From Hassan Taiye

Thousands of football enthusiasts and supporters of Hon. Dave Awunah, a frontline aspirant for the Benue North Senatorial District in the 2027 senatorial election, stormed the JS Tarka Stadium, Gboko, as early as 9 a.m. for the grand finale of the Dave Awunah Zone B 2026 Invitational Soccer Tournament.
The one-week football fiesta attracted youths in their thousands from Guma, Makurdi, Gwer West and Gwer East Local Government Areas, turning the stadium into a centre of excitement and celebration.
The invitational tournament, our correspondent gathered, was organised as part of Hon. Awunah’s commitment to youth development, taking young people off the streets and campaigning against drug abuse, narcotics and other social vices.
Awunah, who has consistently projected himself as a strong advocate for youth empowerment, has in recent months supported youths, women, widows and artisans across the Benue North Senatorial District.
He has also reportedly received blessings and endorsements from several traditional rulers within the district.
One traditional ruler, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to his position, described Awunah as a rare politician with genuine concern for the people.
“For the first time, we are witnessing a selfless politician who matches his words with action by empowering women, youths and widows, even before assuming office,” he said.
He added, “No candidate can stand against him in the next election. We will vote for him massively.”
Many political observers believe Awunah currently enjoys strong grassroots support across the senatorial district.
Youths from the various local government areas have also continued to express strong support for his senatorial ambition, describing him as a leader with compassion and vision.
A philanthropist and youth mobiliser, Titus Apenda from Guma, linked Awunah’s generosity to his late father, Padopas.
“Generosity runs in their blood. It is a natural trait, and he is not doing it for selfish reasons. He may have inherited it from his father,” Apenda said.

• He’s not above prosecution, law:

Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The Kwara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has stated that Senator Bukola Saraki is a known political patron of ‘good boys’ who made the state a living hell for the people in his days as either Governor or President of the Senate.

Addressing journalists in Ilorin on Saturday, APC Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Abdulwaheed Babatunde, said the convicted Offa bank robbers were known to have strong relationship with Saraki “who had at many times patronised them for political reasons”.

According to the party, this relationship was clearly established in the testimonies of the former Chief of Staff to the Governor, Yusuf Abdukwahab, and Ayo Akinnibosun, one of the convicts who headed a political group allegedly funded by Saraki.

“The attention of the Kwara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been drawn to the melodramatic press statement by the Kwara State PDP and Senator Bukola Saraki, accusing Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of a ‘surreptitious plot’ over the charges rightly slammed against him and three others over the tragic 2018 Offa robbery incident,” Babatunde told reporters.

“Neither Saraki nor the PDP needs to lose sleep if their hands are clean. But they must come to terms with the fact that the court deals with evidence and fact, not dramatic statements that seek to erase the facts of history.

“Rather than the shameful resort to personal attacks like a child whose lollipop was taken away, we advise him to go face his trial and let the court establish his guilt or otherwise.

“Senator Saraki’s denial of link with the murderers is laughable and characteristically deceitful, given the large volume of evidence to the contrary. Only cowards make such denial. The testimonies of the Chief of Staff to the Governor Yusuf Abdulwahab and Ayo Akinnibosun do not support Saraki’s claims, but we leave the court to do their work when the case begins in June. Beyond these testimonies, everyone who lived the realities of the time knew his claims to be false.

“We also find it funny that Saraki, who is no more than a lapdog of another politician and is grossly distrusted for his poor record of personal integrity across political spectrum, was saying a performing Governor is not popular. Kwarans can see clearly who truly understands what development and governance are, as compared to the stagnation seen under his watch.

“We particularly commend the state government for the boldness to put Saraki to trial despite his vaingloriness and boastfulness in deceit. The convicts have named his role in how they acquired guns and other logistics. This is a matter of court record. So, the trial could not have been more timely at a time Nigerians want sponsors and godfathers of criminals, terrorists, and bandits to be unveiled and shamed. Indeed, the pattern of bandit attacks on innocent people and how PDP foot soldiers are often the first to break reports of ongoing attacks gave people reasons to sniff foul play.

“It is a sacred and lawful duty of the state government to try him in the law court; it is then the prerogative of the court to either convict or discharge him. But let no one try to raise unfounded sentiments in favour of a man notorious for his sponsorship of “good boys” who terrorised this state for many years.

“Governor AbdulRazaq remains focused on governance. While PDP is busy re-litigating 2018 in press statements, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is building and commissioning schools, constructing several roads, paying counterpart funds for rural roads, upgrading healthcare centers, developing the state at a fast pace, and ensuring salaries and pensions are paid as and when due. That is what unsettles the PDP and Saraki: a government working without sharing Kwara’s treasury among political godfathers or arming thugs who then started robbing innocent people.

“Law does not answer to press statements. Now that the state government has rightly said Saraki and others have questions to answer regarding the Offa robbery, the proper place to do explanations (shalaye) is the court, not Facebook or media. The PDP should advise Senator Bukola Saraki to clear his name through the judicial process now that he has been formally charged, instead of sponsoring panic statements to intimidate public institutions. No one is above the law, and no amount of media noise will stop the law from taking its course.

“We advise the Kwara PDP and Saraki to find a better campaign strategy than hiding behind a tragedy that cost families their loved ones. Kwarans are wiser now. They will not be dragged back to an era where government was run as a private estate.

“The APC government in Kwara is committed to security, development, and justice for all. Our government will neither be distracted nor intimidated by the rants of Saraki and his boys.”

Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The Chairman of the Kwara State chapter of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Pharmacist Abdulmalik Mohammed Baba, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving tax waivers for the pharmaceutical sector, saying the policy would significantly reduce the cost of medicines across the country.

Pharmacist Abdulmalik while speaking with journalists on Sunday in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, said the two-year tax relief granted to pharmaceutical companies would ease the burden of production and importation, especially amid high foreign exchange rates.

According to him, “importation of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) is very expensive, and the high exchange rate has been a major factor driving up the cost of drugs. With this tax waiver, we expect a drastic reduction in prices.”

He described the policy as timely, noting that it would improve access to essential medicines for Nigerians.

The PSN Chairman also lauded Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, for reforms in the health sector, particularly the improved welfare of healthcare workers.

He noted that the Governor ensured that pharmacists in the state civil service are paid in line with their counterparts at the federal level through the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), a move he said has boosted morale and helped retain skilled professionals despite rising emigration.

“Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has done exceptionally well. The remuneration of healthcare workers in Kwara is commendable and has reduced the impact of the ‘Japa’ syndrome in the sector,” he said.

Pharmacist Abdulmalik added that the state government also restored accreditation for internship training of pharmacists after over two decades and approved the pharmacist consultant cadre, describing both as major milestones for the profession.

On inter-professional relations, he said pharmacists in Kwara maintain a cordial working relationship with medical doctors, contrary to tensions reported in some other states.

“Our relationship with doctors in Kwara is very smooth. We collaborate on programmes and support one another professionally,” he said.

Speaking on the controversial ban on sachet alcohol, Baba said the society played a key role in public enlightenment on its health risks, particularly its high ethanol content.

“Some sachet alcohol products contain as much as 40 to 50 per cent ethanol. This poses serious health risks, especially as they are easily accessible and often abused,” he said.

He explained that the suspension of the ban was influenced by strong industry stakeholders, noting that the alcohol sector involves multi-billion dollar investments.

On drug safety, the PSN chairman warned Nigerians against patronising unregistered medicine vendors, urging them to buy drugs only from licensed pharmacies.

“People should look out for the ‘Rx’ symbol and ensure they buy from registered pharmacies. That is the only way to avoid fake or substandard drugs,” he said.

He, however, acknowledged the efforts of regulatory agencies such as the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency in curbing the circulation of counterfeit and illicit drugs.

Abdulmalik noted that enforcement actions by these agencies, including closure of illegal premises and seizure of unregistered products, have helped reduce the prevalence of fake medicines.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the PSN to continued collaboration with regulators to safeguard public health.