News
Enough is enough! Governors, leaders, declare war, move to secure North
For the umpteenth time, Northern leaders, comprising governors, traditional rulers and opinion moulders have come together under one roof to chart the way forward to the myriad issues confronting the area, particularly the security crises causing a lot of havocs in many towns and villages.
The meeting under the umbrella of Northern Governors Forum and Northern Traditional Rulers Council is currently ongoing at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House, in Kaduna, the Kaduna State capital and capital of the old Northern Region.
In attendance at the parley, which kicked off Monday afternoon under the leadership of Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya Governor of Gombe State and Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, Sultan of Sokoto, has in attendance Christopher Musa, an army General and Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), who hails from Kaduna State.
Yahaya, Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF), while bemoaning the situation in the region, told the delegation, in a welcome address, that the ugly situation called for collective action emphasising the need for collective action.
His words: “Our collective resolve is being tested by the ongoing challenges that we face. However, our unity and commitment to the prosperity of the people remain our greatest source of strength that will enable us to overcome those challenges.
“Terrorism, banditry, kidnap-for-ransom, farmer-herder clashes, drug abuse, the menace of Almajiri and out-of-school children, poverty, and unemployment. We must continue to work with the Federal Government and relevant agencies to provide the necessary support and relief to those affected.
“To address these challenges, requires various solutions including sustaining gains against criminals, studying and implementing the Coalition of Northern Group’s Security Committee report, and engaging with security agencies and civil society groups.
“Investing in education, skills development, and job creation; supporting small and medium enterprises; and attracting investment to northern states; as well providing support to farmers, ensuring rural security, and promoting agro-allied industries. Partnering with the Federal Government and stakeholders to build irrigation infrastructure and promote sustainable practices.
“We must deepen our cooperation in areas such as infrastructure, education, and trade, working together to harness our region’s immense potential. Let us not lose sight of the bigger picture – our shared responsibility to chart the way forward for a prosperous and forward-looking Northern Nigeria.
“The people of Northern Nigeria are counting on us to steer them through these challenging times, and with unity, determination, and bold actions, I am confident that we can fulfil our mandate to bring about a brighter, more prosperous future for all our people.”
Uba Sani, Kaduna State Governor, who also emphasised unity and collective action against regional challenges, acknowledged the commitment of the governors commitment to peaceful coexistence and shared prosperity, urging that unity must be sustained for greater goals.
His words: “We must work together to realise our vision of a secure, peaceful, and prosperous North. I commend the efforts of President Bola to combat insecurity. The establishment of a Joint Military Command and Operation Fansan Yamma is clear demonstrations of the Federal Government’s commitment.
Sani, who also commended the CDS for his presence, was optimistic that under the leadership of Yahaya and the Sultan, the aim of the forum to address regional challenges, would be met, added: “I am confident that under the able leadership of H.E. Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya and His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, the Northern Governors Forum and the Northern Traditional Rulers Council will make their marks as effective platforms for addressing the security and developmental challenges confronting the North.
“Let me use this opportunity to commend our dear President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR for reinvigorating the war against terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and other criminal elements in the North. The establishment of a Joint Military Command and launching of Operation Fansan Yamma are clear demonstrations of the Federal Government’s commitment to decisively tackle the multidimensional challenges of insecurity confronting the North.”
The Sokoto monarch who is also the spiritual leader of the Muslim community in Nigeria, while stressing the roles of traditional rulers in the entire arrangement towards lifting the region from the doldrums, also echoed the prevailing sentiments, saying: “We must work together to ensure our region’s progress.”
Among the regional governors who attended the meeting in addition to many traditional rulers, from the various states of the region, included: Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, Babagana Zulum, Borno, Ahmed Fintiri, Adamawa, Abdullahi Sule, Adamawa.
Nafiu Bala Gombe, the man on whose behalf the African Democratic Congress (ADC), is currently in a prostrate state, has admitted to getting outside help in prosecuting his legal matters against the David Mark camp.
Recall that Mark, former Senate President and Rauf Aregbesola were, last week, derecognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and had their names struck out based on the case filed by Gombe on September 2, 2025.
The commission had relied on the pronouncement of the Court of Appeal, which ordered parties in the case to maintain status quo ante bellum, which it interpreted to mean that it should not deal with either side.
Against the backdrop of the dust the matter had raised across the country, the embattled ADC leadership, had accused the former Deputy Chairman of being sponsored by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to play the spoiler role to enable President Bola Tinubu have no challenge in the 2027 presidential election.
Bolaji Abdullahi, spokesman of the Mark camp, had last week, stated this much when he wondered how Gombe, who on his own could not afford an ordinary lawyer, going by his financial status, would now be hiring more than three Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) to represent him, which would probably run into tens of millions of naira.
Reacting on Tuesday, Gombe admitted getting outside help, but added that such assistance was not coming from government quarters or the APC, but from public-spirited individuals and Nigerians averse to the injustice being meted out to him.
Abimuku Monday, spokesman to Gombe, who spoke during an appearance on Morning Briefs, a breakfast programme on Channels Television, on Tuesday, told his host: “Before now, they were saying these people are big weights and we’re light weights. Now, we’re suddenly being seen as human beings. Earlier, we were seen as nobodies – as boys who don’t have capacity to challenge this in court.
“They say Nafiu Bala does not even have money to pursue his case. You see, that’s how they reduce people by their own estimation. They don’t find out who people. They have forgotten that for you to seek legal actions, there are so many ways to go about it.
“It is either you use your own money or your personal relationship with people. Does it mean that somebody in politics cannot have his own friends or cannot have lawyers as his friend or cannot have other members of the society as his friends.
“These are not members of the APC. They don’t belong to any party. They’re citizens of this country, who mean well for Nigeria. Nobody is scuttling the coalition. The fact remains that if you have a challenge, people will rally around you knowing it’s a good cause you’re fighting. People will rally around you to give you the necessary support that you need. They even called my principal a small boy.”
Serah Luca, a Christian woman, has returned N1 million she unknowingly took along with goods purchased from a trader at Terminus market in Jos, Plateau state capital.
Luca, a petty trader, reportedly said she made the purchase on Friday and only discovered the hidden cash after getting home.
She said her decision to return the money was driven by fear of God and her belief that she could not keep what did not belong to her, especially knowing the hardship that comes with losing money in business.
“I am a petty businesswoman. I know what it means to suffer loss. If I put that kind of money into my business, I believe God would punish me,” Daily Trust quoted her as saying.
The trader, Abubakar Dola, who deals in polythene bags at Terminus market, expressed surprise at the woman’s honesty, noting that he had no idea where the money went after mistakenly placing it inside the bag she bought.
Dola said he had planned to transfer the cash through a point of sales (POS) operator but became worried when he could not see the polythene bag where the money was kept.
“I mistakenly included it in what she bought. I didn’t realise until days later, and I had already given up hope. For her to return it after three days is remarkable. I pray Allah rewards her and gives us more people like her.”
“The entire country could be taken out in one night, and that night might be tomorrow night,” were the words with which US President Donald Trump, flashed the redlight signal over what could be the fate of Iran in the coming hours, after a month-old war, which saw leaders of the Islamic nation, all but totally obliterated.
The POTUS, who on Saturday, gave Iran 48 hours to to open the Strait of Hormuz to shipping traffic approaches, or comply or risk facing “hell,” later threatened that the US would blow up Iran’s power plants and bridges if Tehran failed to adhere to his warning.
However, in his latest threat on Monday, Trump told reporters that Iran had until Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET (1 am WAT) to make a deal, adding: “We have a plan, because of the power of our military, where every bridge in Iran will be decimated by 12 o’clock tomorrow night, where every power plant in Iran will be out of business – burning, exploding and never to be used again, I mean complete demolition – by 12 o’clock. And it’ll happen over a period of four hours if we want it to. We don’t want that to happen.”
Nafiu Gombe: Yes, I have sponsors! *I can’t fight ADC big men alone!
Woman returns N1million discovered in purchased items to owner
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