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Dogara Hails Buhari’s Move To Curb Vote-buying
.. says Atiku most prepared and ready candidate
A former Speaker f the House of Representatives Hon Yakubu Dogara, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari’s efforts aimed at curbing vote-buying ahead of the 2023 general elections.
He, however, said he is not uninformed or unaffected by the hardship caused by the Naira redesigned and swap policy but pleaded with Nigerians to endure it for a few weeks as a sacrifice for a free, fair and credible elections.
He spoke Friday in Yola at a Town Hall meeting organised by Atiku/Okowa campaigning organisation with the theme: “Overcoming the Fears of Same Faith Presidential Ticket 2023.”
Read the full speech
I want to specifically commend President Buhari over the initiative to curb vote buying in the forthcoming general elections. I am not uninformed of nor unaffected by the hardship caused by the Naira redesign and swap policy but I want to plead with Nigerians to endure it for these few weeks as sacrifice for a free, fair and credible election.
Its a life lesson: that just as injury has pains so also recovery has pains. But if we have to get healed, we have to endure the pains. I urge us all to trudge on in the hope that these pains may truly be the birth pangs we may endure for a New Nigeria to be born.
For those critising the president on the issue of timing, I want to remind them in the words of Dr King Jnr that time is eternally neutral and , “the time is always ripe to do right.“ let me end by calling on CBN to ensure the redesigned notes are made available to our people but even if the CBN failed to do so, my plea to all Nigerians is to endure the pains for few more weeks for our votes to count and for us to elect a president we truly deserve.
Let me emphatically say that the President has the sole constitutional powers over currency matters and all those busy running their mouths because they have been denied the opportunity to deploy the ill- gotten naira they have stashed to buy votes, that they are committing treason.
The president is absolutely right not to have given in to the greed of the few against the needs of the many. While the president is right to have acted on what he knows and in the best interest of the country, his traducers are petty, unpatriotic, treacherous and grossly irresponsible.
Therefore, Mr. President deserves our thunderous applause. Whoever writes it, history will be kind to Mr. President if he doesn’t give in or give up on his resolve to ensure a free, fair and credible democratic election no matter the cost on the 25th February, 2023 as scheduled by INEC.
Let me remind us that Nigeria is tottering on the precipice and for everyone who has ever wondered how the bottom looks like, this is it! No doubt these are moments of national peril! That is why we need a President who will hit the ground running from day one. If we love Nigeria, we cannot afford to foist a rookie on her as President.
Tell me if any of the candidates comes close to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in terms of readiness to hit the ground running from day one. In case you don’t know him, let me attempt the impossible task of introducing him to you.
HE Atiku Abubakar, the Wazirin Adamawa is a statesman like no other and a father in every sense of the word, Abba. He is a demonstrable source that gives life to everything around him.
Give him pure water and he will turn it to Farro water.
Show him a Primary school and he will turn it into a world class university
Show him a jetty and he will turn it into a world class port
Give him a bull and a heifer and just few years and he will give you a herd
Give him a bag of chaff and he will mill it into animal feed
Give him a bottle of bala blue and he will turn the cream to farro juice
Give him a home and he will bring Nigeria into it as family members
Make him walk into an environment where there is contention and fight and see how they fade into peace.
That is the rich pedigree that HE Atiku Abubakar will bring to the table as president.
We need a steady hand not a hand that must always be steadied because only a steady hand can steady a volatile Nigeria. We need a hand on which nothing dies not the hand that spills everything that is placed on it if we do not want our collective national destiny to be spilled.
We need a grounded leader not a feckless pretender who has become a perfect gift to every level of comedy both local and internationally. By our votes, let us send a strong and clear message to those who want to foist this tasteless joke on us that Nigeria is no Comedy Cellar or Viva Blackpool.
Therefore:For national healing and recovery, let us vote for Atiku
To end terrorism, banditry, insurgency, kidnap for ransom and sundry acts of criminality, let us vote for Atiku
To rebuild shattered trust and strengthen national unity, let us vote for Atiku
To bring order to national chaos, let us vote for Atiku
To end religious divisions and engender religious harmony, let us vote Atiku
To enthrone merit over mediocrity and nepotism, let us vote Atiku
To permanently close IDP camps and ensure full resettlement, let us vote for Atiku.
To create jobs and end youth unemployment and restiveness, let us vote for Atiku
To ensure prosperity for all not prosperity for some, let us vote for Atiku
To grow the economy and create jobs, let us vote for Atiku
For a strong naira, let us vote for Atiku
To lift millions of youths and women out of poverty, let us vote for Atiku
To put an end to our oil and gas revenue addiction, let us vote for Atiku
For a robust and functional physical and government infrastructures (roads, air, land, sea and rail transportation, electricity, ICT, e-government; etc), let us vote for Atiku.
To reduce our housing deficits, create and deploy a functional, affordable and efficient mortgage system, let us vote for Atiku
For provision of not just education but qualitative education, let us vote for Atiku.
For provision of primary health care and affordable health insurance for all citizens at all levels, let us vote for Atiku
For agricultural revolution in order to grow what we eat and eat what we grow, let us vote for Atiku
For Nigeria to be a global tourist’s destination, let us vote for Atiku
To elect a president who is a cultural architect that creates the atmosphere for every Nigerian to become more and with whom less becomes more, let us vote for Atiku
To elect a president who understands that compassion is not tossing a coin at a beggar but pulling down the system that produces beggars, let us vote for Atiku
To elect a president who will end rent seeking as a business and inspires us to go into manufacturing and production because he is into to it himself, let us vote for Atiku
To elect a president who is not looking for electricity to roast corn but is already turning corn into meal for humans and animals, let us vote Atiku
To elect a President who will rally us to action in poetry and govern us in prose not someone who does not understand the difference between the two, let us vote for Atiku
To elect a President who clearly understands what he is promising not someone who is making promises to fictional groups like, “wives of widows”, let us vote for Atiku
To elect a President who does not claim it is his turn to chop but realises he has to go to work to produce the food Nigerians desperately yearn for, let us vote for Atiku
To elect a president who knows that only God gives power and that it is never anyone’s turn to take power, let us vote for Atiku
To elect a President who will hold his ground, not one that the ground must hold, before any audience in the world and bring honour not shame and dignity to all Nigerians, let us vote Atiku,
And for Atiku’s covenant with Nigeria, the implementation of which will unlock Nigeria’s manifest glorious destiny, let us vote for Atiku
It was Victor Hugo who reminded us that, “All the forces in the world are not so powerful as an idea whose time has come.” Atiku represents an idea whose time has come. By the grace of God, who alone gives power, Atiku will soon be president – elect and Mr. president by May. Let us go from here determined to be instruments in God’s hand to make it happen. Come on, friends, we are well able. See you on inauguration day!
RT HON YAKUBU DOGARA
SPEAKER OF THE 8TH HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
By Israel Bulus, Kaduna
As the 2027 elections draw closer, the political landscape in Jema’a/Sanga is becoming increasingly clear: there is no vacancy at the top. The people have witnessed the remarkable leadership of Hon. Dan Amos, whose dedication, performance, and impact have set an unshakable standard for representation.
Hon. Dan Amos has not only fulfilled his campaign promises but has surpassed expectations by spearheading development initiatives that touch every facet of society. From infrastructure to education, healthcare, and economic empowerment, his tenure has been marked by visible progress rather than mere rhetoric.
His leadership is characterized by:
✅ People-centered governance – Listening and responding to the needs of his constituents.
✅ Development-driven policies – Ensuring tangible projects that uplift communities.
✅ Unity and inclusiveness – Fostering peace and progress across Jema’a/Sanga.
Elections are about choices, but when leadership is already effective, why opt for uncertainty? The people of Jema’a/Sanga have seen the difference—an active, result-oriented representative who values progress over politics.
Hon. Dan Amos’ track record speaks louder than campaign slogans. He is not just a politician; he is a servant-leader who understands the aspirations of his people and delivers accordingly.
As 2027 approaches, the message from the people is clear: No Vacancy! Hon. Dan Amos remains the best choice for continued growth, stability, and development in Jema’a/Sanga.
The Association of Senior Civil Servants in Nigeria has accused the leadership of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) of alleged favoritism and unjust placement of pool officers over the commission workers.
They said that if not addressed urgently, these problems may undermine the morale of dedicated NAHCON staff and hinder the commission’s efficiency in fulfilling its mandate.
The union revealed this in a letter titled, “Urgent concerns regarding the placement of pool officers and administrative lapses”, dated March 3, 2025, and addressed to the NAHCON executive council and board members.
This is the first time in the history of the commission and Hajj industry in the country that staff are officially groaning over alleged misconduct and irregularities by the commission’s leadership.
The letter obtained by this newspaper was signed by the union’s executive officers in NAHCON.
The workers’ petition came weeks after the media reported the chairman’s leadership deficiencies and alleged nepotism, and how he is being influenced by some inexperienced family members including his biological brother Surajo, who is one of the chairman’s special assistants.
Mr Surajo is accused of misleading the chairman —who is reported to have a gross deficiency in reading and writing in the English Language — to minute on official memos, a development irking the commission staff members, state pilgrims boards and tour operators.
The chairman also reportedly appointed his biological son Aliyu as his assistant.
There is also the case of Abdulmalik Diggi, the chairman’s nephew, who was brought by the chairman as SA and deployed to the department of account as a deputy director. The DD is being accused of circumventing financial regulations – in cahoots with some aides of the chairman— to approve funds without due process
Findings by this newspaper have shown that another challenge facing the commission is how one state in the Northeast cornered all the critical leadership positions in NAHCON.
Borno state currently corners most of the juicy positions in the commission — in glaring disregard to federal character principles, an insider said.
Five critical positions are all occupied by Borno state indigenes namely — the secretary to the commission, the Director of Admin and Human Resources, the Deputy Director of Audit, the Director of Protocol, the Deputy Director of Procurement, and a Board member representing Northeast.
The workers also raised the cases of civil servants who retired from their parent organizations but only to be posted to NAHCON.
Another alleged impunity is the case of Mr Usman Mamza, from Borno State, who served as legal adviser in NAHCON after he retired from the Federal Ministry of Justice in April 2024. The Director of Admin, who hails from the same state as Mamza is allegedly blocking the investigation of the case.
The commission’s Director of Protocol Bulama is reportedly still at NAHCON even though he has reached retirement age.
Insiders said there are plans to recall a staff identified as Tawfiq Tayo Akinwale, who contested the governorship election in Oyo State under the Labour Party (LP) in 2023.
Mr Akinwale contested the elections and lost while still staff at NAHCON in violation of the Electoral Act 2022 and the Public Service Rules. The Zikirullah Kunle Hassan-led leadership had to sack him after mounting pressure from the commission workers.
It was learned that a former minister from the Southwest had given a note to the incumbent NAHCON leadership to facilitate his return to the commission.
Also, many staff members of the commission, this newspaper reliably gathered, are grumbling over the alleged overbearing influence of some DSS personnel attached to the chairman. One of the DSS details, Ibrahim Abubakar, was accused of abandoning his protective detail role and dabbling into the operational and administrative affairs of the commission. An insider said the DSS detail, allegedly in cahoots with some of his colleagues outside, is deeply interfering in the administrative activities of the commission.
“There have been several administrative lapses, particularly with regards to the actions of the Chairman/CEO’s Special Assistant (SA) who has been involved in matters of payment and approvals without adhering to proper protocols,” the union said in its petition.
The union also lamented the case of a special assistant to NAHCON Chairman and CEO, Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, “who has been involved in matters of payment and approvals without adhering to proper protocols.”
One of his SA’s scandals was detected, and the cabal allegedly destroyed the evidence— by shredding the official documents. Some staff members who spoke to this newspaper have called on EFCC to probe this case diligently.
The workers are miffed that at a time the commission’s chairman is busy trying to deploy the majority of the staff to the office of the Head of Service of the Federation for posting over alleged redundancy, he is at the same time appointing personal aides and deploying them to many critical departments.
Insiders told this newspaper that the chairman has already penciled down the names of 70 staff to be sent to the head of service for posting.
The union’s executives were reportedly summoned by a member of the NAHCON board representing the NIA. They were accused of “blowing up the cover of the NIA officer in NAHCON” in their petition.
However, the workers argued that the presence of NIA in the commission is illegal because it has no statutory role to play. They also said, after all, they didn’t mention the name of the affected “officer” in their petition. The workers also raised the membership of the security agency on the NAHCON board.
“This is new to us. The NAHCON Act doesn’t make provision for membership of the security agency on its board. This is another flagrant violation of the commission law,” a senior staff who spoke to our reporter anonymously said.
Another development that drew the ire of the commission’s workers is the plans by Professor Usman-led leadership to spend N640 million to sponsor 50 staff to “travel to Saudi Arabia for Umrah monitoring.”
Many of the staff described this as a jamboree, particularly at a time when the commission is always cup at hand begging for operational funds from the government.
Part of the union’s letter reads: “It has come to our notice that pool officers recently posted to NAHCON have been placed in critical leadership positions ahead of seasoned NAHCON staff, who have dedicated years of service to the Hajj industry.
“A recent instance is the replacement of the Head of Policy and Research, a NAHCON staff, with an officer from the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), despite the absence of a vacancy.
To address this anomaly, the union has urged the executive council and board members to immediately withdraw all pool officers in major divisions.
The union said, “Pool officers who have been placed in strategic positions ahead of NAHCON staff should be withdrawn to ensure fairness and recognition of institutional experience.
The union also said, “Pool officers should also not be allowed to participate in the pre-hajj visit or the 2025 hajj operations at the expense of NAHCON staff.”
Veteran federal civil servants said populating the commission with seconded staff would degrade the institutional memory of the Hajj organization. “NAHCON staff should be trained to rise from bottom to top, to preserve the institutional memory of the commission. But when you adopt a revolving door policy — where staff are deployed and redeployed after some years – the founding father’s idea of establishing the Hajj commission is defeated,” one of the founding fathers of NAHCON told this newspaper.
Other staff members who spoke anonymously for fear of a backlash expressed concern over the ongoing face-off between the NAHCON chairman and his board members and commissioners. “This is unprecedented and it dampens the morale of the workforce,” one of them said. The officials said the earlier the commission gets a competent and experienced person to bring back the staff confidence, the better.
The chairman, it was impeccably gathered, is allowing all these problems to fester, including watching his aides threatening the commission staff, because of his alleged closed relationship with the office of the Head of Service of the Federation and the Vice President’s office.
Some commission officials have called for the sacking of the chairman and the board, saying, “It is glaring that the Vice President can’t properly supervise the commission as expected because his office has been compromised.”
They urged EFCC to investigate the commission leadership over the alleged financial recklessness and indiscipline.
The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate the conditional cash transfer programme of the Federal Government.
Honourable Abass Adigun who moved the motion reminded the House that in order to ensure effective and efficient delivery of the programme in August 2024, nominees for the programme were informed that they will be paid the sum of N50,000 each for three months.
However, some nominees received payment months after information was completed and submitted to the portal, while other nominees have not, and the National Cash Transfer Office has not responded to the payment of other nominees to date.
President Bola Tinubu suspended the scheme – initiated by his predecessor Muhammadu Buhari and administered by the National Social Investment Programme – in January owing to alleged corruption in programme.
But in February, the Federal Government said it was restarting the scheme and is targeting an extra 12 million households that could qualify for these direct payments.