It was the German philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel who once declared that the state is “the march of God on earth.” In those words, government became something more than a bureaucracy; it was elevated to a near-divine agency of history, the vessel through which rationality unfolds. Martin Luther, in his own turn, described secular authority as “God’s mask” in the world. Both thinkers, though writing centuries ago, imagined rulers as guardians of morality and legitimacy, entrusted to reflect something higher than the whims of ordinary men. But when that same “mortal god” begins to patronize the very things it…
Author: TheStories
The North East Youth Initiative for Development (NEYIF), in partnership with Al-Yateem Charity Initiative (AYCI), has reported significant achievements in curbing violent extremism and strengthening social cohesion in Sokoto communities. At a press conference in Sokoto, the Executive Director of NEYIF, Comrade Mohammed Dauda Gombe, said the project—funded by the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF)—has directly impacted youth, teachers, women, and community leaders across the state. He explained that interventions in the first and second quarters of 2025 focused on empowering schools, building community dispute resolution systems, enhancing youth awareness, and creating livelihoods that reduce vulnerability to extremist…
The North East Youth Initiative for Development (NEYIF) has called on communities in Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, and Jigawa States to take greater ownership of peacebuilding initiatives as the Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE) Project comes to a close. The appeal was made by NEYIF’s Executive Director, Dauda Muhammad Gombe, during the PVE Project Exit and Sustainability Plan Community of Practice for Communities of Implementation, held from September 29 to 30, 2025, at Dankane Guest Palace Hotel, Sokoto. The two-day forum brought together traditional rulers, religious leaders, government officials, civil society organizations, as well as youth and women leaders. Gombe underscored that…
Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has accused the state Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, of partisanship and sabotage after the police command abruptly withdrew from the 2025 Independence Day celebration in Kano. The governor, in a statement by his spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, described the CP’s action as “unprofessional, unethical, and a betrayal of constitutional duty,” noting that the boycott occurred just hours before the parade at Sani Abacha Stadium. “As the Chief Security Officer of Kano State, we cannot tolerate sabotage to the peace, security, and wellbeing of our citizens. It is disgraceful that a Commissioner…
As Nigeria celebrates 65 years of independence, leading lifestyle and culture publication Apples Bite Magazine, publisher Seunmanuel Faleye, has spotlighted the nation’s diversity as its most enduring strength, arguing that the country’s multiplicity of cultures, languages, and traditions continues to drive innovation and resilience in the face of contemporary challenges. In a special independence edition released this week, the magazine examined how Nigeria’s over 250 ethnic groups have collectively contributed to making the nation a continental powerhouse in entertainment, technology, commerce, and culture, despite persistent economic and security challenges. “Nigeria’s diversity is not merely a demographic fact; it is our competitive…
Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, has urged Nigerians to renew their commitment to ending banditry and other forms of insecurity as the nation marks its 65th independence anniversary. In a statement by his spokesperson, Abubakar Bawa, Aliyu described insecurity as a major obstacle to Nigeria’s socio-economic and political development, stressing the need for governments, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and communities to work together. He warned against the “informant syndrome” in rural communities, which he said fuels abductions across Sokoto State. The Governor outlined steps taken by his administration to curb insecurity, including the procurement of over 180 patrol vehicles, establishment…
The International Press Centre (IPC) has called for a full-scale investigation into the death of Ms Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu, a news anchor and producer with Arise News Channel, who died after an armed gang attack in Abuja on September 29, 2025. Reports from Arise News Daybreak indicated that about 15 armed men stormed Unique Apartments in Katampe around 3:00 a.m., attacking all 16 flats in the compound. Security guards raised an alarm and alerted the police, but no response was reportedly received. Maduagwu was taken to Maitama District Hospital, where she died. Relatives alleged that hospital staff delayed treatment until…
The media community in Nigeria has been thrown into mourning following the tragic death of Arise News Channel journalist, Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu, who was killed during an armed robbery attack at her residence in Katampe, Abuja. The 29-year-old news anchor, reporter, and producer—fondly called Sommie by colleagues—was said to have died in the early hours of Monday, September 29, 2025. The incident is currently under investigation by the Nigeria Police Force. In a statement issued on Monday, the management of Arise News described Maduagwu as more than just a colleague, noting that she was “a vibrant voice that engaged and…
In Nigeria, titles are not just decorations—they are passports to respect, validation, and sometimes even unearned authority. The recent buzz surrounding the Kano singer, Dauda Kahutu (Rarara), and his supposed conferment of an honorary doctorate from a so-called European-American university, whether genuine or dubious, has once again set tongues wagging about our near–sacred obsession with titles. This conversation, though sparked by one individual, has laid bare the feverish passion—if not outright obsession—that Nigerians attach to certificates, particularly the glamorous “Doctor” before a name. Politicians and leaders have, for decades, indulged this appetite by collecting honorary degrees from universities in Ghana,…
The Presidency has reacted sharply to moves by some opposition figures to draft former President Goodluck Jonathan into the 2027 presidential race, describing his administration as “a period of economic ruin” that Nigerians would not forget in a hurry. In a statement issued on Monday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, the State House said Jonathan was free to contest but warned that his record in office would be a major obstacle. Onanuga was responding to comments credited to former Minister of Information, Professor Jerry Gana, who declared that Jonathan would run on…