Lekan's Blog

Who is Usman Danfodio-Brief History By Lekan Macualay Usman dan Fodio, Muslim religious leader and founder of the Sokoto Caliphate in what is now northern Nigeria. A Fulani born in the Hausa state of Gobir, Usman dan Fodio studied the Koran with his father, an eminent scholar, then moved from place to place to study with other religious scholars. When he was 25, he began teaching and preaching, and from this time his reputation as a holy man grew. He taught Islam in Gobir, and he was probably engaged as tutor to the future sultan Yunfa because of his learned reputation.  Usman criticized the Hausa ruling elite for their heavy taxation and other practices that he claimed violated Islamic law. His call for Islamic reform (and tax reduction) earned him a wide following in the 1780s and 1790s, when he became a political threat to Gobir sultan Nafata. When Yunfa assumed power as sultan in 1802, the repression of Usman’s followers worsened. Following the example of the pr...

I want to go to London… to see Buhari By Reuben Abati Read his piece below.... When 15 million plus Nigerians voted for President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2015 General elections, their expectation was that he would be available to serve them 24/7/365, and that those who fielded him as their candidate had done their home work to avoid what is curiously becoming the Katsina problem in Nigerian politics. Katsina!  But we have now found ourselves in a situation whereby our President is now in London, for more than one month sir, ma, and we are here, and we have an acting President, who according to everybody, including the extremists and the mischievous, and the politically partisan, is beginning to try his best, with his admirers, now praying for the worst.     For that reason alone, we have an emotionally, politically and spiritually divided country on our hands. Don’t mind what they tell you, and don’t deceive yourself, the Nigerian Presidency is i...

Heavy traffic as train crashes into trailer in Kaduna Lekan Macualay A Lagos bound train from Kano collided with a trailer at railway crossing in Kawo, Kaduna, and cut the trailer into two, the Federal Road Safety Corps said in Kaduna on Wednesday. The Sector Commander of FRSC in the state, Mr. Francis Udoma, said that the incident occurred at 3 a.m., adding however, that no life was lost. Udoma explained that the train, carrying Nigerian soldiers and civilians, crashed into the trailer, belonging to W.A Group of Companies, carrying sugarcane. He said the accident occurred when the driver of the trailer insisted on crossing the rail line even when the train was blaring. He said the incident caused traffic jam that lasted for six hours. Udoma said motorist coming from Kano and other northern states, as well as those coming from the southern and the eastern part of the country were all stranded at the railway crossing. He said, “We deployed our men, including...

Obama derailing smooth transition with inflammatory statements – Trump By Lekan Macualay President Barack Obama and US president elect Donald Trump US President-elect Donald Trump poured kerosene on a simmering dispute with Barack Obama Wednesday, accusing him of derailing a smooth transition with “inflammatory” statements and “roadblocks.” Ever since the November 8 election, Trump and Obama have tried to bury political differences in favour of a united public front that would smooth the transfer of power on January 20. But the Republican president-in-waiting unceremoniously cast any bonhomie aside in a morning twitter tirade from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. In a declaration that is unprecedented in its personal condemnation of a soon-to-be predecessor, the 70-year-old tweeted: “Doing my best to disregard the many inflammatory President O statements and roadblocks.” “Thought it was going to be a smooth transition – NOT!” Tensions between Trump and t...

Buhari gives out daughter in marriage By Lekan Macualay President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday gave out his daughter, Zahra Muhammadu Buhari, in marriage to Ahmed Indimi. The wedding Fatiha took place after the Deputy Chief Imam of the National Mosque, Sheikh Ibrahim Makari, performed the two Jumma’at Prayer. A representative of the Indimi family whose name was not disclosed, paid 12 gold coins which was converted and valued at N250,000, the amount for the dowry. The Sarkin Fulanin Daura, Alhaji Yusuf Sani, gave out Zahra on behalf of the Buhari family. Dignitaries who attended the wedding included former Lagos State Governor Bola Tinubu, former Vice President Namadi Sambo, Senate President Bukola Saraki and Chief Bisi Akande. The dignitaries also included governors Rauf Aregbesola, Nasir El-rufai, Umaru Almakura, Yahaya Bello and Aminu Masari, among others. President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the Federal Government is not spending any money on the wed...

Gov escapes death as 200 die in Akwa Ibom church collapse By Lekan Macualay The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, narrowly escaped death on Saturday as the building of Reigners’ Bible Church Int’l Inc, along Uyo Village Road, Uyo, the state capital, collapsed during service. The incident left about 200 worshippers dead. Sources said it took the efforts of the governor’s security officers to whisk him away to safety. He was said to have sustained a minor injury. SUNDAY PUNCH  learnt that the governor was in the church attending the ordination of the church’s Presiding Pastor, Bishop Elect Akan Weeks, when the building gave way few minutes before offering period. One of the aides, who rescued the governor, was said to have died at a nearby hospital where he was rushed to. A security officer, who did not want to be named, said many dignitaries who accompanied the governor to the church also died. Our correspondent gathered that the Secretary to t...

Corruption: Buhari has letters implicating Jonathan … says President’s biographer, John Paden President Muhammadu Buhari is in possession of some letters, written by former President Goodluck Jonathan, to request “off-budget funds.” This was contained in Buhari’s authorised biography, ‘Muhammadu Buhari: The Challenges of Leadership in Nigeria’, written by Prof. John Paden and presented to the public on Monday. An online dictionary defines “off-budget funds” as funds not provided for or included in the regular Federal Government budget; funded by sources other than the federal budget. In the ongoing anti-corruption war of the present administration, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had arrested and quizzed many of Jonathan’s former ministers and aides for alleged diversion of funds. Most of them, including the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), are being prosecuted for allegedly diverting funds meant for arms procurement and us...