Abuja, FCT The Governance and Leadership Reforms Network (GLRN) makes this heartfelt appeal to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to graciously instruct for the immediate implementation of the appointment of Air Vice Marshal Abubakar Idris Adamu (Rtd) as Chairman, Military Pensions Board (MPB).

A Leader Prepared by Service
AVM Adamu (Rtd) is not a stranger to discipline, integrity, or institutional reform. A distinguished senior officer of the Nigerian Air Force, his career reflects decades of meritorious service marked by operational excellence, financial prudence, and uncommon empathy for personnel welfare. In every command he held, he left behind systems that worked and people who were better. That is the pedigree the Military Pensions Board needs today.

The Value He Brings: Competence Meets Compassion
The MPB is more than an administrative office. It is the last bridge between the nation and the men and women who gave it their youth, their strength, and sometimes their health. Under AVM Adamu’s leadership, we are confident the Board will witness a new era defined by:

1. Prudent Management: Deployment of digital audit trails, transparent payment schedules, and strict adherence to the Standing Operating Procedure to eliminate delays and leakages.
2. Welfare-Centered Innovation: Introduction of a Veterans Welfare Desk, quarterly town-halls with retirees, and a simplified verification process that respects age and dignity.
3. Institutional Renovation: Modernization of MPB directorates for the Army, Navy, and Air Force to ensure seamless, data-driven pension administration and rapid response to veterans’ needs.
4. Trust Restoration: Open-door policy and published service charters to rebuild confidence among retired military personnel and their families.

Why the Delay Hurts Those Who Served
For five months since presidential approval was granted effective December 1, 2025, our veterans have waited. Every day of delay is a day a widow waits for her entitlement, a day an amputee struggles without support, a day the nation appears to forget. AVM Adamu’s appointment was not just an administrative act; it was a promise to those who defended us. That promise must be kept.

Our Clarion Call
We respectfully urge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, whose Renewed Hope Agenda rests on Security and Welfare, to direct the immediate resumption of AVM Abubakar Idris Adamu (Rtd) as Chairman, MPB.

Let this competent, compassionate officer bring his renovations to life. Let the Board become a model of prudent management and good welfare. Let our veterans see that Nigeria remembers, Nigeria cares, and Nigeria rewards sacrifice.

When a nation honors its veterans, it strengthens its future. When it delays their dignity, it weakens its soul.

Signed:
Comrade Ayuba Garba

National Convener
Governance and Leadership Reforms Network (GLRN)

A northern-based political support group, Talakawa Forum, has announced plans to commence regional consultations and grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the aim of securing a landslide victory for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The group said its decision was driven by what it described as “erroneous propaganda” from some northern elements who, it claimed, have failed to acknowledge ongoing reforms and efforts toward sustainable growth and development across the country.

In a press statement signed by its coordinator, Comrade Bala Isah Mohammed, the forum expressed strong support for President Tinubu’s administration, insisting that he should be allowed to complete a second term in office.
According to the statement, the group believes there is an existing understanding on power rotation between the North and the South, noting that the South should be allowed to complete its turn just as the North did under the late former President Muhammadu Buhari.

“We believe there is a gentleman agreement between the North and South for rotation of power. It is based on this understanding that we have resolved to engage and sensitise the masses, particularly the talakawa, to support and vote massively for President Tinubu in 2027,” the statement read.

The group expressed confidence in Tinubu’s leadership capacity, stating that his administration has the potential to address key challenges in the North, including poverty, insecurity, and educational backwardness.

It further argued that supporting Tinubu’s re-election could pave the way for future northern political opportunities, expressing optimism that he would, in turn, support a northern successor.

The Talakawa Forum outlined its core objectives to include reactivating its support base, mobilising women and grassroots communities, promoting the achievements of the Federal Government since 2023, and encouraging national unity.

The group also pledged to sensitise the public on the need for peaceful, credible, and transparent elections as part of its mobilisation efforts.

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Former Kaduna Central senator, Shehu Sani, has strongly criticised the recent protest spearheaded by former Senate President, David Mark, under the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), describing it as insincere and driven by personal political ambitions.

Reacting to the development, Sani dismissed the protest as a gathering of “old hyenas in the garb of new tigers,” accusing its leaders of lacking the credibility to champion the cause of ordinary Nigerians.

According to him, many of those now presenting themselves as opposition figures had previously occupied positions of authority but failed to deliver meaningful progress during their time in office.

“They have been in power and achieved nothing,” Sani stated, adding that such actors now masquerade as agents of change despite being part of the system they currently criticise.

The outspoken activist further described the group as “retrogressive forces camouflaging as opposition,” insisting that their actions are not motivated by genuine concern for Nigerians but by personal political interests.

“If they are messiahs or magicians, Nigeria wouldn’t have been like this,” he said, questioning what he termed their sudden transformation into advocates of reform.

Sani also alleged that many of the leaders involved were instrumental in shaping what he described as Nigeria’s flawed political structure.

“They are the architects and structural engineers who built the faulty system in our country,” he added.

He further argued that none of the key figures within the ADC leadership demonstrated strong democratic credentials while in office, casting doubt on their current posture as champions of democracy.

In a metaphorical remark, Sani likened the party’s internal struggles to mechanical failure, stating that “the ADC leaders bought a used vehicle and are now battling with engine problems.”

He suggested that if the group desired a crisis-free platform, they should have registered a new political party rather than aligning under an existing structure.

The comments come amid growing political realignments and heightened activities among opposition parties ahead of future electoral contests, as analysts continue to monitor shifting alliances within Nigeria’s political landscape.

By: Yunusa Hamza (Tafidan Farin Dutse)
At sixty-three, Governor Umar Namadi stands not merely as a public office holder, but as a compelling symbol of purposeful leadership, moral clarity, and people-centred governance.

His life journey was rooted in discipline, shaped by service, and guided by integrity which offers both inspiration and instruction in an era where leadership is often tested by complexity and competing expectations, especially in a multi geo and diverse communities like Jigawa State
Governor Umar Namadi’s formative years were defined by resilience, humility, modest and a deep appreciation for community values. His professional ascension, particularly in the financial and administrative sectors, was marked by diligence and an unwavering commitment to transparency. As a Fellow Chartered Accountant (FCA), he cultivated a reputation for prudence, accountability and an embodiment of good governance, a trait that later become the cornerstone of his public service ethos.
Governor Umar Namdi’s transition into politics was not driven by ambition alone, but by a sense of duty to contribute meaningfully to societal progress, rising through the ranks, he served with distinction both within the private and the Public notably as a Commissioner of Finance to Deputy Governor, Governor Umar Namdi demonstrated loyalty, competence, and a collaborative spirit. These qualities prepared him for the greater responsibility he now bears as the Executive Governor of Jigawa State.

Governor Namadi’s leadership exemplifies inclusivity in both vision and execution. He governs with a deliberate openness, ensuring that policies reflect the needs and aspirations of diverse communities be it urban and rural, young and old, privileged and underserved. His administration has consistently emphasized participatory governance, recognizing that sustainable development is anchored in collective ownership.

Equally defining is his honesty, an attribute that has earned him public trust and institutional credibility. In a political climate often clouded by scepticism, Governor Umar Namadi’s integrity stands out as a refreshing constant. He leads not with rhetoric, but with results, not with grandstanding, but with grounded action. His financial discipline and transparent governance have fostered confidence among citizens and stakeholders alike.

Above all, Governor Umar Namadi embodies commitment of purpose. His developmental agenda is not episodic but strategic focused on long-term impact rather than short-term applause, from strengthening education and healthcare systems to advancing agricultural productivity and infrastructural growth, his policies reflect a coherent vision for a prosperous and self-reliant Jigawa State.

At 63, the life of Governor Umar Namadi is a testament to the power of consistency, character, and conviction. He reminds us that leadership is not merely about occupying office, but about uplifting lives, building institutions, and leaving behind a legacy of hope, in fact it is worth noting that ‘’Sixty-three teaches that strength is not loud—it is steady.”

In celebrating Governor Umar Namadi this season, we celebrate more than a birthday rather, we celebrate a life devoted to service, a leader defined by inclusivity, honesty, and unwavering commitment to purpose.

On a final note, as a celebrant @63rd we all believe and agree that it is not a milestone of aging, but a celebration of significance and a clear testament to a life that has gathered meaning, shaped others, and it will in sha Allah continues to inspire, as the saying goes, “Sixty-three is not the sunset of life rather it is the golden hour where everything glows with purpose.”

This piece is written and submitted by Yunusa Hamza (Tafidan Farin Dutse) of Gwaram Local Government Jigawa State. Can be reached via yunusafarindutse@gmail.com +234-080 34 44 5493

Adoka Adama

In a blistering indictment of Nigeria’s security policy, the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum (SMBLF) declared Thursday that the federal government has effectively abandoned Christian communities to slaughter, demanding the immediate scrapping of a controversial terrorist rehabilitation program following a devastating Easter weekend that claimed more than 200 lives across five states.

The coalition accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of institutionalized sympathy for killers, pointing to a pattern of official language and policy that treats mass murderers as redeemable “prodigal sons” while victims’ families rot in squalid displacement camps.

“No community should be left helpless while waiting for distant security forces that often arrive too late,” the forum said in a statement issued April 9, capturing the raw fury of Christian leaders in Plateau, Benue, Nasarawa, Borno, and Kwara States, where coordinated attacks struck Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday services.

The bloodshed began with the Palm Sunday assault on Unguwan Rukuba in Jos, Plateau State, and Kahir Village in Kagarko County, Kaduna State, where at least 40 worshippers were cut down. Between April 5 and 6, Gwer community in Benue State lost 17 more. Nyago Gyel in Plateau buried three. Akyawa and Udege Kasa in Nasarawa counted 11 dead.

But it was the preceding wave of violence that exposed the scale of state failure: a Boko Haram assault on Ngoshe town in southern Borno State, coordinated bomb detonations in three Maiduguri locations, an attack on Kautikari near Chibok that killed at least 12 villagers, and raids on Nuku and Woro communities in Kwara State that reportedly left 170 dead.

The SMBLF reserved its sharpest condemnation for what it called a “moral inversion” — a security framework that rehabilitates perpetrators while abandoning victims. The forum singled out Operation Open Corridor, a billion-naira federal program that disengages and rehabilitates terrorists using government funds, as the emblem of this betrayal.

“These statements send a very dangerous message: that those who kill innocent Nigerians are to be treated with sympathy,” the forum said, referencing Chief of Defence Staff Lt. Gen. Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede’s characterization of terrorists as “prodigal sons” and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu’s description of bandits as “our brothers that we must live with.”

The coalition argued that state-level amnesty grants to bandits have not reduced violence but emboldened it, turning pardons into permission slips for fresh massacres. In place of rehabilitation and amnesty, the SMBLF demanded a complete overhaul of Nigeria’s security architecture, including stronger intelligence capacity, accountability for security failures, and adequate equipment for overstretched forces.

In a dramatic escalation that signals the collapse of trust in federal protection, the forum also called for the regulated liberalization of civilian access to legal firearms — urging mass production and controlled distribution of weapons to responsible citizens and community-based security groups.

The statement was signed by HRM Oba Oladipo Olaitan (leader of the SMBLF and Afenifere), Dr. Bitrus Pogu (president of the Middle Belt Forum), Senator John Azuta-Mbata (president-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide), and Ambassador Godknows Igali (national chairman of PANDEF).

For the Christian communities of the Middle Belt and southern Nigeria, the message from Abuja is now clear: the killers are being rehabilitated. The killed are being counted. And the living are being told to arm themselves.

BY Juliana Ifoko

Kaduna

The Ndigbo for Tinubu 2027 Forum (NDI-ABAT) has apologised to Channels Television anchor, Seun Okinbaloye, over a controversial remark allegedly made by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

In a statement issued on Monday and jointly signed by its National Coordinator, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, and Secretary General, Ugwuoke Ugwuoke, the group described the comment as a joke that had been widely misinterpreted.

NDI-ABAT said it was offering an unreserved apology to Okinbaloye, noting that the remark, made during a recent media parley in Abuja, had generated backlash and controversy.

The group explained that Wike’s comment was intended as a light-hearted expression and not a threat, adding that the situation had been taken out of context by some political actors, including members of the opposition coalition.

“We believe it is both prudent and patriotic to intervene and clarify that the statement was made in jest,” the forum said.

According to the group, Okinbaloye had since confirmed that Wike personally reached out to him after the incident to explain his remarks, and that both parties had resolved the issue amicably.

NDI-ABAT, however, clarified that it was not speaking on behalf of the FCT minister but acted out of what it described as civic responsibility, citing Wike’s support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The group also urged opposition figures, particularly within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), not to politicise the matter further.

“It is unnecessary to inflame an issue that has already been resolved between the individuals concerned,” the statement added.

The forum expressed hope that the clarification would calm tensions on social media and encourage more responsible public discourse.

Step Up Nigeria Launches Whistleblower Competition, Urges Youth to Tackle Corruption

Abuja — Step Up Nigeria, in partnership with the Platform to Protect Whistleblowers in Africa, has launched the 2026 World Whistleblower Day Art and Media Competition, calling on young Nigerians to use creative expression to promote transparency and accountability.

The initiative was unveiled at a press briefing in Abuja, where the organisation highlighted the need to strengthen youth participation in the fight against corruption.

Speaking at the event, the Communications Manager of Step Up Nigeria, Dr. Shekwogaza Kure, said the competition is designed to give young Nigerians a platform to engage actively in governance issues through storytelling and the arts.

Also speaking, the Director of Programmes, Step Up Nigeria, Oluwaferanmi Iyanda, described the competition as an opportunity for youths to showcase their creativity and passion for transparency, accountability, and whistleblower protection.

“This is more than a competition. It is a call for young Nigerians to lend their voices to the fight against corruption and to stand for what is right,” he said.

The competition is open to Nigerians between the ages of 15 and 35, with entries accepted in multiple formats including artwork, short skits, songs, spoken word, articles, and short stories.

Organisers said participants are expected to focus on key issues such as the role of whistleblowers in exposing corruption, the importance of accountability in governance, and the risks faced by individuals who speak out without adequate legal protection.

They added that the initiative aims to change public perception about whistleblowing, presenting it as an act of courage and civic responsibility rather than betrayal.

The programme aligns with Article 33 of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, which encourages countries to establish measures to protect individuals who report corruption in good faith.

To encourage wider participation, the organisers announced that the submission deadline has been extended to Sunday, 12 April 2026.

Participation is free, and winners will receive cash prizes and recognition, with selected entries also featured in educational podcasts. However, the organisers stressed that all submissions must be original and not generated using artificial intelligence.

Further details on eligibility and submission guidelines are available on the organisation’s website.

The event also drew participation from key government and anti-corruption agencies, reflecting growing institutional support for whistleblower protection in Nigeria.

Among those present were Alhaji Mohammed S. Wase of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and Dele Oyewale, spokesperson for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Their presence, organisers said, underscores the importance of collaboration between civil society and public institutions in promoting accountability.

As the deadline approaches, Step Up Nigeria urged young Nigerians across the country to take advantage of the opportunity to use their creativity as a tool for change.

Key stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State on Wednesday met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to reaffirm their commitment to delivering the state for the ruling party in the 2027 general elections.

The delegation, drawn from the three senatorial zones of Kaduna State, included the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, alongside Senators Marshall Katung and Shehu Sani.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Abbas said the visit was aimed at briefing the President on the progress made by the APC in Kaduna and the level of preparedness ahead of the next election cycle.

“We are here to brief Mr President on the progress of the APC in Kaduna State and to assure him that the party has a 100 per cent advantage and is well-positioned for a landslide victory in the 2027 elections,” he said.

The Speaker acknowledged that the party had previously faced challenges in expanding its acceptance across the state but noted that recent political developments had strengthened its foothold.

“In the past, APC’s acceptance was largely limited to Zones One and Two, but through the efforts and leadership of Governor Uba Sani, the party has successfully penetrated Zone Three, which was predominantly controlled by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Today, APC is dominant across the three senatorial zones,” Abbas stated.

He added that the delegation’s visit was also to reassure the President that Kaduna was fully mobilised and “battle-ready” to deliver victories for the APC at all levels.

Similarly, Senators Katung and Sani said the stakeholders used the meeting to inform the President that necessary groundwork had been completed across the state to ensure electoral success for the party.

They noted that, for the first time since 1999, there was growing political unity among Christian communities in Southern Kaduna in support of the APC, attributing the development to the inclusive governance style and developmental strides of the current administration.

According to them, achievements in key sectors such as health, education and infrastructure, as well as the inclusive approach of the state government, have contributed to increased support for both the President and the APC in Kaduna.

“The people of Kaduna State are now more united and prepared to reciprocate the efforts of the President and the governor with their votes,” the lawmakers said.

They added that the visit served as a reassurance of the state’s readiness to leverage ongoing projects and political cohesion to secure victory for the APC in the 2027 general elections.

By Barrister Aminu Hussaini Sagagi

In the evolving theatre of Kano politics, the reported move by Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is being framed by his loyalists as yet another masterstroke of political relevance. But beneath the familiar choreography of defection lies a more uncomfortable truth, one that Kano’s politically conscious electorate must now confront with clarity and courage.

It is not a reinvention, as they euphorically claimed, it is a repetition. For decades, Kwankwaso has perfected a pattern of movement without ideological migration, defection without doctrinal evolution. From party to party, platform to platform, the constant has never been policy or principle; it has been personal centrality. The political vehicle may change, but the driver remains the same and the destination is invariably power concentrated in one man’s orbit.

For the first time in a long while, the choice before Kano electorates in 2027 is very clear – choosing between two political destinies; politics as personal preservation and politics as public evolution.

The ADC, in this context, risks becoming less a party and more an extension of a familiar enterprise; another platform recalibrated to sustain a personal political ecosystem. It is a model Kano knows too well; loyalty elevated above competence, structure subordinated to personality and dissent quietly erased in the name of movement cohesion.

This is the deeper question: At what point does political consistency give way to political monopoly?

Sen. Kwankwaso’s enduring strength has never been in institutional building but in emotional consolidation, the creation of a movement bound not by shared governance philosophy but by personal allegiance. Such a structure, while formidable in mobilization, is inherently fragile in transition. It struggles to outlive the will of its architect and resists the emergence of alternative voices within its fold. That is precisely where the contrast with Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf becomes both striking and significant.

Governor Yusuf’s political realignment, controversial as it may appear on the surface, signals something Kano has long been denied, the assertion of institutional independence over inherited loyalty. In choosing to chart a course outside the shadow of political godfatherism, he has disrupted a long-standing orthodoxy that, leadership in Kano must be tethered to a singular political patriarch.

That was not merely a defection, it was a declaration. A declaration that governance must evolve beyond the boundaries of personal empires. That Kano’s future cannot remain perpetually negotiated within the inner circles of a single political lineage. That leadership must, at some point, belong fully to the people, not proximally to a benefactor.

Critics will argue that politics is, by nature, fluid, that movement between parties is neither new nor inherently problematic. And they would be correct. But fluidity becomes suspect when it consistently flows in one direction, towards the preservation of personal dominance rather than the advancement of public purpose.

What Kano now witnesses is a defining divergence in political philosophy. On one hand, a recycled trajectory, a seasoned tactician seeking renewed relevance through another platform, carrying forward a model anchored in personal command. On the other, an emergent assertion, a sitting governor boldly attempting, however imperfectly, to redraw the boundaries between mentorship and control, loyalty and autonomy.

This moment, therefore, is larger than party labels. It is about the ownership of Kano’s political future. Will it remain the extension of an enduring political dynasty, adaptable in platform but constant in control?
Or will it gradually transition into a more open, institution-driven system where leadership is negotiated by performance rather than predetermined by allegiance?

Sen. Kwankwaso’s move to ADC may yet reshape alliances, energize opposition and reconfigure the electoral map. But it also inadvertently sharpens a narrative that may prove far more consequential, the contrast between politics as personal preservation and politics as public evolution. In that contrast lies the real contest ahead. And perhaps, for the first time in a long while, Kano is not merely choosing between parties, it is choosing between two political destinies.

Barrister Hussaini is the
Convener – “KanoFirst Movement”