By: Inuwa Bwala. inuwabwala89@gmail.com

Let me start with an annecdote, about a top military officer during a regency period in a particular kingdom.
The officer so much detested the regent, whom he accused of sundry wrongs. He contemplated a coup de’tat, to remove the regent, even when he had no particular reason to do so.
He invited fellow officers, including people he hitherto disliked, but who shared the same hatred for the regime.
On the D-day, he arrived at the palace, with the intention to lure the regent out, so they could strike.
Within the palace, he heard people discussing about how good the regent had been, and how he had been working to improve the lot of his subjects.
He was taken around the palace and noticed that the man had actually been working for the good of his people.
He felt so embarrassed that he had been planning mutiny against a man, whom he had nothing against, but blind hatred.
He returned to his fellow conspirators and narrated his findings in the palace. He sang praises of the regent and canvassed for his confirmation as the king.
This seems to be the case of the tikToker, Aminu Town, who recently recanted his hostile nature against the government of Borno state, after seeing things on the other side.
I must first admit that, those who raised eyebrows about sudden turn of event in Borno, especially where some ardent critics become praise singers, were tight.
I
have read attendant noise and heard the anger in the voices of our loyal boys and I understand them.
They have been defending the government and governor Babagana Umara Zulum, day and night, using their own data, their own phones, their own sweat. And now they see a man who was abusing the Governor yesterday, today carrying camera to show Zulum’s projects.

I understand the pain. But my brothers, I want us to exercise calm and restraint so that we win the war.
I do not want to believe, the issue amounts to betrayal, rather, it is strategic wisdom.

If I may ask, would you give your enemy additional cutlass, when he comes for you, or would you collect the cutlass from him?

I do not know much about him, but I understand that, the fellow Aminu J Town is an influential TikToker. They say he has over one million followers. One million people who listen to him every day.
For months, he used his mouth to denegrade and to even abuse Governor Zulum.
He called white black, and called progress failure.

All the while. I know that he was ignored. And even now, I know as a matter of fact, that, the government did not invite him formally, rather, he may have heard people discuss and saw for himself, the fallacy of his campaigns. Some people would have wished the Government to arrest him, or act in such a way that could be misinterpreted as being too sensitive to criticism. But nobody blocked him, nobody harassed him, but he was allowed access to certain facts.
And like the General who wanted to strike, he realized he had been too presumptious and used the same mouth he used spoil, to now repair.
I think without castigating eachother as being responssiblw, we should regard it as a punisment he brought upon himself, for probating and reprobating.
Its like giving a thief the megaphone to shout in the market place telling his own sins.
To my mind, that is what has happened here.

If the government had paid its own loyal influencers to do the same video, the enemies would have said, the APC boys, are doing it for themselvesand people may not respect the message.
But when the man who was the enemy yesterday, comes today to show flyovers, to show Mega Schools, show hospitals, and confess that, Zulum is actually working”, then we have no cause to quarrel over it.
Perhaps, it is his own followers that may be shocked. We should be happy to listen to them, saying, even Aminu has surrendered. Then it must be true that Zulum is working.
We call this checkmate.
Our loyal influencers have not lost. In fact, their work has forced this surrender. Because if they had not defended Zulum all this time, the lies could have stood, as truth. Their consistence, pressures, and reseilence have brought out the truth and there may be no more rooms for others to hide..

It is not as if the government has abandoned or forgetten our loyal boys.
In Borno, we have a proverb: You don’t kill a barking dog, you give it the bone it was barking for, and it will keep quiet forever.

By: Fabian Apechihin

Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (APC, Abia North) has strongly rejected calls for him to support Peter Obi or any other Igbo candidate outside the All Progressives Congress in the 2027 general elections.

Speaking on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Monday, the former Abia State governor dismissed expectations that he should back candidates contesting under other parties as unreasonable. He insisted his loyalty remains firmly with the APC and that the party is the only platform through which the political interests of the South-East can effectively be pursued.

“I’m not in the political party where they are contesting. Why should they call my name? I mean, they shouldn’t. Why should they call? No, they are just being idiotic,” Kalu said.

He added: “I was in PDP, I was in PPA, and my third political party is APC. So if I’m in this practice and you want me to go and support somebody in APGA, you must be sick in your mind. You must be dreaming.

“I am a member of APC, pure and direct. Yeah, leave me there. I don’t have any interest. If Igbos have interest, [and] they don’t want to pursue [it in] APC; that is their business. There’s no other place the interest will be pursued except where I am.”

Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The Founder of the Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Alhaji (Chief) (Dr) AbdulRaheem Oladimeji, has felicitated the Emir of Ilorin and Chairman, Kwara State Council of Chiefs, His Royal Highness, Alhaji (Dr) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, CFR, on the occasion of his 31st anniversary on the throne.

In a congratulatory message issued on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, Oladimeji described the monarch’s three decades and one year on the throne as a remarkable journey of purposeful leadership, selfless service, wisdom and unwavering commitment to the unity, peace and development of Ilorin Emirate.

He noted that the decision of the people of Ilorin Emirate to entrust the revered throne to Sulu-Gambari 31 years ago had continued to yield tremendous dividends, given the monarch’s exemplary leadership, statesmanship and contributions to the growth and national recognition of the Emirate.

According to him, the Emir’s reign has further strengthened the traditional institution of Ilorin, elevated its standing among prominent traditional Emirates in Nigeria and reinforced its historic position as a centre of religious harmony, cultural heritage and peaceful coexistence.

Oladimeji particularly acknowledged the monarch’s invaluable contributions to peace building, national unity, religious tolerance, interfaith dialogue and social cohesion, describing them as defining pillars of his reign and enduring legacy that transcends Kwara boundaries.

He observed that the Emir’s disposition to dialogue, accommodation and mutual understanding among people of diverse religious, ethnic and cultural backgrounds had continued to provide an important model for peaceful coexistence and national integration.

The Al-Hikmah University founder further commended Sulu-Gambari for deploying the influence and moral authority of the traditional institution to promote harmony, strengthen communal relationships and advance the collective interests of the people.

He said the 31st anniversary was not merely a celebration of years on the throne but also an opportunity to reflect on the far-reaching impact of the monarch’s leadership, particularly his dedication to preserving the values, traditions and identity of the Ilorin Emirate while sustaining its relevance in contemporary national affairs.

Oladimeji, on behalf of himself, his family and the management, staff and students of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, expressed profound appreciation to the Emir for his fatherly disposition, exemplary leadership and continued commitment to the peace and progress of the Emirate.

He prayed the Almighty Allah to grant the monarch good health, long life, divine wisdom and renewed strength to sustain his invaluable service to Ilorin Emirate, Kwara State and Nigeria.

The elder statesman also wished the Emir many more fruitful years on the throne, marked by enduring peace, greater prosperity and the continued advancement of the Ilorin Emir