the lecture, noted that poverty is the primary factor responsible for insecurity in the country.

He further described security not merely as physical safety, but as the alleviation of poverty, which he identified as the root cause of insecurity.

He then used the opportunity to appeal to political officeholders to uphold transparency, fairness, and service to humanity.

He also urged political officeholders and well-to-do Nigerians to support the needy with whatever resources they have, adding that such efforts would make life more meaningful for all.

Obasa said, “There must be an input. What we have to do to get to heaven is no different from what we have to do for the security of our society. Insecurity is a function of poverty.

“Security is not about the police alone; it is about all of us. It is a collective spiritual duty. Every time you see people gathered on your street, don’t just drive past; make inquiries as to who they are.

“In governance, we must uphold transparency, fairness, and service to humanity. In the community and in the family, we must be agents of compassion, supporting the weak, feeding the hungry, and uplifting the oppressed.”

Poverty, major cause of insecurity in Nigeria – Obasa

The Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, has commiserated with the Government and people of Kano State over the devastating fire outbreak at Singa Market in Kano.

The inferno reportedly destroyed properties worth over ₦5 billion, affected more than 1,000 businesses, and left seven persons missing.

In a statement issued on Sunday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, Abiodun described the incident as one of the most unfortunate tragedies in the history of the market.

He sympathised with traders who lost valuable goods and properties, urging them not to lose hope, assuring that the Kano State Government would take necessary steps to support affected victims.

According to him, the destruction of four residential buildings housing small-scale businesses, alongside the loss of equipment, merchandise, and other valuables, was a heavy blow to the livelihoods of many families.

The Ogun State Governor also called on market authorities and relevant local government officials to implement measures to prevent future occurrences.

He said:

“On behalf of my colleagues in the Southern Governors’ Forum, I commiserate with the Kano State Government and the traders affected by this unfortunate incident.

“This fire outbreak has caused tremendous damage, but I urge those affected not to despair.

“The Kano State Government, under the leadership of Abba Kabir Yusuf, is doing everything humanly possible to bring the situation under control and assist the victims.”

Kano fire: Southern Governors’ Forum commiserates with Kano govt, victims

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has lamented that former Cross River Central Senatorial District Senator, Sandy Onor, lost many opportunities for standing with him.

Wike spoke over the weekend during the former lawmaker’s 60th birthday celebration in Abuja.

The minister recalled how Sandy was blocked from lucrative appointments because he (Wike) supported the former lawmaker’s governorship ambition.

He said, “I remember the time of NDDC; I called Sandy and somebody’s name was proposed. Because I supported him for governorship, they blocked it, and I said, ‘Don’t bother yourself; what will be, will be.’

“Now, the president, in his magnanimity, established the South South Development Commission (SSDC). The chairmanship of that commission was for Rivers State. I said, ‘Look, this my friend has done well, I will make the sacrifice, let it go to Cross River State, and he (Senator Sandy) should be the one.’

“But the state said they should remove it from him, and I said, ‘If you’re removing it, I will take it back.’”

Senator Sandy has lost so many things because of his relationship with me – Wike

Former Senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, has called for a comprehensive investigation into the eight-year administration of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, alleging financial irregularities and abuse of office.

Addressing a press briefing in Kaduna, Sani urged security and anti-corruption agencies to probe what he described as the mismanagement of public funds amounting to hundreds of billions of Naira between 2015 and 2023.

He specifically called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to act on the reported indictment by the Kaduna State House of Assembly and ensure accountability.

According to him, the period under review was characterised by hardship, insecurity, demolitions, and alleged human rights violations, which he described as one of the most challenging eras in the state’s history.

The former lawmaker also raised concerns over what he termed the erosion of democratic values during the period, citing the arrest and detention of journalists, activists, clerics, and community leaders.

Sani further urged security agencies to intensify investigations into the disappearance of political activist Abubakar Idris, popularly known as Dadiyata, who has been missing since 2019.

His remarks followed recent comments by El-Rufai during an interview on Arise TV, where the former governor criticised the current administration.

Describing the comments as inconsistent, Sani said El-Rufai had actively campaigned for President Bola Tinubu in the 2023 general elections and should not discredit the same government.

“You cannot promote a candidate as the best option and later turn around to criticise the same administration,” he said.

Sani also claimed that El-Rufai’s political influence declined before the end of his tenure, citing what he described as the ruling party’s performance in parts of the state during the last elections.

He commended what he termed improvements in security under Gov. Uba Sani and urged residents to support ongoing peace-building efforts.

Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, Sani reaffirmed his support for Tinubu and Sani, while emphasising the need for credible leadership based on competence, integrity, and national cohesion.

He also urged political actors to respect zoning and power rotation principles, adding that opposition politics should be issue-based and constructive.

Kaduna: Probe El-Rufai’s eight-year tenure – Shehu Sani urges anti-graft agencies

The Senator representing Ekiti State District, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, has disclosed the real reason behind the removal of “real time” from the 2026 Electoral Bill.

He clarified this in a statement issued through his Directorate of Media and Public Affairs on Sunday.

Bamidele explained that the Senate had previously rejected Clause 60(3) of the bill, which mandated that the presiding officer “shall electronically transmit the results from each polling unit to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) in real time…”.

The clause was subsequently redrafted to retain electronic transmission of results while omitting the “real time” requirement.

Bamidele described Clause 60(3) as “an initiative that any legislature or parliament globally would ordinarily have embraced.”

He added that the Senate had to consider the country’s infrastructural realities before making its decision.

Drawing on data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Bamidele noted that broadband coverage stood at about 70 percent in 2025, while internet penetration was 44.53 percent of the population.

He cited the Speedtest Global Index, which ranked Nigeria 85th out of 105 countries in mobile network reliability and 129th out of 150 countries in fixed broadband reliability.

“Based on the Speedtest Global Index, Nigeria’s mobile network reliability was 44.14 megabits per second. This is extremely low compared with the UAE, which has 691.76 mbps; Qatar with 573.53 mbps; Kuwait with 415.67 mbps; Bahrain with 303.21 mbps; and Bulgaria with 289.41 mbps.

“The Index placed Nigeria far below the global average.

“Nigeria’s fixed internet broadband rating is quite low by global standards. Out of 150 countries, Nigeria occupied the 129th position with only 33.32 mbps.

“In this rating, Singapore came first with 410.06 mbps, followed by the UAE with 382.35 mbps; France with 346.25 mbps; Chile with 348.41 mbps; and Hong Kong with 345.25 mbps,” he stated.

He further highlighted that around 85 million Nigerians, roughly 43 percent of the population, lack access to grid electricity.

“This shortfall speaks to the state of our power infrastructure. Even though our generation capacity hovers roughly between 12,000 and 13,500 megawatts, our distribution and transmission capacity are acutely limited.

“As we all know, it can only deliver 4,500 megawatts to households nationwide. But with the Electricity Act, 2025, our power sector will record significant growth from this financial year,” the lawmaker added.

Bamidele warned that enforcing real-time transmission under these conditions could lead to instability.

“The data speak directly to the stark realities of our federation, not emotion or sentiment. As representatives of the people, we cannot enact laws based purely on public emotion or sentiment,” he stated.

According to the Senate leader, the removal of “real time” aims to ensure the electoral framework aligns with Nigeria’s current capabilities while still addressing public concerns about transparency.

E-transmission: Senate reveals why ‘real time’ was removed

The newly emerged National President of the Congress of NOUN Student, CONS, Comrade Daudu Jeffery, has described the comments of the Senate on the electronic transmission of results as not only disappointing but also damaging to Nigeria’s democratic image.

Recall that the Chairman of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee reviewing the 2026 Electoral Bill, Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire, had insisted that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) does not currently possess the capacity to conduct electronic voting.

Adegbonmire, on Thursday, stated that Nigeria had not transitioned to an electronic voting regime, stressing that IReV “is not an e-voting platform, but a platform where the election results that have been manually counted and declared at the polling units are uploaded and publicised.”

Reacting to this, the CONS National President argued that such remarks indicate either a lack of political will or an unwillingness to embrace electoral integrity at a time when technology drives openness and accountability.

Speaking on Saturday in his acceptance speech after emerging as the National President of the Congress, Jeffery contended that the remark that Nigeria is “not ready” after several election cycles and significant financial investments in the electoral system begs the question of whether the country is truly committed to democratic reform.

He said, “Nigeria has reached a point where abnormalities are treated as normal and normal things are seen as strange. That is a dangerous reality for any nation that truly desires progress.

“The claim by the Senate that Nigeria is not ready for real-time transmission of election results is not only disappointing but also damaging to our democratic image. In an era where technology drives transparency and accountability across the world, making such a statement suggests either a lack of political will or an unwillingness to embrace electoral credibility.

“Real-time result transmission is not a luxury; it is a necessary tool to strengthen public trust, reduce electoral manipulation, and align Nigeria with global best practices. Saying we are ‘not ready’ after multiple election cycles and huge budgetary allocations to our electoral system raises serious concerns about our commitment to democratic reform. Nigeria is not incapable; what we lack is the courage to implement what is right.”

Meanwhile, he congratulated the newly inaugurated Vice-Chancellor of NOUN, Prof. Uduma Oji Uduma, urging him to prioritise key academic and administrative concerns affecting students of the institution.

“Your appointment is a significant milestone and a positive development for the institution. Please facilitate and implement academic projects that directly address the challenges facing students across study centres. Ensure timely and unrestricted access to complete course materials for all registered courses, in line with payments already made by students.

“Improve the efficiency of academic processes, particularly the prompt handling and release of results for non-examinable courses such as DES and other continuous assessment-based programmes.”

According to Jeffery, addressing these crucial issues will improve the educational process, shorten academic progression delays, and boost trust in the university’s distance learning system.

He, however, expressed appreciation to NOUN students nationwide for the confidence reposed in his leadership and reaffirmed his commitment to purposeful representation, student welfare, academic advancement, and the protection of the rights and interests of all NOUN students across study centres.

E-transmission: Senate ‘not ready’ remark undermines Nigeria’s democracy – Students’ leader

The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has said that President Bola Tinubu has performed better than former Presidents Muhammadu Buhari and Goodluck Jonathan, but claimed that Nigerians dislike him.

Primate Ayodele said Tinubu has done well for Nigerians, but those surrounding him are against his second-term ambition.

Addressing journalists in Lagos on Sunday, the clergyman said: “Tinubu has done well for Nigerians, but the problem is that Nigerians hate him. The problem is nemesis. Tinubu’s problem is that those surrounding him don’t like him and they don’t want him for a second term.

“He has to wake up, restrategize, and focus on what to do. The agenda must change, but the point is that Tinubu has done better than Buhari; maybe he has even done better than Jonathan.

“I passed through the Coastal Road, whether it’s genuine or counterfeit. From that point, in four hours you will be in Calabar instead of 18 to 22 hours. If you are travelling around the Ajah area, it’s very fast. For that reason, Tinubu has done so well.”

He said some state governors and House of Assembly members would not win a second term in 2027 unless there is rigging.

He said: “We have seen chairmen who can become governors, and of course they have demonstrated it; they have the mind of the people at heart.

“There are some governors and House of Representatives members who, except there is rigging, I don’t think they can win in 2027.”

Primate Ayodele warned that 2027 would not be like 2023 because Nigerians would come out en masse.

He also said Nigerians would not appreciate the efforts of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan.

“The 2027 election is not going to be like that of 2023. Nigerians are determined; they are coming out strongly, and the date of the election, I don’t see it as being realistic. The date might be changed, but let’s wait and see. There is no amount of effort from the INEC Chairman that Nigerians will appreciate.

“Nigerians will rebuke him, they will bully him, and they will take different measures against him,” he said.

2027: Nigerians hate Tinubu despite doing better than Buhari, Jonathan – Primate Ayodele