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Lukman’s Letter: A Tumble From The Moral High Ground
By John Danfulani
Mr. Salisu Lukman enjoyed his constitutionally guaranteed right of expression and penned a 4-page letter to Comrade Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna state. His letter, dated 13th June 2024, is a nest of outlandish, frivolous, and comically-dry postulations and surreptitious conclusions. Raging anger and insincerity of purpose denied him the capacity to parade his thoughts in a logical fashion—including terrible repetitive juxtapositioning of keywords like “probe” with “proves” and “in” with “ni”. The speed at which he aspired to pour the kitchen sink on Gov.Sani must be responsible for his careless mixing of words and illogical cum bumpy presentation.
It’s extremely esoteric to understand the quintessential thrusts of Mr. Lukman’s letter. However, after my third attempt, I identified frivolous narrations, convoluted arguments, and conclusions on: the House of Assembly probe of local and foreign loans from 29th May 2015 to 29th May 2023, Gov. Sani’s one-man show style of governance , lack of strong-willed aides, the Gov’s democratic(Aluta) credentials, his intended 2027 electoral project, P-BAT/Uba conspiracies, and refusal of Gov. Sani to dissuade him from his resignation. There are numerous others, but they aren’t worth enumerating here and expending energy in their rebuttals.
In his page three, Mr. Lukman piqued “Although, you claimed to be among those who fought for democracy, I am not sure from the way you are managing things, you can justify your contributions to the struggle for democracy in Nigeria.” His statement challenged the democratic credentials of His Excellency and his contributions to the lethal struggle for the enthronement of democracy. This assertion is astronomically detached from empirical evidence and testimonies of heroes and heroines of democratic struggle in Nigeria. Gov. Sani’s sterling contribution to the struggle was recognized on 12th June 2024 in Mr. President’s Democratic Day Broadcast. Curiously, Comrade Shehu Sani recognized his contribution while giving a speech at the state house dinner on the same day. The rugged comrade put it like this: “Mr. President, even though the Governor of Kaduna State removed me from the seat, I will always remember that he was one of those who stood for us when we were in prison. He was among those who kept the torch of freedom alive while many of us languished in the cell”. If veterans of the struggle recognized His Excellency as one of them , who needs Lukman’s certification? On the struggle for democracy and social justice, His Excellency can hold a candlelight and walk past him majestically.
In his page one, paragraph one, he stated that “The last one year has been quite interesting and honestly has made everyone who genuinely wants you to succeed and wants the progress of the state to be worried. Worried about the direction you are going and about the fact that you have surrounded yourself with people who only tell you what you want to hear. Anyone capable of telling you the truth is kept away.” This statement is belittling and a deliberate provocation of his aides and members of his executive council. And indirectly equating His Excellency with Inter Wars totalitarian leaders of Europe. This bogus claim is far-off the reality of a respectful and cordial working relationship between the Governor and people in the loop.
Gov. Sani’s love for inclusiveness and recognition of the opinions of others masterminded the establishment of the Kaduna Elders Council and other interfaith groups. In his one year on the saddle, he has interfaced and deliberated with these groups on a regular basis. And their discussions and resolutions are being reflected in the policies and actions of the Governor. If the writer were a keen follower of events in the state—as he wants us to believe, he would have seen resolutions of these meetings with numerous clusters. This absurd take and many others have rendered his fairy tale of a one-man-show governance in Kaduna state absolutely useless and worthless, like some waste tissues.
In his desperation to create a scapegoat of his personal political miscues that peaked with his resignation as a member of the National Working Committee of APC, he tried to shift the blame on Gov. Sani. For whatever reason he throws in the towel, why expect someone to dissuade you from walking away from what you can bear? Was he kicking under the illusion of indispensability and invincibility? By the way, how is persuading him to stay on the position part of the governor’s responsibilities? This is a classic paragon of scapegoatism from a so-called record keeper of those that contributed to the struggle of democracy in Nigeria.
He accused Gov. Sani of instituting the state house of assembly probe of his predecessor. He put it this way: “I sincerely don’t subscribe to proxy fight. It is true that it is the House of Assembly that initiated the probe of the loans during the tenure of Mallam between 2015 and 2023. However, there is no way you can extricate yourself that it did not come from you.” This is the highest mischief and falsehood that one has ever heard. He knows that the house is a co-equal branch of government that has the power to investigate everything done by the executives within a period so desired. His many contradictory statements on this have one ending—which is, he doesn’t like the probe and its apocalyptic discoveries. He is happy with the reign of kleptocracy of Mobutu Sese Seko’s height. He is cherry of impunitive disrespect of constitutional provisos and throwing of due process to the dogs. Mr. Lukman should get the 175-page document of the assembly, read pages 111-117 and the appearance of Jimmi Lawal and his testimonies on pages 73-76—after that, he will appreciate the effort of the assembly. Thereafter he will surely know that it’s not possible to finish abandoned projects worth billions of USD and Naira in Kaduna state.
He said the duo of P-BAT and Gov. Sani are behaving ala autocrat: “…both President Asiwaju Tinubu and you have alienated yourselves and you are behaving as autocrats and if left unchecked whatever has been achieved under this
democracy in the last twenty-five years will be destroyed.” At this point, it’s highly doubtful if he knows the characteristics of autocrats and the type of political systems that they operate on. How can products of democratic struggles turn autocrats after victories against authoritarians? The duo are respecting other branches of government, observing constitutional rituals of appearing before the legislatures, and respecting the independence of the judiciary and their pronouncements. Do autocrats do this? Citizens are ventilating their dissenting views 24/7 without harassment; do autocrats permit that? It’s incontrovertible that they are leaders that are expanding the frontiers of freedoms like no others. In case the writer wants to know how autocrats behave, he should ask Egnr Bawa Magaji Kufana, Chief Of Piriga, Mr. Stephen Kefas, etc., for a deep lecture of autocracy in a democracy.
Aside from protesting the legit probe of the lawmakers, his second strongest issue is to put P-BAT and Gov. Sani on notice that they have commenced a 2027 mobilization against them and their platform (APC)—should they seek renewal of their mandates. This statement can only be taken seriously by people who don’t have full knowledge of the political milieus of Kaduna state and Nigeria. How am I sure that he knows the number of electoral wards in Kaduna state and can mention a single political actor of consequence in each of the wards. Is he blind to the rising popularity of the C-in-C and the governor in Kaduna state? A clairvoyant spirit isn’t required to know that the social bridges Gov. Sani is constructing will yield electoral dividends that will make their challengers slam dunks. The way things are going, a gubernatorial race in Kaduna in 2027 with Gov. Sani on the ticket will be a mere formality of fulfillment of constitutional and electoral righteousnesses.
Finally, no struggler of justice, equity, democracy, and egalitarianism will wear a stone face on the legitimate work of the assembly that exposed kleptocracy, lack of adherence to financial procedures, Maladministration, brigandage, and abandonment of projects.Isn’t it ironical for a man launching his diatribes on moral high ground to places premium on friendship more than adherence to the ethos of democracy and laid down procedures in governance? Let it be known to him and his cohorts that Gov. Sani will stand by his oath of office and will never cave in because of primordial and mundane variables being peddled by the writer. And will never take his eye from the ball of transformation, building of social bridges, promoting a suitable atmosphere for investment, wealth creation, community engagement, and securing of lives and property of the people.
Onward to victory, Governor Sani.
Catholic cardinals have elected Robert Prevost, the first Pope from the United States of America, who has taken the new name Pope Leo XIV after the conclave decided in just four rounds of voting on Thursday.
Italian Cardinal Giuseppe Versaldi said it took cardinals only four rounds of voting to pick a new pope and that white smoke coming out of the Sistine Chapel chimney after a day’s voting is “a clear sign of the unity of the Church. ”
The Pontiff, picked even faster than his predecessor, Francis, appeared on the Vatican balcony amid enthusiastic cheers from thousands of faithful who packed St. Peter’s Basilica on Thursday to witness the historic event.
“May peace be with all of you,” he said from the Vatican balcony after paying tribute to his predecessor, Pope Francis, who gave his life to the service of humanity. He stressed that he wants to deliver his blessing to the people as Pope Francis did in his last appearance in St Peter’s Square.
After concluding his speech, the new Pope started reading a religious passage in Latin, paying homage to the saints and the Madonna. The pope continued with a message of peace and noted, “God loves us all, unconditionally”.
“Humanity needs Christ as a bridge to be reached by God and his love. Help us, and help each other, build bridges.
“Without fear, united hand in hand with God, we are the Disciples of Christ, and the world needs his light.
“Brothers and sisters dearest, this is the first greeting of Christ resurrected. I want to offer a greeting of peace to your families, all of you, wherever you are. May peace be with you,” he said.
Chicago-born Prevost, 69, is seen as a reformer who worked for many years as a missionary in Peru before being made an archbishop there.
The cardinals strongly perceived that the new pope would need to carry forward Pope Francis’s legacy of reaching out to those on the margins and bring along with him a wide spectrum of those within the Church, including those with whom Pope Francis was sometimes at loggerheads.
Observers considered Cardinal Robert Prevost a candidate who could fulfil that role—someone who could be a bridge between different worlds.
The fact that the conclave decided in just four rounds of voting suggests that the cardinals agreed with that assessment.
Robert Prevost will be the 267th occupant of the throne of St Peter. Although he is the first American to fill the role of Pope, he is considered as much a cardinal from Latin America because of the many years he spent as a missionary in Peru before becoming an archbishop there.
Born in Chicago in 1955 to parents of Ecuadorian and French descent, Prevost served as an altar boy and was ordained as a priest in 1982. Although he moved to Peru three years later, he returned regularly to the US to serve as a pastor and a priest in his home city.
He has Peruvian nationality and is fondly remembered as a figure who worked with marginalised communities and helped build bridges. He spent 10 years as a local parish pastor and teacher at a seminary in Trujillo in northwestern Peru.
He is well known to cardinals because of his high-profile role as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops in Latin America, which has the critical task of selecting and supervising bishops. Francis made him a cardinal less than two years ago.
As Francis appointed 80% of the cardinals who took part in the conclave, it is unsurprising that someone like Prevost was elected, even if he was only recently appointed.
He will be seen as a figure who favoured the continuity of Francis’ reforms in the Catholic Church. Prevost is believed to have shared Francis’ views on migrants, the poor and the environment.
He will be fully aware of the divisions within the Catholic Church, and his Latin American background also represents continuity after a Pope who came from Argentina.
During his time as archbishop in Peru, he did not escape the sexual abuse scandals that have clouded the Church. However, his diocese fervently denied he had been involved in any attempted cover-up.
Before the conclave, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said that during gatherings of the College of Cardinals in the days before the conclave they emphasised the need for a pope with “a prophetic spirit capable of leading a Church that does not close in on itself but knows how to go out and bring light to a world marked by despair”.
Top 10 Things to Know About the New Pope, Robert Francis Prevost
1. First American Pope
Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, is the first pope from the United States, born in Chicago, Illinois.
2. Elected as the 267th Pope
He was chosen after a swift two-day conclave, becoming the 267th leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
3. Age and New Namel
At 69 years old, he adopted the papal name Leo XIV upon his election.
4. Deep Missionary Experience in Latin America
Prevost spent over a decade in Peru as a bishop and seminary educator, gaining respect for his pastoral leadership and cultural fluency.
5. Leader of the Augustinian Order
He led the Augustinians globally for over ten years, managing an international religious community.
6. Key Vatican Roles
Before becoming pope, he was Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America—two influential positions in Church governance.
7. Academic and Legal Scholar
He holds degrees in mathematics, theology, and canon law, and has taught canon law in Latin America.
8. Calm, Reform-Oriented Leader
Known for his consensus-building style, Pope Leo XIV is seen as a clear-headed reformer continuing the legacy of Pope Francis.
9. Advocate for Women’s Inclusion
He supports meaningful female participation in Church governance, emphasising their real impact within Vatican bodies.
10. Mission-Driven Papacy
Pope Leo XIV remains committed to missionary work, global outreach, and addressing challenging issues like clerical abuse with humility and resolve.
Catholic cardinals have elected Robert Prevost, the first Pope from the United States of America, who has taken the new name Pope Leo XIV after the conclave decided in just four rounds of voting on Thursday.
Italian Cardinal Giuseppe Versaldi said it took cardinals only four rounds of voting to pick a new pope and that white smoke coming out of the Sistine Chapel chimney after a day’s voting is “a clear sign of the unity of the Church. ”
The Pontiff, picked even faster than his predecessor, Francis, appeared on the Vatican balcony amid enthusiastic cheers from thousands of faithful who packed St. Peter’s Basilica on Thursday to witness the historic event.
“May peace be with all of you,” he said from the Vatican balcony after paying tribute to his predecessor, Pope Francis, who gave his life to the service of humanity. He stressed that he wants to deliver his blessing to the people as Pope Francis did in his last appearance in St Peter’s Square.
After concluding his speech, the new Pope started reading a religious passage in Latin, paying homage to the saints and the Madonna. The pope continued with a message of peace and noted, “God loves us all, unconditionally”.
“Humanity needs Christ as a bridge to be reached by God and his love. Help us, and help each other, build bridges.
“Without fear, united hand in hand with God, we are the Disciples of Christ, and the world needs his light.
“Brothers and sisters dearest, this is the first greeting of Christ resurrected. I want to offer a greeting of peace to your families, all of you, wherever you are. May peace be with you,” he said.
Chicago-born Prevost, 69, is seen as a reformer who worked for many years as a missionary in Peru before being made an archbishop there.
The cardinals strongly perceived that the new pope would need to carry forward Pope Francis’s legacy of reaching out to those on the margins and bring along with him a wide spectrum of those within the Church, including those with whom Pope Francis was sometimes at loggerheads.
Observers considered Cardinal Robert Prevost a candidate who could fulfil that role—someone who could be a bridge between different worlds.
The fact that the conclave decided in just four rounds of voting suggests that the cardinals agreed with that assessment.
Robert Prevost will be the 267th occupant of the throne of St Peter. Although he is the first American to fill the role of Pope, he is considered as much a cardinal from Latin America because of the many years he spent as a missionary in Peru before becoming an archbishop there.
Born in Chicago in 1955 to parents of Ecuadorian and French descent, Prevost served as an altar boy and was ordained as a priest in 1982. Although he moved to Peru three years later, he returned regularly to the US to serve as a pastor and a priest in his home city.
He has Peruvian nationality and is fondly remembered as a figure who worked with marginalised communities and helped build bridges. He spent 10 years as a local parish pastor and teacher at a seminary in Trujillo in northwestern Peru.
He is well known to cardinals because of his high-profile role as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops in Latin America, which has the critical task of selecting and supervising bishops. Francis made him a cardinal less than two years ago.
As Francis appointed 80% of the cardinals who took part in the conclave, it is unsurprising that someone like Prevost was elected, even if he was only recently appointed.
He will be seen as a figure who favoured the continuity of Francis’ reforms in the Catholic Church. Prevost is believed to have shared Francis’ views on migrants, the poor and the environment.
He will be fully aware of the divisions within the Catholic Church, and his Latin American background also represents continuity after a Pope who came from Argentina.
During his time as archbishop in Peru, he did not escape the sexual abuse scandals that have clouded the Church. However, his diocese fervently denied he had been involved in any attempted cover-up.
Before the conclave, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said that during gatherings of the College of Cardinals in the days before the conclave they emphasised the need for a pope with “a prophetic spirit capable of leading a Church that does not close in on itself but knows how to go out and bring light to a world marked by despair”.
Top 10 Things to Know About the New Pope, Robert Francis Prevost
1. First American Pope
Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, is the first pope from the United States, born in Chicago, Illinois.
2. Elected as the 267th Pope
He was chosen after a swift two-day conclave, becoming the 267th leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
3. Age and New Namel
At 69 years old, he adopted the papal name Leo XIV upon his election.
4. Deep Missionary Experience in Latin America
Prevost spent over a decade in Peru as a bishop and seminary educator, gaining respect for his pastoral leadership and cultural fluency.
5. Leader of the Augustinian Order
He led the Augustinians globally for over ten years, managing an international religious community.
6. Key Vatican Roles
Before becoming pope, he was Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America—two influential positions in Church governance.
7. Academic and Legal Scholar
He holds degrees in mathematics, theology, and canon law, and has taught canon law in Latin America.
8. Calm, Reform-Oriented Leader
Known for his consensus-building style, Pope Leo XIV is seen as a clear-headed reformer continuing the legacy of Pope Francis.
9. Advocate for Women’s Inclusion
He supports meaningful female participation in Church governance, emphasising their real impact within Vatican bodies.
10. Mission-Driven Papacy
Pope Leo XIV remains committed to missionary work, global outreach, and addressing challenging issues like clerical abuse with humility and resolve.
By Tambaya Julius, Abuja
As the 2027 general elections approach, respected elder and retired military officer, Brigadier General Simon Katunku Gora, in a press statement today, made a compelling public appeal to the people of ZangoKataf/Jaba Federal Constituency, stressing the importance of adhering to the long-established zoning formula. He called all political actors and constituents to respect Zoning arrangement that has long fostered unity, stability, and inclusiveness in the region.
Speaking on the issue of zoning arrangement, Gen. Gora acknowledged the deep historical significance of the zoning system in ZangoKataf/Jaba federal constituency. According to him, the zoning principle wasn’t a product of political manipulation or favouritism. Rather, it was a mutual agreement among the region’s founding fathers a conscious decision to maintain equity, balance, and fair political representation for every community, regardless of size or influence.
“Our constituency has always stood on a foundation of mutual respect, collaboration and cooperation,” Gen. Gora stated.
He expressed deep concern over what he described as an increasing disregard for the zoning arrangement. Gen. Gora warned that political ambition and selfish interests are beginning to erode the spirit of unity the zoning system was built to protect.
“It is heartbreaking to witness betrayals of this noble system,” Gen. Gora said. “When individuals prioritise their personal gain over collective agreements, they plant seeds of division, instability, and mistrust. We must remember: a house divided against itself cannot stand.”
He urged politicians to resist the temptation of political shortcuts, reminding them that leadership is not simply about acquiring power it’s about sacrifice, responsibility, and service to the people and humanity.
Addressing those eager to contest in the 2027 general election for ZangoKataf/Jaba federal constituency outside the agreed zoning rotation, he advised them to wait for their turn. Gen. Gora was clear and unwavering: “Wait your turn.” He emphasised that respecting the zoning order wouldn’t only strengthens the democratic process but also reinforces the core values of justice and accountability.
“Leadership is more than occupying an office,” he stated. “It is a sacred duty rooted in integrity and humility. Those who seek to lead must first prove themselves capable of self-restraint and honouring agreements.” he said.
He also reminded his audience that breaking the zoning consensus for short-term political gain could have long-lasting consequences on social harmony and development within the constituency. In his stirring address, he appealed to all citizens youths, traditional rulers, political leaders, and community stakeholders to prioritise the future over fleeting ambition. He called on everyone to defend the zoning arrangement as a legacy of equity that must be preserved for coming generations.
“We must not rewrite the rules simply to satisfy today’s interests,” he declared. “Let’s honour the collective sacrifices of our elders and protect the values they instilled through consensus and dialogue.” he stated.
Gen. Gora further emphasised that the zoning system was not just a political tool, but a symbol of unity, and its continuity was essential for maintaining peace, stability, and fairness across all communities in ZangoKataf and Jaba federal constituency.
In his closing remarks Gen. Gora call to action, urging every segment of society to rise above personal agendas and uphold the zoning principle as a unifying framework. He insisted that the zoning system remains the best path forward to ensure equal participation and representation. “To all stakeholders youths, elders, traditional leaders, and political actors let us work together to protect our shared values,” Gen. Gora said. “In doing so, we will secure a stronger, more united ZangoKataf/Jaba for generations to come.”