Connect with us

General News

Yahaya–Jingir working for his pocket –Kwankwaso

Published

on

The Vice-Presidential Candidate of Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso, has called on the Federal Government to call Islamic cleric, Sheikh Sani Yahaya-Jingir, to order over his recent anti-Christian statement.

Kwankwaso, who made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja, said the cleric was “only working for his pocket”.

NAN reports that Yahaya-Jingir had, at a recent event in Kano State while canvassing support for a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 elections, described Christians as “infidels”.

Kwankwaso, a former Kano State governor, however, said such views do not represent the position of the majority of northern Muslims.

He described Yahaya-Jingir’s comments as “inappropriate and capable of deepening religious and political divisions in the country”.

He appealed to the federal government as well as the wife of the President, Oluremi Tinubu who, he said, is not only a Christian but a pastor, to intervene and caution the Islamic cleric.

According to him, the continued propagation of such views is not in the interest of national unity.

“I believe it is not correct. What Malam Yahya-Jingir is saying is not correct, and it will only succeed in further dividing the country,” Kwankwaso said.

He urged the Islamic cleric to reconsider his position, stressing that Christians and other non-Muslims are Nigerians with equal rights, including the right to vote and participate in the country’s political process.

The vice-presidential candidate described the religious rhetoric targetted at non-Muslims as also a poor political strategy, as the electorate comprise Muslims, Christians and adherents of other faiths.

Kwankwaso said that the comments were particularly concerning because Yahaya-Jingir is a respected religious figure whose pronouncements could influence public opinions.

He noted that he had personally enjoyed a cordial relationship with the Islamic cleric in the past and had respected him for many years.

“I have a lot of respect for him but I do not know what happened, especially from 2023 to this period, for a leader at that level to come out and make such statements,” he said.

The former governor also commended Christian leaders who recently engaged President Bola Tinubu on issues affecting Nigerians, including hunger, insecurity, poverty and unemployment.

He said that religious leaders should speak truth to power irrespective of their political affiliations or personal preferences, adding that their intervention could help the government in addressing pressing challenges.

Kwankwaso urged Muslim leaders to similarly engage the president constructively and draw his attention to the difficulties confronting Nigerians.

The former governor, who described himself as a moderate Muslim, stressed the importance of religious tolerance, peaceful coexistence and responsible leadership.

Reflecting on Kano’s political history, he recalled how the 2003 election campaign was dominated by debates around the implementation of Sharia which, he said, created significant religious tension.

He said that some politicians at the time promised that the implementation of Sharia would automatically address social and economic challenges, including unemployment, education and access to marriage.

Kwakwanso said that the experience later demonstrated that political rhetoric centred on religious identity could not substitute for effective governance.

He said that the people of Kano had since become more focused on practical issues, including education, security, employment and improved living conditions.

The former governor cited the 2023 Kano election as evidence that voters were increasingly concerned about governance rather than religious slogans.

He listed the major concerns of northern communities today to include insecurity, banditry, kidnapping, poverty and the education of young people.

“Kano is a wrong place for such a campaign. The people of Kano are very clear. What they want is how to send their children to school and get a good life,” he said.

Kwankwaso appealed to Christian leaders not to be overly worried by Yahaya-Jingir’s comments, assuring them that the views did not reflect those of the majority of northern Muslims.

“I want to appeal to the Christian leaders that that opinion is not the opinion of the majority of northern Muslims. I don’t think they should worry about themselves. We are in a position to handle the situation,” he said.

He urged political and religious leaders to avoid statements capable of inflaming religious sentiments, saying that Nigeria needed unity and responsible leadership to overcome its current challenges.

Kwankwaso said that the country had moved beyond the period when religious slogans could easily mobilise large sections of the electorate, adding that Nigerians were increasingly demanding tangible improvements in their lives.

He called on Yahaya-Jingir to reconsider his position and work toward messages capable of promoting peaceful coexistence rather than division.

The NDC vice-presidential candidate said Nigeria’s political leaders must recognise that the country belonged equally to Muslims, Christians and other religious groups and that no section should be made to feel excluded.

He stressed that the overriding responsibility of political and religious leaders should be to protect national unity and promote the welfare of all Nigerians.

Kwankwaso said responsible leadership required listening to people at all levels and responding to concerns about hardship, insecurity, unemployment and poverty.

He urged Nigerians to reject any attempt to exploit religious differences for political advantage, saying that the country could only achieve meaningful development through unity and cooperation.

The former governor added that northern Muslims should not be collectively associated with statements that could undermine peaceful relations between communities and faiths.(NAN).

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

General News

NNPC announces nationwide N66 fuel discount for fuel bought through app

Published

on

By Our Reporter

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has commenced a nationwide promotional campaign offering customers a ₦66 discount on fuel purchases made through its NNPC Fuel App.

The promotion, which began on October 1, will run until October 7 at NNPC filling stations across the country.

NNPC announced the initiative in a post on its X handle on Friday, saying customers had already started taking advantage of the offer at various stations.

“The ₦66 Discount Promo is ongoing & the excitement is already happening across our stations nationwide!

“All over Nigeria, our customers are getting in on the action & there’s still time for you to benefit!

The promo runs from 1–7 October on the NNPC Fuel App,” the post read.

The company said activities had commenced at several of its stations nationwide, with highlights from the first day of the promotion shared with the public.

NNPC urged motorists and other customers to continue using the Fuel App for their transactions throughout the seven-day campaign in order to benefit from the discount.

“Keep fueling, keep transacting and keep your eyes on our pages,” the post read.

The national oil company also said it would continue to release pictures and updates from participating stations as the promotion progresses.

Customers have been advised to take advantage of the offer before the promotional period ends on October 7.

The ₦66 discount applies to eligible transactions made through the NNPC Fuel App during the promotion.

Continue Reading

General News

Hardship: Public servants begin three-day warning strike

Published

on

By Our Reporter

Public servants across Nigeria have commenced a three-day warning strike following a directive by the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council over what the workers described as worsening economic and mental hardship.

The industrial action, which began at midnight on Friday, October 2, 2026, is expected to run through Sunday, October 4.

The council directed its national and state leadership to mobilise workers for the action, with the directive contained in a circular dated October 1 and signed by the National Secretary of the JNPSNC, Olowoyo Gbenga.

The circular urged the council’s leadership to ensure that the strike notice reached workers across the country.

The decision, according to the council, followed the Federal Government’s alleged failure to respond to demands earlier presented to President Bola Tinubu in a letter dated September 21, 2026.

READ ALSO:Unions reject TUC suspension of strike, demand reversal of King’s College concession

Explaining the commencement of the industrial action, the council stated, “Consequent upon the above, the strike shall start with effect from midnight on Friday, 2nd October, 2026 to Sunday October 4th, 2026.”

The council called on public servants at the federal, state and local government levels to participate in the warning strike, saying the action was aimed at drawing attention to the economic difficulties confronting workers and their dependants.

It stated, “In the same vein, all public servants in the services of federal, state and local governments are to join the warning strike because an injury to one is an injury to all, most especially, all workers, their dependants, vulnerable and hapless Nigerians are groaning terribly under the present economic hardship.”

The JNPSNC further expressed concern over the impact of the economic situation on workers, saying, “The economic and mental hardships are becoming unbearable and frustrating.”

It also directed its leaders to commence immediate mobilisation for the industrial action, declaring, “The time to act and mobilise workers for the three-day warning strike is now!!!”

The warning strike comes against the backdrop of demands earlier submitted by the council to the Federal Government for measures to ease the pressure of rising living costs on workers.

Among the demands were a reduction in the price of petrol, an immediate wage award for workers and the commencement of negotiations for a new national minimum wage ahead of 2027.

The council had reportedly asked the Federal Government to bring down the pump price of petrol to N500 per litre, approve an immediate wage award and constitute a tripartite committee to negotiate a new national minimum wage.

The demands followed continued concerns over the declining purchasing power of workers amid increases in the prices of essential commodities, transportation and other household needs.

In its latest circular, the council urged its members to circulate the strike notice and expressed optimism about the outcome of the industrial action.

“Please, disseminate the information!!! Surely, there is victory for us!!!” the circular added.

The council maintained that the warning strike would proceed as scheduled, with public servants across the federal, state and local government services expected to take part.

Efforts to obtain a response from the Ministry of Labour were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.

Continue Reading

General News

Olokoro Community Eulogises NDPHC MD/CEO Adighije for School Renovation, Development Projects

Published

on

Johnchuks Onuanyim, Abuja

The people of Olokoro Clan in Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State have showered encomiums on the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), Engr. Jennifer Adighije, for executing key development projects in the community, including the comprehensive renovation of a block of classrooms at Boys Secondary School, Umuoparazara.

The community described the projects as landmark interventions that have not only improved learning conditions for students but also reinforced Adighije’s commitment to grassroots development and community service.

Speaking during the commissioning of the projects on Nigeria’s Independence Day celebration, community leaders, traditional rulers, women groups and youth organisations hailed Adighije as a worthy ambassador of Olokoro whose contributions have brought honour and development to the clan.

The projects commissioned include the renovation of a classroom block at Boys Secondary School, Umuoparazara Olokoro, and the landscaping and installation of modern 3D flooring at the Olokoro Clan Headquarters Complex in Ahiaukwu.

The event attracted a large gathering of traditional rulers, government representatives, community stakeholders and indigenes who turned out to celebrate what many described as a historic day for the clan.

In his remarks, the Federated President-General of the Olokoro Clan Development Union (OCDU), Dr. Odinakachi Umekwe, commended Adighije for her dedication to the welfare of her people and for consistently identifying with the aspirations of the community.

He noted that the renovation of the school facility would significantly improve the learning environment for students and contribute to educational development in the area.

Umekwe urged community members to safeguard and maintain the facilities, while offering prayers for greater accomplishments in Adighije’s public service career.

Speaking shortly before commissioning the renovated classroom block, Adighije attributed the successful execution of the projects to God’s grace and the productive partnership between the community and government institutions.

She assured the people that her intervention in the school would not end with the renovation, announcing plans to undertake solar electrification of the classroom block as the next phase of support.

According to her, quality education remains critical to community development and nation-building, stressing that investments in educational infrastructure are investments in the future of young people.

She also pledged to continue collaborating with the leadership of the OCDU to identify and execute additional projects that would improve the living conditions of residents.

The community further applauded the NDPHC boss for her contributions to youth empowerment, employment opportunities and other initiatives aimed at improving the socio-economic wellbeing of Olokoro people.

Traditional rulers, women leaders, youth representatives and elders who spoke at the event described Adighije as a role model and a source of inspiration to younger generations, noting that her achievements in engineering, public service and community development have made the clan proud.

In an emotional response during a grand reception held in her honour at the Olokoro Clan Headquarters, Adighije thanked the people for their overwhelming support and goodwill.

She reaffirmed her commitment to serving humanity and promoting the development of Olokoro, assuring residents that she would continue to contribute her quota to the progress of the community whenever the opportunity arises.

Her father, Senator Chris Adighije, also expressed gratitude to the people of Olokoro for the honour accorded his family and pledged continued support for initiatives that would advance the development of the clan.

The event featured cultural performances by students of Boys Secondary School, Umuoparazara, and was attended by prominent traditional rulers, community leaders, women groups, youth organisations and other stakeholders from across Olokoro Clan.

Continue Reading

Trending