Category: Daily Trust

I shared many interests with the late Mouftahu Baba-Ahmad. I met him on the platform of Nahnu Muslimum – a WhatsApp group formed by late Alhaji Bashir Othman Tofa. We agreed on many issues on the socioeconomic development of northern Nigeria, especially on the role our religious heritage may play in shaping the future of the region. We had a couple of private phone conversations. But, I never met him – face-to-face. When he was hospitalised, all members of Nahnu Muslimum eagerly followed his health progress through his son and his direct messages. His last message-about his recovery, travel to Medina, and eventual plan to recuperate at Baze University Hospital-was very reassuring. Then, suddenly, the news of death was broken on September 17, 2025. We were all shocked. On September 21, I joined other members of NM on a condolence visit to his family. Due to torrential rainfall, I stayed longer than planned. During that time, I observed the diversity of visitors-a former governor, a former minister, a poor university professor, etc. Their presence reflected his wide influence across different strata of society. I used the opportunity to reflect about life in general and the place of Mouftahu Baba-Ahmad (MBA).

Indeed, the passing of MBA has left a deep void in Northern Nigeria. Known for his integrity, foresight, and relentless pursuit of progress for his people, Mouftahu embodied the quiet strength of a statesman who influenced not only through wealth or power, but through wisdom and vision. He was one of the youngest executive directors of NEPA. Later, he chaired the board of NAL Merchant Bank. He was the chairman of the board of Noble Hall Girls Academy – a premier day and boarding secondary school in Abuja. Recently, he founded the Nigeria Collective – an elite discussion group that draws members across Nigeria. As an ardent supporter of our traditional institutions, I remain deeply grateful to him for his role in attempts to reconcile the different factions in the Kano emirship tussle. He belonged to a generation that understood the delicate balance between tradition and modernity, faith and pragmatism, unity and diversity. His lifelong concern was the future of Northern Nigeria-a future he believed could be transformed if its brightest minds and strongest leaders could set aside differences and work together for the common good.

One of Mouftahu’s most enduring wishes was the unity of four towering figures in the region: Nasiru El-Rufai, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, Nuhu Ribadu, and Muhammadu Sanusi II. Each of them carries unique strengths; together, they could form a formidable force for renewal. In Nasiru El-Rufai, MBA saw a bold reformist. El-Rufai is widely regarded for his ability to take tough decisions. Though often controversial, his record demonstrates an unwavering drive to modernise institutions, demand accountability, and confront entrenched interests. In Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, MBA saw a respected Islamic scholar and cleric, who represented the moral and religious voice of conscience in the region. Though his views have sometimes sparked debate, he symbolizes dialogue, reconciliation, and the persistent call to address grievances through peaceful engagement. Nuhu Ribadu, Nigeria’s pioneer chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), carved a reputation as a fearless anti-corruption crusader. His name is synonymous with integrity and the belief that public life must be anchored in transparency and justice. His current position as National Security Adviser gives him special leverage to get things done. Muhammadu Sanusi II, Emir of Kano, a globally respected intellectual, combines scholarship, vision, and courage. He has consistently spoken truth to power, challenging societal complacency and advocating for economic reform, and the modernisation of Muslim society in line with its best traditions. Sanusi’s PhD thesis clearly demonstrates his vision for such modernization. It needs political will to germinate.

Mouftahu Baba-Ahmad understood that while these four men differ in temperament, style, and even worldview, they represent complementary pillars of leadership. In his eyes, El-Rufai’s technocratic boldness, Gumi’s moral voice, Ribadu’s fight against corruption, and Sanusi’s intellectual clarity could-if united-redraw the destiny of Northern Nigeria. He envisioned a coalition that transcends politics, religion, and ethnicity, guided only by the urgent need to rescue a region burdened by poverty, insecurity, illiteracy, and fractured leadership. Imagine such unity that may lead to: (i) A political blueprint led by reformists with the courage to confront vested interests. (ii) A moral and religious consensus that counters extremism with compassion and wisdom. (iii) An economic agenda rooted in accountability, equity, and the empowerment of youth and women. And, (iv) a social reawakening that restores confidence in education, entrepreneurship, and justice. This was Mouftahu’s dream-not for himself, but for generations yet unborn. In fact, among the quadripartite, MBA was closed to only one of them. His vision was never about individual greatness; it was about collective strength.

As we mourn his departure, we must also celebrate the clarity of his thought. He reminds us that true legacies are not built on material wealth, but on the seeds of ideas planted in fertile hearts. In urging unity among these figures, he called all of us to transcend narrow interests and embrace the higher duty of service to humanity.

Today, Northern Nigeria stands at a crossroads. In honouring Mouftahu Baba-Ahmad, let us not allow his vision to die with him. As Thomas Campbell, beautifully put it, ‘To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die’. Let us keep MBA alive. Let El-Rufai, Gumi, Ribadu, and Sanusi-and indeed all leaders-take to heart his call for unity. For in unity lies the strength to heal wounds, unlock potential, and guide Northern Nigeria toward a future of peace, prosperity, and dignity. MBA believed deeply that ‘we are only as strong as we are united, and as weak as we are divided.’

May Allah forgive his shortcomings, reward his good deeds, and make his vision a reality for the benefit of all.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has praised Nigerians for what he described as ‘uncommon patience, endurance, and resilience despite living under suffocating socio-economic and security conditions.’

In his Independence Day message to Nigerians, the opposition leader alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) administration had abandoned Nigerians to their fate.

Atiku lamented that Nigerians were enduring pains from ‘raging insecurity, rising food scarcity, mass unemployment, and a dangerous climate of hopelessness all ‘compounded by the insensitivity of the APC-led administration’.

‘It is tragic that in a country blessed with immense human and material resources, millions of our people have been reduced to refugees and beggars in their fatherland. Every responsible government holds the welfare and security of its citizens as supreme.

‘But what we have today is an administration that has abandoned its people. Hunger is killing Nigerians, bandits are massacring communities, yet President Bola Tinubu and his cabinet stand by, unmoved and uncaring.’

While calling on citizens not to lose faith, Atiku reminded Nigerians that 2027 provides a clear opportunity to reject bad leadership and reclaim the promise of a better tomorrow.

‘The beauty of democracy lies in the power of the ballot. Oppressed and battered as our people may feel today, they will have the chance to sweep away this inept government at the next polls. That is the power no cabal can take away from the people.’ He said.

Atiku said, At 65, Nigeria remains a giant moving painfully slow on feet of clay – a direct result of decades of poor leadership and wasteful governance.

He however, urged Nigerians to keep hope alive, insisting that with the right leadership, the country can still rise from the ashes of failed governance to reclaim its rightful place among the comity of nations

The opposition leader also wished Nigerians a happy 65th Independence Day anniversary celebration.

The Presidency has attacked former President Goodluck Jonathan over speculation that he may contest the 2027 presidential election, describing his six years in office as a disaster.

There have been renewed calls, particularly from the North, urging Jonathan to return to the presidential race as coalition efforts to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027 gain momentum.

Several PDP leaders, including former Jigawa Governor Sule Lamido and Bauchi State Governor Senator Bala Mohammed, have publicly called on the Bayelsa-born politician to run.

Last week, Jonathan visited the African Democratic Congress (ADC) National Chairman, Senator David Mark at his Abuja residence. Mark was Senate President during the administration of Jonathan between 2010-2015.

While the ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, told Daily Trust the visit was private, observers believe it could be linked to 2027 permutations, with the ADC said to be considering the acceptability of a Jonathan candidacy.

Jonathan, who lost his re-election bid to Muhammadu Buhari in 2015, is believed to be showing renewed interest in the political arena.

Though he has yet to declare formally, his appeal, according to insiders, lies in the constitutional term-limit provision that allows him to serve only one more term-a prospect seen as a strategic option in balancing the power rotation debate between North and South.

During the PDP state congress in Niger at the weekend, former Minister of Information Professor Jerry Gana said Jonathan would contest and could even defeat the ruling APC in 2027.

That remark appeared to trigger a sharp response from the Presidency.

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, in a statement on Monday, described Jonathan’s tenure as a disaster, while stressing that he is free to run.

‘President Tinubu will wholeheartedly welcome him if he decides to enter the race. But Jonathan will have his date in court. The jury will determine whether Jonathan, who was sworn in twice as president, satisfies constitutional requirements and is eligible to contest the presidency and be sworn in, if successful, for a third term,’ Onanuga said.

He accused Gana of attempting to draft Jonathan into the race on the platform of the ‘discredited’ PDP, which he said left behind ‘economic ruins after 16 years of bad governance.’

‘Gana even deluded himself, asserting that the former president would defeat Tinubu to reclaim power after 12 years. He is free to engage in his usual comedy; after all, Jonathan’s entering the race would provide another job for the Niger State-born former university don.’

He said politicians like Jerry Gana only want to lure him into the race to satisfy their interests.

‘However, we should caution former President Jonathan to be wary of the PDP sugar-coated cheerleaders. Politicians of Jerry Gana’s ilk merely want to lure him into the race to satisfy their personal, political, religious, and ethnic interests. They will abandon him midstream, as they did in 2015, and leave Gentleman Jonathan in the lurch,’ he added.

The Presidency maintained Jonathan would have to convince Nigerians that he had anything new to offer ‘after his disastrous six years, for which they voted him out in 2015.’

Onanuga also revisited Jonathan’s record, accusing his administration of lacking any clear economic agenda, engaging in frivolous spending, and running the country into crisis.

He said, ‘Shorn of all those selfish considerations for which some PDP big guns find his candidacy appealing, President Jonathan will also have his encounter with the people as to whether he has anything new to offer after his disastrous six years, for which they voted him out in 2015.

‘The nation’s economic downturn, which President Tinubu is working very hard to overcome, actually began under President Jonathan. The Jonathan administration severely damaged the economy, and all key indicators declined under his watch.

‘Under him, the so-called business moguls allocated foreign exchange to import fuel, simply pocketing the dollars without importing anything. Some of those big men still have court cases on the issue today.

‘Jonathan and his National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), freely distributed security funds to friends and cronies.’

According to Onanuga, in 2010, President Jonathan inherited a total of $66 billion, of which $46 billion was in foreign reserves and $20 billion in the noble-but-abused Excess Crude Account.

‘By 2015, when the people democratically removed him from office, the foreign reserves had fallen below $30 billion, and the Excess Crude Account had been depleted to $2 billion, despite generating record revenue from crude oil sales that the country had never achieved in more than 25 years combined.

‘It is on record that between 2010 and 2013, crude oil sold for an average of $100 per barrel. By December 2014, however, the Jonathan-led Federal Government could no longer pay salaries to Federal Civil Servants. At least 28 states across the country owed workers huge salary arrears.’

By contrast, he said, President Tinubu has taken bold decisions in the past 28 months to reset the economy, including removing the ‘ruinous’ fuel subsidy and abolishing multiple exchange rates.

‘The President has stabilised the economy. In Q2 2025, GDP grew by 4.23 per cent, the highest in four years and above the IMF’s 3.4 per cent projection. Inflation dropped to 20.12 per cent in August 2025, the lowest in three years. Foreign reserves stand at $42.03 billion. The naira has stabilised, investor confidence is back, and investors are betting on Nigeria,’ he said.

Onanuga also cited infrastructure projects such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and Sokoto-Badagry Highway, alongside security interventions in parts of the country.

‘The PDP and its co-travellers broke the economy; Tinubu is fixing it. Jonathan and others are welcome to the 2027 race, but Nigerians will not allow them to return and run it down again,’ he said.

Jonathan has yet to respond to the latest criticism. Since losing the 2015 election, his administration has been a frequent target of APC attacks, though he has previously defended his record on corruption and the economy.

The leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has given the Federal Government another 14-day ultimatum to resolve lingering issues affecting its members.

The union threatened to embark on an industrial action if its demands were not met at the end of the fresh ultimatum.

It explained that the notice, starting from Sunday, September 28, 2025, will first herald a two-week warning strike before embarking on a total and indefinite strike over the federal government’s attitude towards resolving pending issues.

The union made the decision on Monday following a National Executive Council meeting that was held on Sunday at its headquarters in the University of Abuja. President of ASUU, Prof. Chris Piwuna, who made this known in a strike notice he signed, a copy of which was obtained by Daily Trust, said the union was tired of the government’s lackadaisical attitude towards education.

Daily Trust reports ASUU’s demands include renegotiation of the 2009 agreement, adequate revitalisation funds for universities, settlement of outstanding salary arrears, sustainable funding mechanisms, among others.

‘At the National Executive Council meeting held at the University of Abuja on the 28th of September, 2025, the Union decried the neglect of the University system and the government’s consistent refusal to heed to its demands.

‘Accordingly, ASUU has given the Federal Government of Nigeria an Ultimatum of fourteen (14) days within which to address these issues.

‘If at the end of the fourteen-day ultimatum, the Federal Government fails to address these issues, the Union may have no option but to, first, embark on a two-week warning strike and thereafter, a total and indefinite strike,’ the notice partly read.

The National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in Kuru is designed to be a crucible for Nigeria’s future leaders. Its flagship programme, the Senior Executive Course, pushes participants to engage directly with the complex realities of the nation we were trained to lead. For our Course 24, Integrated Research Group (IRG) 2 embarked on a prescribed study tour with the theme: ‘Governance and the Nigerian Public, with special focus on Education, Health, Electricity, Water, and Roads.’ Our assignment was to move beyond theoretical models and assess the ground-level functionality of these essential services.

Our tour took us to two states for a week each: Niger State from April 7th to 14th, 2002, and Ogun State from April 14th to 19th, 2002. The contrast between the two experiences presented a stark portrait of two very different Nigerias.

Our first leg in Niger State was a lesson in institutional decay. From a shoddy reception and inadequate accommodation to a hurried meeting with the Governor, the experience was disheartening. Our single audience with the State Governor was brief and left little room for meaningful dialogue. His address to our group was memorable for its dissonance with the realities we were witnessing. While acknowledging national challenges, he dismissed the pervasive hunger in the country as a ‘lie,’ an assertion that struck a discordant note. His primary policy focus was the establishment of a ‘HYPERDEC’ (Hydro Power Producing Areas Development Commission), modelled after the OMPADEC (Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission) in the Niger Delta. He argued that while hydroelectric dams like the one we visited at Shiroro provided power for the nation, they deprived local farmers of water for irrigation. Though the concept had merit, its presentation felt more like a political talking point than a well-considered solution offered for robust discussion, especially as the tangible sectors of education and health we were there to study languished in neglect.

Our fieldwork at the Local Government level was even more revealing. The decay was palpable. At the Primary Healthcare Centres we inspected, the triple challenges of substandard infrastructure, a crippling lack of essential drugs, and acute staff shortages were the norm. Our visits to several Local Government secretariats were equally disheartening; we often failed to meet the elected chairmen, instead being received by junior staff who were clearly unaware of our scheduled visit. Community members lamented that the only time they saw their local government chairman was at the end of the month. The state of primary education was perhaps the most distressing, with schools in an advanced state of physical decay and pupils struggling to communicate in English. It was a week of profound disillusionment, leaving us with a heavy cache of evidence pointing to systemic failure.

We arrived in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, on April 14th with our expectations firmly managed. Yet, from the moment we stepped into the Gateway Hotel, a different reality unfolded. State officials received us with genuine warmth and efficiency. The accommodation was comfortable, reflecting a clear intention to ensure our stay was productive. This welcome was not just polite; it was a statement of administrative competence that immediately began to restore our faith.

The following morning, we were scheduled to meet Governor Aremo Olusegun Osoba. To understand the calibre of man we were meeting, one must appreciate his unique place in Nigerian history. He was, and remains, a quintessential blend of two powerful professions: a veteran journalist of immense repute and a seasoned politician. This background forged a leader who was both articulate and politically astute.

We expected a brief greeting, but what we received was a masterclass in hands-on leadership. After shaking our hands and enquiring sincerely about our welfare, the elderly Governor did the unexpected: he climbed into our coaster bus and, for the entire journey, remained standing, expertly navigating the moving vehicle as he pointed out landmarks and detailed his administration’s strides in education, health, and infrastructure. His humility was disarming. He engaged us with questions, answering ours with a clarity that made governance tangible.

Emboldened by his demeanour, I ventured a question that had long intrigued me. I noted that many Yoruba leaders, from the era of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, often shunned official residences, preferring their private homes. I mentioned I had heard he did the same. The atmosphere shifted palpably. My colleagues were aghast at my directness, for the unspoken implication of my question was clear: this practice allowed leaders to collect hefty accommodation allowances from the public purse while simultaneously using state resources to maintain and upgrade their private properties, a controversial benefit not available to those who resided in official quarters. But the wisdom of Aremo soon surfaced; he offered a measured response and gracefully steered the conversation forward.

The difference at the local government level was staggering, directly addressing our study theme. The chairmen, councillors and the Staff of the local Government,and were young, vibrant, and clearly understood their mandates. They presented achievements in our sectors of focus: functional primary healthcare centres, schools in good condition with educational support programs, and newly sunk boreholes ensuring water supply. When I asked about the source of this commitment, the answer was starkly honest: the consequences of failure were dire. Community accountability was immediate and non-negotiable.

The day’s most profound lesson came that evening, entirely unplanned. On our way back at the end of our tour, Governor Osoba, without any prior notice, directed our coaster bus to make a detour to his private residence. It was not a formal invitation but a spontaneous decision. We arrived at a home that was not a policed edifice, but a modest, welcoming building. After serving simple refreshments-Coke, Fanta, and water-he gestured for me to follow him. He led me into his simple bedroom, a silent, powerful answer to my provocative query hours earlier. He was showing me, not just telling me, that his home was just that-a home, not a symbol of ill-acquired power, and certainly not a property lavishly maintained by public funds.

The next day, we toured other local governments on our own, but the scenario was the same everywhere: visible progress in the core sectors of education, health, water, and roads. The picture we got from these visits was one of healthy competition among the Local Governments to provide the best services in the areas covered by the theme of our visit.

The following day, we were invited to participate in the State Executive Council meeting, where we featured alongside the Local Government Chairmen. This integrated meeting was not only unique but a true reflection of new and effective ways of governance. It included not only the state commissioners but also all the chairmen of the Local Government Areas of the state. The nature of the discussions and the quality of the contributions from each local government area was legendary. Everyone participated freely in what can only be described as a collaborative atmosphere filled with a spirit of comradeship. I have simply not seen anything near this level of integrated governance before or since. There, we witnessed governance as it should be: strategic, accountable, and focused on the public good.

Watching this exemplary display of participatory governance, I was moved. When it was my turn to comment, I could not help but declare to Governor Osoba, ‘If this is the Alliance for Democracy (AD), then from today, please consider me a member.’

At the conclusion of our visit, His Excellency’s generosity was as profound as his leadership. He presented each member of our group with a specially prepared native Adire fabric and a cash gift. This gesture, so thoughtful and personal, remains indelible in our hearts.

A telling epilogue to our study was the respective states’ response to our findings. Following our return to Kuru, all states visited were invited to send delegations to receive our reports for possible implementation. In a clear demonstration of commitment to good governance, Ogun State sent a high-powered delegation to formally receive our findings. In stark contrast, Niger State sent no representative-a final act of lukewarm indifference that sadly confirmed our on-the-ground observations about their approach to governance and development.

Reflecting on that transformative experience, it becomes clear that Governor Osoba’s model of governance was a direct inheritor of Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s legacy of progressive governance, a legacy fundamentally built on the cornerstone of free education. This model was being successfully replicated in Osun State under Chief Bisi Akande. It is one of the great tragedies of our recent political history that this standard was brutally truncated in the 2003 elections. The inability of these progressive governors to secure a second term was not a rejection by their people but the direct result of a calculated political betrayal by then-President Olusegun Obasanjo. After securing support from the South-West leaders based on promises of restructuring, Obasanjo orchestrated a federal electoral onslaught that targeted the Alliance for Democracy governors. This betrayal led to the defeat of the AD governors in all South-Western states except Lagos, where Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu retained his seat, ostensibly because he was not a part of the initial pact with President Obasanjo. This event, which later prompted Muhammadu Buhari to describe Chief Akande as a victim of a ‘diabolical double-cross,’ marked a pivotal setback from which the quality of progressive leadership in the region has never fully recovered.

Beyond the immediate contrasts in infrastructure and administrative efficiency, this NIPSS study tour revealed a more fundamental divergence: the critical role of an educated populace and political class. The stark difference in the quality of governance and community engagement between Ogun and Niger States appears to be deeply rooted in the educational landscape. This was not an isolated finding; during our final course presentations, other groups that visited different states reported similar patterns, confirming that the correlation between educational attainment and effective governance was a national phenomenon. In Ogun, an environment that valued education had, in turn, cultivated a cadre of leaders at both state and local levels who were not only qualified but also acutely aware of their responsibilities to an equally aware electorate. The situation in Niger State suggested a cyclical challenge: a deficit in educational quality and access impedes the emergence of a sufficiently critical mass of enlightened leadership. Fundamentally, an uneducated leader cannot be expected to genuinely respect education or prioritize its advancement; consequently, education itself becomes the primary victim of such leadership. This creates a self-perpetuating cycle where the electorate’s capacity to discern and elect competent leaders is compromised. This is not a reflection of a lack of qualified human capital, but rather a symptom of a political ecosystem where the recruitment process for leaders, particularly at the local government level, is often impacted by these educational disparities. Ultimately, the quality of governance in any democracy is inextricably linked to the educational attainment of both its leaders and its citizens.

That encounter was not just a study tour; it was a lifelong lesson in service from a true master. If in the 23 years since that April of 2002, Nigeria had been blessed with more leaders of Aremo Osoba’s character and competence, our nation would undoubtedly be a better place today.

(Hassan Husaini is a member of the National Institute (mni), having participated in 2002.)

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The Deputy President of the Senate, Barau I. Jibrin, has urged Nigerians to remain united and see beyond the current challenges facing the country, saying they are temporary.

In his message to Nigerians on the occasion of the 65th independence anniversary, Barau said what is uppermost now is for all to accord President Bola Ahmed Tinubu the needed support to propel the nation to prosperity.

Barau appealed to citizens to remain resolute in promoting national unity, offering support and prayers for the government to succeed in its efforts to turn the country’s fortunes around positively. ‘As we celebrate the 65th Independence Anniversary of our beloved country, we must remember the enormous sacrifices made by our founding fathers: Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Sir Ahmadu Bello and Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, among others, and recommit ourselves to the ideals they stood for, including the promotion of national unity, peace, justice, and tolerance.

‘Yes, at 65, we have some challenges facing us as a country, but we will overcome them. Our country, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, will emerge stronger from its present challenges, by God’s grace.

‘Let us continue to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to actualise his policies and programmes as encapsulated in the Renewed Hope Agenda. He has good intentions for the country. We will get it right,’ he said in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir,