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Open Letter To SMK @62, By Simon Reef Musa
I can’t believe you are 62-year old today. How time flies! When I was informed on Wednesday that you would be turning a new page of your life on Saturday; I thought someone was trying to play me April’s Fool.
Just this evening, the internet told me you turned three scores and two years today.
Let me first of all congratulate you once again for your recent emergence as the Senator-elect of Kaduna-South senatorial zone. Considering the decent campaign you ran that was devoid of the usual mudslinging, I must not hesitate to state here that your victory at the February 25th poll was foretold even before you threw your hat into the ring.
I need not remind you that your election as Senator is coming at a time of great distress, made worse by the rising waves of insecurity that has plunged our communities and our country into a horrifying night of despondency. While I am tempted to condemn the incumbent APC-led government, I also recall that even before the arrival of the APC to the corridor of power, our story has not been different as we also faced a vicious enemy that is poised in seeking our annihilation.
Let me be quick to remind you that conspiracy theories alluding to the fallout of climate change to explain our pitiful security problems are only aimed at veiling the real motives of our attackers. When we are told that these incessant killings ripping across our communities are farmer/herder’s clashes, we are tempted to ask why these dreadful killings are extended to women and children in the dead of the night.
Your emergence as Senator-elect comes with a burden of salvaging what remains of our distressed communities. Many of our communities have been destroyed, with inhabitants fleeing to make-shift IDP camps for refuge. With insecurity shredding our once prosperous and peaceful people, we have become walking corpses in our lands.
While we ponder of a frightful tomorrow, both state and national leaderships remain recalcitrant and unperturbed at the horror unleashed on us by these monstrous angels of death. As it is now, we have been turned into soft targets for terror gangs whose dream is to decimate and reduce us into oblivion.
If the past offered us opportunities in improving our fortunes, we made small use of it, preferring to neglect the bigger picture where prosperity is shared and not restricted. Our past representatives and appointed leaders never rose to the occasion by exploring options beyond our immediate communities; they became cheerleaders of our wailings.
In sticking to our book of Lamentations, these leaders made us embrace the permanent corner of protest as we continue to play victimhood. Unknown to many of us, other communities have suffered worse fate in the hands of these terror gangs under the watch of the Nigerian State.
After nearly eight years of a government, led by Governor Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai, the agony of the past stares us in the face, with the threat of a repeat if we refuse to unlearn our past. Of course, that does not foreclose the legal fireworks that may soon commence in proving the inviolability of the electoral victory of the APC in the March 18th Governorship poll. Much as we have witnessed spates of protest by various groups in the state over the outcome of the guber polls, we must be patient to await the final adjudication by the courts.
In the next two months or so, you shall be inaugurated as a Member of the Red Chamber of the National Assembly. It shall mark the end of Senator Danjuma La’ah’s eight years in the Senate. What is most important for now is what strategies you will deploy to change the story of a Zone inhabited by intelligent people, yet impoverished as they continue to cling to hope that someday, their conditions will be improved upon by leaderships that do not give a damn about them.
I am aware that you are not ignorant of the dynamics that led to your emergence as Senator-elect. Even when others thought the PDP would suffer defeat in Zone 3, I asked: What has the APC done to Kaduna South Zone after nearly eight years of being in the saddle of power? It was obvious that, considering the footprints of the el-Rufai government, it was better clinging to a party that identifies with you in your moments of needs than succumbing to one that has demonstrated unrestrained neglect.
Against the backdrop of your past performance in the House of Representatives from 2015 to 2019, I am confident that you will leave no stone unturned to rise to the occasion. Your most important duty is to contribute to the process of lawmaking and bring to the attention of Nigerians and the world the travails of your people. An effective liaison office in feeling the pulse of the people must not escape your attention.
Furthermore, you should note that as Senator of the Zone, you have become a leader that must provide leadership, not only to members of the lower chamber of the National Assembly, but also to members of Kaduna State House of Assembly from Kaduna South Zone 3.
Incoming Distinguished Senator, you are no longer stranger to what is obtainable in the National Assembly. With the benefits of hindsight, you are well experienced enough in honing your lobby skills for the overall good of your Constituents.
Others have warned us not to expect much from you as you will become an Absentee Senator once elected. My response has always been that as long as you work to attract laudable projects to our communities and draw the attention of Nigerians and the world to what ails us as a people; I shall have no problem with your absenteeism. I shall judge you on the basis of your performance in your efforts of working for the common good, rather than attending to personal issues.
I beseech you to pay more attention to youths of the Zone that have been deprived of opportunities in life. More than anything, I implore you to focus on programmes that can assist our youths to access funds from government agencies and global donor bodies for empowerment. Most importantly, we look forward to your timely collaboration with both the State and Federal Government, including relevant security agencies, to confront the challenges of insecurity plaguing our Zone.
Impressed by your emergence that is coming on the heels of resuscitated hope for the future, you must ignore the politics of ‘gulma’ that sets brothers against brothers as you seek collaboration of all for inclusivity across religious and ethnic divides in advancing the development of Kaduna South Zone.
Sir, avoid the company of political shenanigans who troop to you for personal favours and, instead, seek the company and attention of people with altruistic purpose to help you navigate honest paths of working with diverse groups for the overall good of our people.
We have invested so much hope and dream in you. Please tread carefully because you are treading on our dreams. Accept my hearty congratulations on your arrival at the second step of the sixth floor of life. May the new year of your life bring increased devotion in the service of our people. Here is wishing you abundant good health and impressive collaboration with both local and global progressive groups as you prepare to be sworn in as our Senator in June 2023.
President Bola Tinubu has asked the Muslims in the country to use the Ramadan fasting season to pray for Nigeria’s growth and development.
In a statement on Friday, Tinubu said the Ramadan season “coincides with a period of renewed hope and progress for our nation”.
The president said his administration policies have started yielding “positive results,” noting that the country is witnessing “gradual stabilisation”.
Tinubu added that the foreign exchange rate has started “stabilising” and prices of food items are “now downward”.
“This year’s Ramadan holds special significance as it coincides with a period of renewed hope and progress for our nation,” the statement reads.
“Our administration’s bold and transformative policies are beginning to yield positive results, as evidenced by the gradual stabilisation of our economy.
“The Gross Domestic Product for the last quarter of 2024 showed a marked improvement over the same period in 2023.
“The once-soaring prices of essential food items are now downward, providing much-needed relief to our fasting population and all Nigerians. The exchange rate is stabilising, and fuel prices are declining, signalling a brighter future.
“As the wet season approaches, we remain steadfast in boosting agricultural productivity.
“We are determined to enhance food production and ensure self-sufficiency and food security for all Nigerians through targeted input support, mechanisation, and innovative farming initiatives.
“In this sacred month, I call on all Nigerians to join hands in prayer and action for our beloved country’s continued growth and development.
“Let us fervently seek Allah’s guidance and protection for our nation, and let our words and deeds reflect our shared commitment to peace, unity, and progress.”
Ramadan is a significant month in Islam, during which Muslims fast from dawn to dusk.
The Ramadan fasting period in Nigeria lasts 29 or 30 days, depending on the sighting of the moon, as per the Islamic lunar calendar.
Some minutes ago, Muhammad Abubakar, Sultan of Sokoto, announced the sighting of the crescent moon for the commencement of Ramadan fasting on Saturday.
Senator Ireti Kingibe, representing the Federal Capital Territory, has stated that she has no knowledge of the alleged sexual harassment of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Speaking in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Friday, Kingibe dismissed claims that Akpoti-Uduaghan had been isolated by female senators, revealing that she had, in fact, received more privileges than her female colleagues.
“The three of us [female senators] have not been sexually harassed. That’s not to say if Senator Natasha can prove that she has been, we won’t support her. But she has never discussed it with us, and we don’t know about it,” Kingibe stated.
She added that Akpoti-Uduaghan had been given preferential treatment regarding seating arrangements, noting that other female senators, including herself, had been moved multiple times.
Kingibe further explained that she was hospitalized on the day of the alleged incident and only learned of the controversy afterward. She attempted to contact Akpoti-Uduaghan for clarification but received no response.
“I promptly called her and asked what was going on. She started explaining about seating arrangements but didn’t finish before saying she’d call me back. Till today, she has not called me back,” Kingibe revealed.
Her efforts to reach Akpoti-Uduaghan’s husband also proved unfruitful, as he informed her that his wife was in Singapore at the time.
While acknowledging that the Senate still has gender-related challenges, Kingibe noted that progress has been made in improving the treatment of female lawmakers.
“Yes, the Senate is not gender-friendly, but it has improved. When we raise concerns, the Senate President takes steps to address them,” she said.
She, however, cautioned that internal disputes, particularly those concerning seating arrangements, could harm public perception of the Senate, urging lawmakers to handle disagreements more constructively.
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“No Injustice Was Done Against Ex-Minister Turaki By the Police Regarding DNA Test Result, Woman Tells Court
A woman, Hadiza Baffa, has told a Federal High Court in Abuja that tno Injustice was done against Kabiru Turaki, former minister, special duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, in obtaining a DNA Test result to determine the paternity of her child.
She said by her knowledge, all that transpired in the Police Headquarters was with every sense of humility against the parties involved.
Hadiza told Justice Inyang Ekwo in her affidavit to show cause filed by her lawyer, Sani Idris, on why the reliefs sought in Turaki’s motion ex-parte should not be granted.
Turaki, in the motion ex-parte marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/244/2025, dated Feb 11, but filed on Feb 13, had sued the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), Inspector-General (I-G) of Police; DCP Rita Oki Oyintare, who is Deputy Commissioner of Police for Gender and Hadiza Musa Baffa as 1st to 4th respondents respectively.
He sought an order of interim injunction restraining the respondents from presenting, using, or relying on the purported DNA paternity test result procured from the DNA Labs Limited or any other DNA laboratory on Nov. 5, 2024, or any other date thereafter.
Hadiza, in her counter-affidavit alleged that the ex-minister “maliciously filed the suit when it came to his knowledge that the DNA Test forms part of the evidence at the Magistrate Court and knowing the result shows that 99.9% the applicant is the biological father of the baby.”
“ That contrary to the denial of the Applicant having illicit sexual intercourse with me and also denying being a biological father of our daughter, the Applicant volunteered his swab in the daylight not night, and the Applicant the next day equally took the swab of our daughter by his medical doctor in the presence of his lawyers at Police Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), and some days after reached out to me that he had confirmed the DNA and asked me for settlement;
“ That his lawyers on the 9th Day of January, 2025 asked me to come to Police Force Intelligence Department (FID) to collect their proposed terms of settlement;
“That after collecting the proposed terms of settlement it was stated therein that the Applicant will take custody of the daughter in order to grow up and bond with his children which he refers to as her siblings, and also offered to give me access to our daughter, and I refused the Applicant’s proposed terms,” Hadiza said.
She said the purported restraining order Turaki mentioned in his originating summon was obtained ex-parte by fraud and misrepresentation to restrain the 1st to 3rd respondents from accepting any complaint, and same was vacated by the presiding Upper Area Court Judge.
According to her, contrary to the allegation of the applicant the order was made after I had made my complaint and my statement was already obtained by the Nigerian Police.
“The applicant knows full well that it is only the DNA Test that will exonerate me or him if at all what I am saying about the pregnancy is not that of the applicant and the paternity issue.
“That by my knowledge, all that transpired in the Police Headquarters was done with all sense of humility against the parties involved,” Hadiza said.
She said Turaki had been arraigned at the Chief Magistrate Court, Wuse at Zone 2 in Abuja.
“That it is in the interest of justice to dismiss the applicant’s application,” she prayed
Giving a 13-ground argument why his application should be granted, Turaki said he instituted an action against Hadiza (4th respondent) vide suit No CV/35/2024 on June 24, 2024.
The ex-minister alleged that on Nov. 5, 2024, he was invited by DCP Oyintare and he honoured the invitation.
He further alleged that upon honouring the invitation, Oyintare insisted that she must take a swab from him to conduct a DNA to prove the paternity of Hadiza’s daughter.
He said though he protested, he was detained at the Force Criminal Investigation Department’s cell at Area 10, Garki, Abuja for about 6 hours from 12 noon till 6pm, and at about 9pm, his “swab sample was collected by a purported scientist at the behest of the 3rd respondent,” before he was allowed to go home at about 10pm on that day..
He further said unless the court promptly intervened, the respondents would rely on the said purported DNA test paternity result, the validity or otherwise being the subject matter of the instant suit.
Justice Ekwo had, on Feb. 18, ordered the former minister to put all the respondents on notice when the motion was moved by his lawyer, Abdulaziz Ibrahim, SAN.
The judge directed the respondents to show cause in the next adjourned date why the prayers sought by the ex-minister should not be granted.
Meanwhile, Hadiza, in her affidavit to show cause, told the court that granting Turaki’s application would prejudice her and would cause her and her child an irreparable damages.
The police, in their counter affidavit, also urged the court to dismiss the ex-minister’s request.
Justice Ekwo adjourned the matter until March 24 for hearing.