News
Controversy Erupts: Governor Accused of Being Anti-People
Katsina State Governor Dikko Umaru Radda is under fire following the federal government’s cancellation of the N147.6 billion contract for the comprehensive rehabilitation of the Katsina-Kankara-Dutsinma-Maraba Kankara road. Awarded to the local company Vipan Global Resources Limited in April 2024, the contract was set for completion within 24 months.
Despite mobilizing to the site and initiating work on a 10-kilometer stretch without receiving any advance payments, the contract was abruptly terminated on July 16. This left residents and commuters questioning the rationale behind the sudden halt.
Ibrahim Masari, the Special Assistant to President Tinubu on political matters, suggested during a public event that Governor Radda played a pivotal role in the contract’s cancellation. He claimed that Radda had facilitated the contract for the Zaria-Hunkuyi-Dabai-Gozaki-Kafur road, benefiting areas in both Kaduna and Katsina states.
In response, the Arewa Forum for Growth, a non-governmental organization, denounced the cancellation. They asserted that Radda’s actions reveal a lack of concern for the welfare of Katsina’s residents. The group disputed Masari’s assertion regarding Radda’s influence over the Zaria-Hunkuyi-Dabai-Gozaki-Kafur road project, emphasizing that it was awarded prior to President Tinubu’s administration.
“The claim that Radda sought the cancellation due to the contract being awarded to an allegedly inappropriate candidate, presumably linked to the opposition PDP, is unfounded,” the group stated. They expressed their discontent, accusing Radda of prioritizing personal interests over the needs of the people who rely on the road daily.
Bello Bishir, the group’s secretary, criticized the president for yielding to Radda’s influence, questioning, “Should a firm associated with an opposition party be denied a contract that would benefit countless road users?” He further suggested that President Tinubu is being swayed by individuals with ulterior motives.
The organization urged the president to scrutinize his relationship with Radda, highlighting allegations that the governor has collaborated with opposition figures to undermine the president’s initiatives. They noted, “This is a governor who has been accused of leveraging connections with a former governor to sabotage the president’s interests.”
The group pointed out Radda’s lack of significant achievements, stating, “While his peers are engaged in meaningful projects, Governor Radda has not delivered a single legacy project.” They argued that the cancellation of the road project represents a serious disservice to the people of Katsina.
Additionally, the group claimed to have uncovered delays caused by Radda in the construction of navigational equipment at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport in Katsina. Documents revealed that the road project, under Contract Number 8489, was officially awarded to Vipan Global Resources Limited on April 5, 2024, after receiving the necessary approvals from the Bureau of Public Procurement and the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
The ongoing controversy raises questions about leadership priorities and the impact of political affiliations on essential infrastructure projects in Katsina State.
News
Anka resident commends President Tinubu, Matawalle, CDS Musa for eliminating notorious bandits leader Mati, Others
Residents of Anka Local Government Area in Zamfara State have lauded the
President Bola Tinubu, Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Mohammed Matawalle,and Chief of Defence staff
General Christopher Musa,following the successful elimination of a notorious terrorist commander, Mati, and several of his fighters in a recent counter-terrorism operation backed by the Federal Government.
In a statement signed by the Chairman of Anka community, Muhammed Usman Anka, locals expressed their appreciation to the Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Mohammed Matawalle, for his role in supporting the operation.
The mission, part of a broader strategy to tackle insecurity in the Northwest, reportedly led to the recovery of a cache of weapons and the dismantling of key terrorist infrastructure.
According to the statement, the offensive was launched under “Operation Munzo,” a government-led initiative aimed at restoring peace to Zamfara and other violence-plagued regions.
Troops began their advance from Bagega in Anka Local Government, clearing the villages of Tibuki and Sabuwar Tunga before storming the heavily fortified camp of Mati.
The battle, described as intense, culminated in a decisive victory for Nigerian forces. Mati—linked to a series of high-profile attacks, kidnappings, and banditry in the region—was neutralised alongside several of his lieutenants during the exchange of gunfire.
Among the items recovered from the terrorist enclave were one PKT machine gun with two belts of ammunition, five AK-47 rifles, twelve magazines, 487 rounds of ammunition, three Baofeng communication radios, and a set of military and police uniforms.
Troops also destroyed three motorcycles used by the militants and recovered several rustled cattle.
All communications equipment found in the camp was dismantled to disrupt future terrorist coordination.
Speaking on the success of the operation, Dr Matawalle praised the bravery and professionalism of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
“Operation Munzo is part of our ongoing strategy to dismantle terrorist strongholds and restore lasting peace to Zamfara and neighbouring states,” he said.
“The days of these criminals are numbered. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has issued clear directives to deal decisively with terrorists and re-establish law and order nationwide.”
Dr Matawalle reaffirmed the Defence Ministry’s commitment to fully supporting the Armed Forces in their efforts to secure the region.
He urged residents to remain vigilant and continue cooperating with security agencies by providing timely and credible information.
“Operation Munzo” remains ongoing, with troops combing through forested areas to locate and eliminate remaining insurgent elements.
Niger’s military government has officially made Hausa the country’s new national language, moving away from its colonial past where French played a central role.
The change was announced in a new charter released on March 31, published in a special edition of the government’s official journal.
According to the document, “The national language is Hausa,” and “the working languages are English and French.”
Hausa is already the most commonly spoken language across Niger, especially in the Zinder, Maradi, and Tahoua regions.
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Most of the country’s about 26 million people understand and speak Hausa. In comparison, only around three million people, just 13 per cent, can speak French.
The new charter also officially lists nine other local languages, including Zarma-Songhay, Fula, Kanuri, Gourmanche, and Arabic, as “the spoken languages of Niger.”
This language switch follows a national meeting held in February.
During that event, the military government received more support and General Abdourahamane Tiani, the junta leader, was approved to stay in power for five more years.
Since taking over in a coup in July 2023, which removed the country’s civilian president, Mohamed Bazoum, the junta has been cutting off ties with France.
These actions include removing French troops from the country, ending diplomatic relations, and changing the names of roads and buildings that used to carry French names.
Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, which also have military governments and used to be French colonies, are taking similar steps.
They’ve also withdrawn from the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, a group similar to the Commonwealth that supports French-speaking nations.
Leaders of the opposition Labour Party on Wednesday marched to the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
Led by the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and the Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, the members were received by INEC National Commissioner, Sam Olumekun.
They asked the electoral body to recognise Nenadi Usman as the LP chairman, days after the Supreme Court set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Abuja recognising Abure as the National Chairman of the LP.
In a unanimous judgment last week, a five-member panel of the apex court held that the Court of Appeal lacked the jurisdiction to have pronounced Abure National Chairman of the LP, having earlier found that the substance of the case was about the party’s leadership.
The court allowed the appeal filed by Senator Ester Usman, and one other and held that it was meritorious before subsequently proceeding to dismiss the cross-appeal filed by the Abure faction of the LP for being unmeritorious.
Otti read out the Certified True Copy of the Supreme Court judgement as delivered by Justice Inyang Okoro.
“Consequent upon the foregoing, the decisions of both higher court and the court below recognize Barrister Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the first respondent and hereby set aside and suit number FXC is hereby struck out for want of jurisdiction,” Otti said.
“In the same vein, the first respondent, that is labour party under Abure, being an offshoot of the same judgement of the court is hereby dismissed. Before I am done, may I admonish political parties and their members to endeavour to always abide by their constitutions, rules, regulations and guidelines to guide them in choosing their officers as well as candidates?
“That way, incessant internal risks which always find their way to court should be reduced. If the constitution of a political party has prescribed duration for tenure of office of an officer such as this one, such officer should be humble enough to leave at the expiration of the tenure.
“In the final analysis, I find this appeal to be meritorious and is hereby allowed. The party shall bear their respective cost, appeal allowed. This is signed by Honorable Justice John Inyang Okoro, Justice of the Supreme Court.”