Opinion
Kaiama Town: Intellectually Endowed – Comrade Salihu…
Blow your trumpet, and you shall be heard. This is what Nigeria has become, especially since the stabilisation of democracy from 1999 to the present day. Not many outsiders know that Kwara State is made up of more than five tribes, grouped under Kwara Central, Kwara South, and Kwara North. Kaiama falls under Kwara North.
In the first generation of educated elites in the entire North, Kaiama produced eminent personalities such as the late Dr Abdul Rahman Mora, a former Nigerian High Commissioner to Pakistan; the late Alhaji Mamman Musa (Babban Zaria); the late Alhaji Tukur Mora Tasude II, a retired top civil servant of the Northern Region and later the first-class Emir of Kaiama; Alhaji Shehu Omar, a former Federal Commissioner in the Civil Service Commission; the late Alhaji Zakari Haliru, a retired Commissioner of Police; my late father, Mahmud Kaiama Kwada; Senator Idris Haliru, a Third Republic senator; the late optician Danladi Umar; the late Alhaji A.S. Musa, a former Presidential Liaison Officer and Chief Registrar of the Shariah Court of Appeal; and a host of others. These great men were intellectuals and statesmen in their own right.
Today, Kaiama has produced numerous professionals across various fields. The fact that no one boasts about it does not mean it does not exist. The Head and Dean of Law at the University of Abuja, Professor Waziri, is from Kaiama. A former Head of ActionAid Nigeria, Dr Hussaini Abdul, is from Kaiama, as is a former Federal Character Commissioner, Abubakar Zikki. From immigration, where personalities like retired ACG Abbas hail, to customs, the army, air force, police, civil defence, and others, Kaiama is well represented. The navy is not left out, nor is the federal civil service, where many Kaiama indigenes serve. The Central Bank of Nigeria, FCDA, and other institutions also feature Kaiama professionals.
The field of politics is no exception. Presently, Major Yunusa Idris of the Nigerian Army is making us proud, just as Yusuf Jikanmusa is striving in the FRSC. Yahya Salihu, a Deputy Commandant of the NSCDC, and Garba Mahmud (MC Jiggi), a skilled communicator and mass mobiliser at the National Orientation Agency, have also brought pride to Kaiama, doubling their roles with entertainment as a famous MC. Prince Haliru Dantsoho Mahmud took opposition politics to great heights before decamping to the APC. Fellows like CBN’s Attahiru Ahmed and Sulyman Ahmed have made us proud at the apex bank. Dr Zakari Baba Jibrin is promoting the image of Kaiama at NIMASA, just as Mohammed Baba Jibrin is holding the academic space at the Federal College of Education, Kontagora.
The first chartered mediator from Kwara North, Aisha Idris (Talatu), is not left out, and Rashida Mohammed, the Sokoto State NBA President, has broken the jinx. There are many other professionals not mentioned here. The senator representing Kwara North, Senator Sadiq Omar, hails from Kaiama and is also a qualified pharmacist. Alhaji Ahmed Dawa, Alhaji Inuwa Sarki Musa Kallah, Alhaji Madugu Haliru, Alhaji Bagudu, and Hajia Anti Sallah are accomplished politicians who held sway as council chairmen and vice-chairmen, respectively. There are also youthful players like Honourable Ado and Honourable Abu, a former NUT State Chairman, among others. The late Honourable Baba Haliru (Sai Baba) made invaluable contributions that cannot be erased. Retired Air Commodore Sabir is another living role model in the military profession.
In the legal profession, let us mention a few, such as Barrister Bala Mahmud Ibrahim, Barrister Nurudeen Idris, Barrister Tanimu Ibrahim, and others. To God be the glory. The state civil service cannot be forgotten, with personalities like Ba Samari, Ba Razaq, the present Emir Alhaji Muazu Omar, and a host of others. In the diplomatic circle, Ambassador Nurudeen Mohammed and Ambassador Zahra Omar, among others, have represented Kaiama with distinction.
Can you now see that Kaiama indeed has intellectuals? The Ciroma of Kaiama, a veteran journalist, cannot be forgotten, as he remains a force to be reckoned with. I deliberately mentioned him second to last because journalists are four-star generals, positioned at the exit to protect their people. A banker of repute, Bala Mohammed, who once worked with the United Bank for Africa, cannot be erased from history, given his valuable contributions to the development of the area in the nineties. Piokalos was a rare gem, and I shall forever celebrate him.
Comrade Salihu Dantata Mahmud, a public affairs and security analyst, writes from Abuja.
By Rinret Jennifer Mwarap
The unrelenting massacre of citizens in Plateau State has reached an alarming level. While the government claims to be taking steps to restore order, the reality on the ground tells a different story one that feels like nothing meaningful is being done.
It is heartbreaking to see our loved ones butchered without cause. The questions torment us: What have we done wrong? Who have we offended? Where did we go astray? Must we continue to endure this suffering for no justifiable reason?
The killing of innocent people in Plateau must come to an end. The government and security forces cannot afford to look away. Their responsibility is clear they must act swiftly and decisively to bring the perpetrators to justice, for the sake of the innocent victims and the children left behind.
I call on the Governor of Plateau State to rise to this challenge. Take bold and immediate action against those who seek to destroy our land and shed innocent blood. Let them face the full weight of the law.
This feels like a nightmare—how did we get to the point where the same Plateau where I once slept peacefully with both eyes closed is now a place where even sleeping with one eye open feels unsafe?
Where is the peace in our “Home of Peace and Tourism”?
When will our tears dry? When will justice prevail?
If we truly seek peace, then justice must be non-negotiable.
Ken Nnamani, a former president of the senate, says he did not beg Elisha Abbo, a former senator representing Adamawa north, on behalf of any judge after the ex-lawmaker lost his election case in court.
In October 2023, the court of appeal sacked Abbo and declared Amos Yohanna, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as the winner of the Adamawa north senatorial election.
Appearing on Channels Television on Wednesday, Abbo said he was a victim of “miscarriage of justice”.
The former senator said Nnamani pleaded with him on behalf of a judge after he lost his election case in 2023.
Reacting in a statement, the former senate president described Abbo’s claim as “blatant lies”.
“My greatest surprise was to hear him state that Senator Ken Nnamani visited him to plead with him on behalf of a judge for the miscarriage of justice. This statement is a blatant lie. I do not know how Senator Abbo can boldly fabricate an event that never happened to buttress his allegation of judicial miscarriage against him,” he said.
“For the avoidance of doubt, I have never visited Senator Elisha Abbo at his house or anywhere. Up to this moment, I do not know where he lives. I have never discussed with him about his case, or any case pending or decided by any court of law in Nigeria.
“The only time I met with him was when he visited me in my house. It was more of a social visit by him. At this meeting, we never discussed his case or any case. I recall that when the matter of his political career came up, I advised him to avoid controversies as a young politician.
“The statements Senator Abbo made regarding me and his case are all fabrications. I believe I have had a sterling and distinguished public service career. I am determined to maintain my integrity and commitment to excellence till the end of my life.”
Heineken Lokpobiri, minister of state for petroleum resources, says the federal government plans to commence implementing the drill-or-drop provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
Section 94 of the PIA gives operators a period of three years to begin oil production or relinquish the assets to the federal government.
Speaking during the Cross Industry Group (CIG) meeting held on Tuesday in Florence, Italy, Lokpobiri said it is in the best interest of the country that all inactive wells go to work.
He said the federal government, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, has provided every necessary incentive to ensure international oil companies (IOCs) in Nigeria run smoothly and profitably.
“Now, it is imperative for these industry players to match the government’s efforts with increased investment by announcing final investment decisions (FIDs),” he said.
Furthermore, Lokpobiri discussed “the challenges, expectations, and measures to enhance the sector’s contributions towards domestic energy needs and regional expansion across Sub-Saharan Africa”.
He emphasised that while IOCs have highlighted engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractors as a challenge, “EPCs will not come unless they see strong commitments from industry players”.
“The government has done its part to provide the requisite and investment-friendly fiscals, the ball is now in the court of the IOCs and other operators to make strategic investment decisions that will drive increased production and sustainability in the sector,” he said.
“We must also recognise that domestic crude supply is essential to national energy security. The best solution to this challenge lies in increasing production, which will ensure a balance between domestic supply obligations and external commitments.”
The minister further urged industry players to explore collaborative measures, such as shared resources for contiguous assets and the release of underutilised assets to operators ready to invest in production.