A private memorandum submitted to the House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution by Dr. Abubakar Alkali of Sokoto North Local Government Area, Sokoto State, has reignited public discourse on one of the country’s most contentious constitutional provisions—Section 308, which grants immunity to certain high-ranking public office holders. Dr. Alkali’s memorandum calls for the complete removal of Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which shields the President, Vice President, Governors, and their Deputies from prosecution while in office. He described the immunity clause as “a constitutional license for impunity, theft, and abuse of office.”…
Author: TheStories
A leading human rights organization, the Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy and Development (FENRAD), has called on Anambra State Governor, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, to take urgent action following the death of Okey Akaneme, a business figure and former President of the Onitsha Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ONICCIMA). Akaneme reportedly died from internal injuries sustained during what FENRAD described as a “brutal assault” by agents of the Anambra State Waste Management Authority (ASWAMA), allegedly during a tax enforcement operation. In a strongly worded petition made public over the weekend, FENRAD condemned the incident, labeling it a tragic…
For the past few days I have been privileged to attend a training program at the Said Business School, University of Oxford, UK. The theme of the training was Leadership in Higher Education and Artificial Intelligence and held from 8th to 11th July 2025 and was facilitated by Oxford City Academy for Education and Development. It was an extremely rewarding and engaging experience and I definitely learnt quite a lot. Attending the training came at the right time for me, for I will give the Lead Paper at the Opening Ceremony of the 12th COEASU National Conference to be held…
This dust about what is now referred to as the “Rarara Conference” brought out on interesting response from Mahmoud Abubakar (not sure of the handle!) who inquired as to whether Rarara (and perhaps the genre of his art) is comparative to Fela Anikulapo Kuti as Social Change mobilizers. Although I have replied to him in the FB post, I think it is interesting enough to warrant posting on its own. Let us get one thing clear right away. Both Fela (1938-1997) and Dauda Kahutu Rarara (b. 1986) are gifted in their ways. It is not a question of who is…
The Institute of Administration at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has honoured Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, CON, PhD, with a Certificate of Honour in recognition of his distinguished national service, visionary leadership, and impactful contributions to the development of the Institute. The ceremony, held on July 7, 2025, celebrated the legacies of distinguished Nigerians who have significantly contributed to national development. Senator Wamakko, a former Governor of Sokoto State and current Senator representing Sokoto North Senatorial District, was represented by the Minister of State for Works, Bello Muhammad Goronyo, Esq., who received the award on his behalf. In a goodwill…
In the wake of my recent article, The Hidden Economics and Psychology Eroding Twenty-First-Century Marriage, several responses emerged highlighting important layers that deserve more attention. One particularly thoughtful reader raised a deeply personal and culturally relevant concern: sexual incompatibility—an often-ignored but real factor in the breakdown of many marriages today. Their observation, though bold, reflects a growing sentiment in modern discourse: that sexual dissatisfaction is grounds enough for emotional withdrawal, infidelity, or even divorce. By Prof. Chiwuike Uba, Ph.D The courage to raise such a sensitive issue should not be dismissed. Too many marriages suffer silently because religious institutions, cultural…
The Niger State Government has presented a comprehensive memorandum containing the collective views, aspirations, and recommendations of both the government and people of the state to the House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). The presentation was made by the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Nasiru Mu’azu, during the North Central Zonal Public Hearing (Centre A) held in Minna. The zone comprises Niger, Kwara, and Kogi States. Mu’azu explained that the memorandum encapsulates key recommendations on critical national issues, including restructuring, devolution of powers, state policing,…
Sokoto, a city better known for its deep Islamic scholarship and blazing sun than for high-tech innovation, recently became the backdrop for something extraordinary, something that stirred an old part of me back to life. As a boy, I once dreamt of building a car. That dream was eventually buried beneath the weight of growing up. Life happened. Responsibilities took over. But in the most unexpected of ways, that dream has been rekindled — not by engineers in Europe or executives in Silicon Valley, but by a group of teenagers from northern Nigeria. Meet the teenagers who built an electric…
A Minna-based legal practitioner, Barrister Abdul-Khaliq Abubakar Gimba, has raised the alarm over alleged threats and intimidation by Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Muhammed Abdulkareem. The senior police officer, who serves as the Unit Commander of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Monitoring Unit in Abuja, allegedly threatened to “deal with” the lawyer for advising his clients not to honour a police invitation—despite a subsisting court order restraining the police from making any arrest. According to a petition submitted to the head of the IGP Monitoring Unit in Abuja, and obtained by our reporter, Justice Balkisu Gambo Yusuf of Minna…
Burkina Faso’s military government has revoked the licenses of four foreign non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and suspended two other foreign associations for three months, citing breaches of national regulations. The move, formalized in decrees dated mid-June and made public this week, comes as the West African nation faces mounting criticism over a widening crackdown on civil society and foreign entities. Official reasons and details Context: Sovereignty and security The ruling junta, which took power in a September 2022 coup, has consistently framed such measures as part of its effort to restore national sovereignty and strengthen internal security. Authorities claim these actions…