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American singer and actress Lady Gaga has reportedly welcomed her first child with her fiancé, entrepreneur Michael Polansky.

The couple were recently spotted in Northern California, with Gaga seen carrying their newborn, according to Page Six.

Gaga, whose real name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, began dating Polansky in 2020 before the pair got engaged in 2024.

The couple has yet to disclose details about the baby, including the child’s name, gender, or exact date of birth.

Gaga had previously spoken publicly about her desire to become a mother.

In a YouTube video in December 2019, while discussing her plans for the next decade, the singer said she hoped motherhood would be part of her future.

‘I want to do more movies, I want to have babies,’ she said.

Jigawa Governor, Mallam Umar Namadi, has honoured the Chairman of Birniwa Local Government Area, Alhaji Shehu Baba Birniwa, for voluntarily undergoing a one-week special training alongside 2,449 Hisbah guards in the state.

The award was presented to the council chairman by the Deputy Governor, Engr. Aminu Usman, who represented the governor at the passing-out ceremony held at the Yakubu Gowon NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Fanisau, Dutse.

Namadi commended Birniwa for demonstrating what he described as exemplary leadership by participating in the training alongside the Hisbah personnel.

He said the chairman’s decision to identify with the personnel during the exercise demonstrated that leaders should not only issue directives but also work alongside those operating at the grassroots.

Speaking after the training, Birniwa said he voluntarily participated in the programme to contribute to efforts to curb social vices and promote peaceful coexistence across the state.

He added that his presence was also aimed at motivating the Hisbah personnel and encouraging other community leaders and residents to support initiatives that promote safer and more peaceful communities.

The chairman acknowledged the role of Hisbah personnel in promoting moral values, discouraging misconduct and supporting peaceful coexistence at the grassroots.

He also commended the Namadi administration for its efforts to strengthen the Hisbah Commission through training, improved welfare, equipment and institutional reforms.

The one-week exercise was organised by the state government for Hisbah personnel drawn from the 27 local government areas of Jigawa.

The training focused on improving the knowledge, discipline, skills and operational capacity of the personnel in tackling social vices and promoting peace and harmony across the state.

Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Governor Usman reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to continuous training, improved welfare and the provision of operational equipment for Hisbah personnel.

He said the exercise formed part of the government’s broader reform programme aimed at making the Hisbah institution more effective and responsive to communities.

Usman disclosed that the government had upgraded the Hisbah Commission to a board to strengthen its institutional capacity.

He also said the monthly minimum allowance for Hisbah personnel had been increased from ?6,000 to ?25,000, while 27 Toyota Hilux vehicles had been provided, one for each local government area, to enhance patrol operations and mobility.

The deputy governor urged the trained personnel to apply the knowledge acquired responsibly and work closely with communities to prevent social vices and promote peace.

He assured them of the government’s continued support towards strengthening the institution and improving its ability to carry out its responsibilities.

The Commander-General of the Jigawa State Hisbah Commission, Dr Muhammad Fa’iz Bashir Haruna, commended the state government for its support, particularly in the areas of welfare, training and provision of operational vehicles.

Haruna said the measures had improved the morale of personnel and enhanced their capacity to carry out their duties.

He urged the trained personnel to justify the confidence placed in them by maintaining discipline, professionalism and commitment in their respective communities.

The Nigerian naira appreciated against the United States (US) dollar, trading at N1,326.5192 at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) official foreign exchange (FX) window on Friday, September 11, 2026.

The data shared on the CBN’s official platform shows that the naira traded at the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM) rate of N1,326.5192 per dollar and closed at N1,328.5000 per dollar.

The currency, which traded at an NFEM rate of N1,328.2154 on September 10, 2026, appreciated by at least N1.69 after trading activities on Friday.

At the parallel market, the buying rate decreased by N5 while the selling rate remained the same when compared to the previous trading rate on Thursday, September 10, 2026.

According to Aboki FX , the Naira-to-dollar exchange rate at the black market on Friday, September 11, 2026, was N1,385 and N1,395 per dollar for buying and selling rates, respectively.

It took only a few minutes of Pete Edochie speaking about his place in the Nigerian acting profession for an old debate to resurface.

During a recent appearance on comedian Isbae U’s Curiosity Made Me Ask, the veteran actor was asked to name his favourite actor. Rather than choose one of his contemporaries, Edochie declared that he was bigger than his colleagues.

He also addressed seniority in the profession, challenging anyone who believed they were on the same level as him to say so publicly.

The remarks prompted Nigerians to compare Edochie with other veteran actors, bringing old performances and familiar arguments back into focus. One name, in particular, quickly entered the conversation: Olu Jacobs.

The two men are not known as bitter rivals, nor has their relationship been defined by an open contest for supremacy. Yet whenever Nigerians discuss the highest echelon of Nigerian acting, Edochie and Jacobs often find themselves on opposite sides of the comparison.

For years, Nigerian movie lovers have had one seemingly simple question that has produced anything but simple answers: Who is the greater actor between Pete Edochie and Olu Jacobs?

Is it the ability to command a scene with a voice and a look? Is it versatility-the capacity to become an entirely different person from one film to another? Or should greatness be measured by longevity, cultural impact, awards, international recognition and memorable performances?

Depending on the answer, the preferred actor changes.

Two giants, two different styles

Pete Edochie and Olu Jacobs belong to the same generation of veteran actors, but they developed contrasting identities on screen.

Edochie is known for his deep, commanding voice, deliberate delivery and powerful portrayal of kings, chiefs, fathers, elders and community leaders. His performance as Okonkwo in the television adaptation of Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart remains one of his defining roles, showcasing the intensity, pride and authority that became his trademarks.

His use of proverbs and ability to give weight to every line have also made him a favourite among audiences drawn to the cultural richness of Nigerian storytelling. For his supporters, Edochie does not merely play authority; he embodies it.

Jacobs, by contrast, built his reputation on versatility. His career began in theatre and television and extended to international productions before he became one of the most respected faces of Nigerian cinema.

He could convincingly play a wealthy businessman, traditional ruler, strict father, politician, villain, comic elder or vulnerable husband without appearing trapped in one screen identity. For his admirers, that range is the strongest argument for placing him among Nigeria’s greatest actors.

The two men therefore represent different schools of Nigerian acting: Edochie, the commanding embodiment of authority and cultural identity; Jacobs, the refined performer celebrated for transformation and range.

The debate is older than social media

It may seem as though social media created the Pete Edochie versus Olu Jacobs argument, but that is far from the truth.

Long before X became a place where Nigerians debated everything from politics to football and entertainment, movie lovers were already having conversations about the two actors.

Old online discussions show that fans have been comparing their acting abilities for years.

The arguments have also remained surprisingly consistent.

Those supporting Edochie point to his screen presence, voice, cultural depth, longevity and ability to command a scene. His supporters often argue that there are certain roles that simply feel incomplete without his presence.

Those backing Jacobs usually highlight his versatility, experience across different forms of acting and ability to convincingly interpret a wide variety of characters.

In many ways, the disagreement is not really about whether either man can act. Both have already proved that.

It is about what audiences believe acting greatness should mean.

Before Nollywood became Nollywood

One thing that makes the comparison particularly interesting is the fact that both men belong to an era when the Nigerian entertainment industry was very different from what it is today.

There was no social media to build an audience. There were no streaming platforms giving actors global visibility overnight. The Nigerian film industry was not yet the international brand that it has become.

Actors had to establish themselves through theatre, television, radio and the limited film opportunities available at the time.

Edochie has said his acting journey dates back to 1962, when he was 15 years old and performed The Merchant of Venice on stage.

That history matters when considering his recent comments about seniority.

His career did not begin with Nollywood because Nollywood itself did not yet exist as the industry Nigerians know today.

The same broader tradition shaped Jacobs, whose career also developed through theatre and television before the rise of Nigerian home videos transformed the entertainment landscape.

Their generation therefore helped create the foundation upon which today’s Nigerian film industry stands.

What does it mean to be a senior actor?

The latest controversy has also reopened the question of how seniority should be measured in the Nigerian acting industry.

Is it the year an actor first appeared on stage? The number of years spent professionally? The number of films? Awards? International recognition? Influence on younger actors?

Or should it simply be the ability to remain relevant to audiences over several decades?

There is no single answer.

An actor may have started earlier but worked mainly in one area. Another may have entered the industry later but demonstrated a wider range. One may have become a household name through traditional roles, while another gained recognition through theatre, television and international productions.

This is where comparisons such as Edochie versus Jacobs become difficult.

There is no objective scorecard for measuring screen presence or the emotional effect an actor has on an audience.

More than kings and chiefs

One of the criticisms sometimes made about Edochie’s acting is that audiences have become so accustomed to seeing him as a king, elder or traditional authority figure that his screen image is closely tied to those roles.

But that familiarity can also be seen as evidence of the strength of his acting identity.

Actors are often remembered for the kinds of roles they make their own.

For Edochie, the traditional ruler and authoritative elder became almost a signature.

Jacobs’ reputation developed around a different kind of flexibility. He could be authoritative without always being the traditional king. He could be gentle in one production and intimidating in another.

That difference is important because it explains why two people can watch the same films and reach completely different conclusions about who is better.

One viewer may value the actor who owns a particular kind of role. Another may prefer the actor who can transform repeatedly.

Are they really rivals?

Social media often presents the debate as though Edochie and Jacobs have spent their careers competing against each other.

The reality is more complicated.

The two actors have been colleagues and have shared the same industry for decades. Edochie has, at different times, pushed back against attempts to create rivalry between them, describing Jacobs as a long-time friend.

Their careers can be compared without turning their professional legacies into a personal feud.

That distinction is important, especially in the age of social media, where an innocent comparison can quickly become a fan war.

The actors themselves do not need to be fighting for audiences to debate their work.

The legacy question

Perhaps the most interesting part of the current conversation is that both actors have already achieved something that cannot easily be taken away by an online argument: legacy.

Edochie’s name is firmly attached to some of the most recognisable portrayals of authority and traditional African characters in Nigerian screen history.

His voice, expressions, delivery and use of language have become instantly recognisable to generations of viewers.

Jacobs, meanwhile, represents another important side of Nigerian acting. His long career across theatre, television, international productions and Nollywood established him as one of the country’s most versatile performers.

Both have influenced younger actors, whether directly through mentorship and professional relationships or indirectly through the performances audiences watched while growing up.

That influence is perhaps a more meaningful measure of greatness than the number of people who vote for an actor during a social-media argument.

So, who is the greater actor?

After all the arguments, there may be no answer that satisfies everyone.

If greatness is measured by commanding screen presence, cultural identity, distinctive voice and memorable portrayals of authority, Edochie has a powerful case.

If it is measured by versatility, range and the ability to move between vastly different characters, Jacobs has an equally compelling claim.

If it is measured by longevity, both men stand tall.

If it is measured by influence, both have left marks on Nigerian acting that younger generations continue to encounter.

Perhaps the problem is that Nigerians keep trying to answer a question that does not have to produce only one winner.

Pete Edochie and Olu Jacobs represent different strengths within the same acting tradition. One became particularly associated with power, tradition and commanding presence; the other with range, refinement and transformation.

The social-media debate may eventually disappear, only to return the next time one of the actors’ old performances resurfaces or a new interview sparks another conversation.

But that may actually be the clearest evidence of their impact.

Decades after they began their careers, Nigerians are still watching their work, remembering their characters and arguing about who did it better.

In an industry where fame can be fleeting and new stars emerge almost every week, that kind of staying power itself is a form of greatness.

Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, Victor Umeh, has expressed confidence that the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) vice-presidential candidate, Rabi’u Kwankwaso, cannot be defeated in Kano in the 2027 presidential election if the poll is credible.

Umeh stated this on Friday while featuring on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he spoke on the NDC’s preparedness for the 2027 general elections.

The senator said the popularity of Kwankwaso in Kano would give the NDC a strong advantage in the state, regardless of the political opposition against him.

‘No matter the noise they make in Kano, nobody can beat Kwankwaso there once the election is credible, transparent, free, and fair. I can bet it.

‘I’m working with him and other leaders of the party very closely. The party is well more prepared to be an opposition party that will contest this election with very credible candidates.

‘Look at what our Rivers State governorship candidate, Dumo Lulu-Briggs, did in Port Harcourt in his first outing. Port Harcourt was shut down.

‘Those people following them in Port Harcourt last week are Nigerians that will vote. Why were they following our presidential candidate, Peter Obi, like Jesus was crossing, and people were marching around him? Something must be motivating and driving the people, the voting population,’ he said.

They have been outlawed, but they have not disappeared. Across Lagos, scavengers still roam streets and communities at almost all hours, combing neighbourhoods for scraps, even as allegations of theft and vandalism increasingly trail their activities. Worried residents say their continued presence is giving them sleepless nights, while communities are resorting to their own security measures to keep them out. Dayo Ayeyemi and Francis Iwuchukwu report on the growing concerns over scavengers in Lagos and the apparent difficulty in enforcing the government’s ban.

In January 2025, members of the Lagos State House of Assembly resolved to curb manhole theft and the illegal activities of scavengers in the state.

The lawmakers made the resolution while debating a motion titled, ‘Motion to Curb the Activities of Scavengers and Manhole Theft in Lagos’, moved by Hon. Gbolahon Yishawu (Eti-Osa 2).

According to the lawmakers, if the menace of scavenging and manhole theft is not checked in the state, it could lead to an increase in accidents and blockage of drainage systems.

The House, therefore, called on the state governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, to sanction scavengers and cart pushers in order to curb their nefarious activities.

The lawmakers also called on the state government to enforce all relevant environmental laws, stating that there were sufficient laws to curtail such illegal acts in the state.

Interestingly, events and developments within the city in the past few months regarding the activities of scavengers are making it increasingly imperative for the state government to act on the lawmakers’ resolution and save residents and public infrastructure from what some have described as a ‘disaster waiting to happen’.

Investigations by Saturday Tribune, for instance, revealed that scavengers have, of late, become increasingly daring. A common sight in the city, they parade and stroll through virtually every nook and cranny, looking for empty cans, disused iron rods and used PET bottles. It is generally believed that they collect these items for sale as scrap to those in the recycling business as a means of earning a livelihood.

But, of late, residents have become wary that the ranks of these seemingly ‘innocent’ scavengers are being infiltrated by criminal elements. Reports regarding the activities of some of them in the past few years show that they are increasingly taking advantage of unsuspecting residents and even compromising public infrastructure under the guise of scavenging.

Their searches have, of late, gone beyond empty cans, disused iron rods and PET bottles. Some allegedly steal residents’ belongings, especially when residents let down their guard, and also vandalise public facilities.

And tales of such incidents abound. For instance, no fewer than 1,800 manhole covers have reportedly been stolen along the Lagos section of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway between January and August 2026, while over 4,000 manholes were said to have been vandalised across various local government and local council development areas in the state.

Residents are not spared either.

‘There was a time one of the slabs, made of heavy steel, which we used to cover our culvert to enable us to drive into the compound, was picked by these guys,’ Hakeem, a resident of Olorunto in Oke Odo Local Council Development Area of the state, complained to Saturday Tribune.

According to him, residents only discovered that the item was missing long after it had been stolen since it was not the only slab there. He expressed shock that a slab that heavy could be stolen without anybody noticing.

For Segun Odunewu, the Public Relations Officer of Abesan Estate, residents of the estate are conscious of the nefarious activities of some of these people and have deployed strategies to check them.

According to him, while the estate authorities could not restrict anybody from entering the estate, the movement of such individuals could, however, be restricted within it.

‘Those people steal a lot. And what we have done is to divide the estate into sectors. That means while anybody, including the scavengers, can walk on the major roads within the estate, they are, however, not allowed to move into the zones, that is, go near the buildings where people reside. Such steps have become imperative because those people are capable of doing anything.

‘We’ve heard different reports about them, and we believe if they could damage government bridges all in the name of extracting iron rods, that means they are capable of doing anything,’ he stated.

Besides, he added, the estate had also put up banners at strategic locations, warning scavengers that they were unwanted guests within the estate.

The Chairman of Olorunto Landlords Association, Mr Matthew Ajala, also expressed concerns over the activities of the scavengers. According to him, the community had also placed banners outlawing the activities of such people on its streets.

‘They no longer come to our street and the entire community because every street has such a banner at its entrance and exit, and they have no choice but to obey. Sometimes, they make the mistake of entering the street and once we draw their attention to the banner, they take to their heels,’ he added.

While Mr Rasheed Okoya threw his weight behind the steps taken by the various communities to secure their domains from scavengers, he, however, expressed regret that the situation had degenerated to that level.

Rasheed, an electronics technician, stated that scavengers used to be his major means of disposing of unused items in his shop in the past.

‘Before things suddenly took this negative turn, they used to come to my place and help me clear the shop of disused radios, TV sets and other electronic accessories, and even pay a token to me for doing that. Unfortunately, the thieves among them have succeeded in shutting society’s door against the innocent ones,’ he added.

Disaster waiting to happen

Decrying the activities of scavengers and the vandalisation of bridge components, an expert in the nation’s built environment, Kunle Awobodu, urged the state government to be more proactive in preventing the destruction of public facilities by scavengers operating across the city.

He pointed out that bridge underpasses in Lagos were gradually being converted into rooms, with people living and paying rent there, citing the Opebi, Ikoyi and Yaba bridges.

He said: ‘For instance, we have a flurry of activities going on daily below the Opebi Link Bridge. People have turned the bridge underpass into rooms, and these rooms are controlled by street urchins.

‘Government has not been paying attention to those activities. During the regime of Fashola, he ensured every bridge underpass was beautified so as to prevent it from becoming a den of criminals because, then, most of those places were criminals’ hideouts. They were renting the bridge underpasses to people to sleep under the control of area boys.

‘Vandalism by scavengers is all over the place. Most of the aluminium rails on the Third Mainland Bridge have been stolen. They sold them as scraps. It’s a criminal issue that the police should be involved in,’ he added.

According to him, many of those bridge underpasses are being managed by ‘baales’. He, therefore, urged the government to factor the baales into the security architecture to enable them to monitor and guard the bridges against the activities of vandals.

Also speaking to Saturday Tribune on the issue, another expert, Engineer Oyenuga, noted that besides the financial loss, it was painful to see infrastructure on which Nigerians depend being vandalised.

He described the vandalisation of bridge support systems as a ‘disaster waiting to happen’.

‘If one of the pillars fails, it will transfer more loads to other pillars, which may be too heavy for them to carry, leading to total collapse,’ he said.

Apart from this, he said the collapse of a bridge would be a huge loss to the country, estimating that it could cost more than N6 billion to build a new structure if a bridge failed.

He called on the government to make public declarations about the health of bridges and other public infrastructure in the country so as to determine the extent to which some of those facilities had been compromised.

Existing laws sufficient to handle criminal acts – SAN

Giving a legal perspective to the issue, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Solo Akuma, argued that Nigeria does not require new legislation to address criminal activities allegedly perpetrated by some persons under the guise of scavenging.

According to the legal expert, existing criminal laws are sufficient to deal with offenders.

Speaking on how best to address the growing concerns surrounding scavenging, Chief Akuma noted that although many scavengers legitimately depend on the activity for their livelihood, a fraction of persons involved in the trade allegedly engage in theft, vandalism and the destruction of government and private property.

The senior lawyer declared that it was important to distinguish between legitimate scavengers who search dump sites for recyclable or valuable materials and criminal elements who allegedly exploit scavenging as a cover for unlawful activities.

Akuma said: ‘Some people have found scavenging as a means of livelihood, and there are those who are not criminals among them, who go to dump sites to search for anything valuable they can sell to make a living.’

However, the SAN expressed concern over what he described as a fraction of persons who allegedly abandon legitimate scavenging and instead break into people’s premises, damage public facilities and steal government or private property for resale.

Chief Akuma explained that existing provisions under the Criminal Code and Penal Code already provide legal mechanisms for prosecuting offences such as theft, burglary and destruction of property.

He contended that the major challenge was not the absence of adequate laws but the need for security agencies to be more proactive in preventing and responding to criminal activities.

The senior legal luminary maintained that effective intelligence gathering, surveillance and policing could help security agencies identify and arrest persons allegedly involved in criminal acts linked to scavenging before such activities become widespread.

According to Akuma: ‘If the security agencies are proactive, they’ll be able to arrest the criminals and then deal with them according to law.’

According to the SAN, failure by relevant authorities to act promptly could allow criminal elements operating under the guise of scavenging to continue their activities unchecked.

However, the senior lawyer called for improved monitoring and protection of government facilities and other public assets rather than the enactment of fresh legislation specifically targeted at scavengers.

‘The proper thing to do is not to crave new legislation but to call for proper monitoring of government and policing of government assets so that people will not interfere with them,’ he said.

Akuma maintained that anyone found destroying or damaging government property or the belongings of private citizens in the name of scavenging should be arrested, investigated and prosecuted in accordance with existing laws.

The lawyer stressed that while legitimate scavengers should not be automatically criminalised, those who engage in theft, vandalism or other criminal conduct must be held accountable.

When contacted, Director of Public Affairs of the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Kunle Adeshina, disclosed that the activities of scavengers and cart pushers remained outlawed in the state.

The response followed a query by Saturday Tribune on the position of the ministry on scavengers and the number of culprits arrested so far following the recent vandalisation of the Festac-Alakija Bridge in Lagos.

He added that the decision to outlaw their activities in the state stemmed from concerns expressed by residents and the danger their activities pose to public infrastructure.

Soothing as the ministry’s assurance to the public may be, residents of the state are still concerned that the government’s directive in this regard is not being obeyed.

‘The development is giving us sleepless nights. We still see these people at any time of the day, even till the unholy hours of the night, despite their activities being outlawed. We are wary of the security implications of their actions for our well-being, and that is why we want the government to act decisively now,’ said a resident of Agbelekale, a community in Agbado Oke Odo Local Council Development Area of the state, who did not want his name in print for security reasons.

Osun State Government has defended the extension of the tenure of the Vice-Chancellor of Osun State University (UNIOSUN), challenging the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to point to any law breached by the decision.

The government maintained that the extension was carried out in accordance with the law establishing the institution, stressing that UNIOSUN, as a state-owned university, is governed by the Osun State University Establishment Law.

In a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, the Osun government also highlighted its implementation of the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement at the university.

It said UNIOSUN began implementing the agreement before the Federal Government, with payment of the applicable arrears also ongoing.

According to the government, Governor Ademola Adeleke became the second governor, after his Ekiti State counterpart, to approve implementation of the salary component of the agreement.

It described ASUU’s failure to acknowledge the development as surprising, insisting that the state’s record on staff welfare did not support allegations that the government had neglected university lecturers.

On the VC’s tenure, the government rejected ASUU’s description of the extension as arbitrary, saying the process followed the appropriate executive and legislative procedures.

It particularly faulted the union’s reliance on the Federal Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, arguing that the law applies to federal universities and cannot be used as the governing framework for UNIOSUN.

The government said UNIOSUN derives its legal existence and governance structure from the Osun State University Establishment Law.

It further stated that after the Visitor exercised his powers regarding the Vice-Chancellor’s tenure, the Osun State House of Assembly amended relevant provisions of the university’s establishment law.

The state government therefore argued that the tenure extension was not a unilateral decision by the governor but one backed by the applicable legal framework.

ASUU had earlier opposed the extension and the subsequent amendment of the university’s establishment law, warning that the move could set a precedent for governors to interfere in succession arrangements in state-owned universities.

The union also expressed concern that such interventions could undermine institutional autonomy and create avoidable leadership crises in state universities.

The Osun government, however, maintained that the controversy should be examined within the specific law establishing UNIOSUN, rather than legislation governing federal universities.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Sokoto State, Hon. Manir Muhammad Dan’iya, has criticised the state government over the worsening insecurity in parts of the state, calling for urgent measures to protect residents and displaced communities.

Dan’iya said the recent attacks and displacement of residents from communities including Girkau, Romon Liman, Romon Sarki, Margai and Masu underscored the severity of the security situation confronting the state.

He also expressed support for concerns raised by Amnesty International over the reported attacks, abductions and destruction of communities, urging the authorities to treat the situation as a humanitarian emergency.

In a statement issued by his Media Aide, Aminu Abdullahi, Dan’iya said the reported protests by displaced residents in Tambuwal, including the blocking of the Tambuwal-Jega and Tambuwal-Aleiro roads, reflected growing frustration among affected communities.

‘When entire communities are driven from their ancestral homes, when women and girls are abducted and when citizens take to the streets demanding protection, government cannot afford silence,’ he said.

‘This is a humanitarian and security emergency that requires action, not political explanations.’

The ADC candidate urged the Sokoto State Government and the Federal Government to intensify security operations, rescue abducted residents and ensure that perpetrators of attacks are arrested and prosecuted.

He also demanded greater transparency in the use of public funds, particularly resources allocated to security and humanitarian interventions.

Dan’iya claimed that the state government and local governments had received more than ?1.2 trillion in Federation Account allocations during the period under review, challenging the authorities to account for funds deployed to address insecurity and its consequences.

‘Citizens cannot be told that there is no money to respond to their suffering while public funds continue to flow into government coffers,’ he said.

‘The people have a right to know how their resources are being used and what measurable results those resources are producing.’

He said the crisis had gone beyond security concerns, warning that displacement of farmers and destruction of communities were threatening food production, livelihoods, education and local economies.

Dan’iya therefore called for an emergency response programme for displaced persons, including support for affected families and efforts to restore safe access to farms and markets.

He further urged the government to collaborate with traditional rulers, community leaders and security agencies to facilitate the return of displaced residents to their communities.

‘Sokoto cannot continue to lose its people, communities and livelihoods while those entrusted with leadership remain largely silent,’ Dan’iya said.

‘The people deserve protection, accountability and a government that treats every life as valuable.’

He pledged that an ADC administration would make security, protection of communities, humanitarian intervention and responsible management of public resources key priorities if elected in 2027.

EVEN if you have lost your copy of Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea, I bet you still remember that story of man’s struggle in a hostile world. You remember the story of the old fisherman who suffers for 84 gruelling days before catching a marlin, only to end up with its skeleton after a barrage by rampaging sharks. That is the story of the disunited, politically blind and perennially unserious opposition angling to dethrone the All Progressives Congress’ Bola Tinubu in just a few months’ time. I had assumed that these human beings were serious when they held an opposition summit in Ibadan, but they revealed their true character shortly after.

It is true that Tinubu and his government have mounted roadblocks in the path of the opposition – I cannot forget the incident in Abuja when they had to use campaign fliers to fan themselves after ACs and fans were shut off following the depraved antics of a minister – but much of their woes have been self-inflicted. Parading oversized egos, they have thrown out the power of collective bargaining and tactical discipline with which the Tinubu-led opposition routed the then ruling PDP, a shell now parading a ‘presidential candidate.’ Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, Rabiu Kwankwaso and others are not ready to stoop to conquer: they are preparing to cry like the mythical egbere for their lost mat after Tinubu wins before 12 pm on election day, throwing up all sorts of conspiracy theories. I have carefully surveyed the opposition movement and come to the painful conclusion that they are merely wasting time engaging in content creation instead of preparing for a tactical, epic presidential battle in 2027.

If you are a bit familiar with the German-American theorist Hannah Arendt, then you cannot avoid looking at politics as collective action. As Arendt teaches us, power arises when people act together. Surely, a political opposition can’t come to power merely because it has many prominent politicians in its fold. It will acquire power based on its capacity to act collectively. As the Bard of Avon teaches in King Lear: ‘When great ones fall out, the weaker side is with them.’ Consumed by egotism and rivalry, the opposition contenders can only lose out, and lose out in a big way. A Yoruba proverb says it is with collective fingers that one beats his chest, and it is as a whole that a broom kills flies. But the opposition politicians creating disparate, unrealistic paths to the presidency act as sole repositories of wisdom, titillating the ears of their supporters with empty sloganeering.

In case you think I am being unduly harsh, here again are the results of the 2023 presidential election: Bola Ahmed Tinubu (APC) – 8,794,726 votes (36.61%) – Winner. Atiku Abubakar (PDP) – 6,984,520 votes (29.07%) – 2nd place. Peter Obi (Labour Party) – 6,101,533 votes (25.40%) – 3rd place. Rabiu Kwankwaso (NNPP) – 1,496,687 votes (6.40%) – 4th place. Total valid votes cast: 24,965,218. From these results, it is clear that the majority of voters who trooped out on election day were resolutely against the APC. The opposition politicians, the same individuals now running disparate campaigns that will end in premium tears, had told Nigerians to vote out Buhari’s party, and Nigerians had listened. So, out of the 24.97 million valid votes cast, the APC only got 8.79 million votes, the smallest margin ever recorded by a ruling party. Ideally, the opposition ought to form the next government. Nigerians had spoken with a loud voice. Alas! The opposition had not banded together like Tinubu and the PDP G-5 did in 2015, and so it happened that the APC that voters revolted against on election day formed the next government.

Now, ahead of 2027, the time-wasters are repeating the same gimmick. They have refused to learn from the Osun State governorship election where Ademola Adeleke of the PDP/Accord Party won with 511,067 votes while Bola Oyebanji of the APC secured 444,815 votes. If certain APC hawks had not frustrated Adeleke’s defection to the APC, that party would have won by a criminally massive landslide. Still, if Tinubu and his party lose Osun in 2027 but get the same kind of margin, they are good to go. Conversely, if all the opposition parties band together and support a single candidate, they will win Osun State.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu was declared president-elect by INEC on 1 March 2023. He will again be declared president in 2027 if the current situation persists. Tinubu will win before 12 pm on election day and the big stumbling block, Atiku Abubakar, whom I voted for in 2019 before the Leah Sharibu case shattered my illusions, will approach the courts and feed SANs, as usual.

Like the whiskey priest struggling with a dog over a bone in Graham Greene’sThe Power and the Glory, highlighting sheer desperation and loss of dignity, the Nigerian opposition politicians have reduced themselves to presidential pretenders. Lacking effective mobilisers, the opposition recalls the lines of W.B. Yeats in The Second Coming: ‘The best lack all conviction, while the worst /Are full of passionate intensity.’ Their postulations have become much like the proverbial tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.

Says Niccolò Machiavelli in The Prince: ‘He who wishes to be obeyed must know how to command.’ Tell that to Rabiu Kwankwaso. Feeling funky this week, the NDC VP candidate arrogantly asked Atiku to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race. Receiving members of the Fulani Farmers Association in his Abuja residence, Kwankwaso, widely seen by many southerners as a Fulani irredentist and merely being tolerated because he is on a ticket with Peter Obi, delivered this silly sermon: ‘Go to the Wazirin of Adamawa’s house and tell him in Fulani that he needs to focus on his traditional title of Wazirin, given his age and health. If Allah grants us success, we will take good care of him.’

See his mouth like ‘take care of him’. Between him and Atiku, who has proved for decades that he can win opposition presidential primaries no matter the dollar rain, who should take care of the other? Is that how, in Kwankwaso’s red-cap world, leading opposition bigwigs are persuaded to step down? Did the APC’s Tinubu send farmers to people like Godswill Akpabio and others who stepped down for him to clinch the APC ticket in 2023? Why do these opposition politicians keep acting like bewitched brides? Who should treat Atiku like royalty, begging for a concession, if not Kwankwaso?

Evidently, 2027 is no contest. It is sheer force majeure for Kwankwaso and co.

INEC, where is my PVC?

On 26/10/2025, I wrote INEC via [email protected]: ‘Hello Sir/Ma, I made an application for a replacement of my damaged card. I want to know if the cars is ready and when to pick it up. The details are as follows: Application Number: RPL28671872. Application Type: Lost or Damaged PVC Replacement Request. Application Status Application Submitted for Approval (Stage 1 of 2). Applicant Name: AWOLAJA, ABIODUN ADEBAYO. Email: [email protected]. State: OYO. Local Government: IBADAN SOUTH WEST. Registration Area/Ward WARD 9 SW8 (1). ‘

Till today, I haven’t got a reply. When I applied for Damaged PVC Replacement, though, INEC on 02/09/2025, INEC assigned me the reference no RPL28671872. Okay oo.