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How Awujale brokered agreement that formed APC, made Buhari President – Bakare
Pastor Tunde Bakare, presiding Overseer of the Global Community Citadel Church, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the state burial given to the former President Muhammadu Buhari.
He also paid a glowing tribute to the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona who died on the same day with late President Buhari.
According to Bakare, the passing of the duo the same day was significant.
He recalled Awujale, though a non-partisan traditional ruler, facilitated the merger of opposition parties which gave birth to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the victory of Buhari in the 2015 election.
Bakare spoke during his state of the nation address at the auditorium of the Church on Sunday titled, “A Major Shift in the National Focus.”
He recalled how he approached Awujale to speak with Tinubu to lead the merger which he agreed, adding if the late monarch who died at the age of 92 had not facilitated the merger talk, the APC would not have emerged.
“Without Awujale’s pivotal intervention, APC would not have emerged as a political party,” he said.
“Kabiyesi convened a key meeting at the Oriental Hotel in Victoria Island and brokered the agreement that led to the formation of the APC.
“Even at that, Kabiyesi was non-partisan, supporting any course he thought would facilitate good governance, strengthen the national interest, foster peace and further the course of building a united Nigeria.
“He remained, to the very end, an elder statesman, a patriot, a mentor, a loyal friend, and a rare gift to this nation.”
Bakare reiterated that the merger that formed the APC was the first time there would be a handshake between the progressive North and the progressive South which had not materialised in the past.
He said the passing of the two great man signified a shift which only a few could discern.
Bakare who was running mate to Buhari in the 2011 election when he ran under the platform of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) described Buhari as one of the most tolerant and fair-minded individuals he ever met who opened door for many Nigerians especially the clergymen like him to be involved in the political process.
He recalled that Buhari insisted him on retaining him as his running mate.
He said, “We must awake to the handwriting on the wall. President Muhammadu Buhari and Oba Sikiru Adetona left a legacy that reads loud and clear – The giant of Africa cannot stand on one leg.
“We cannot build Nigeria as a one-party state. The intersection of these two men played a critical role in the emergence of a virile political landscape with a strong enough opposition party to challenge the then-ruling party.
“We can only build on their legacy by ensuring that both the ruling party and the opposition are strong enough to guarantee good governance in the interest of the ordinary Nigerian.
“Their legacy also reminds us that we cannot stabilise our beloved nation on divisiveness. We cannot build a truly virile nation unless we build an inclusive nation. Where we have been divided as a nation, let us remember the religious tolerance of a man who, for years, was wrongly labelled with the toga of religious fundamentalism when indeed, he was one of the most tolerant and fair-minded Muslims to walk this earth, twice opening the doorway for Christian leaders – Pastors to be specific – in politics and governance.”
He recalled that late President Buhari “left a legacy of an Electoral Act that opened the doorway for Nigerian youth and persons with disabilities, positioning them to shatter glass ceilings through the Not Too Young To Run Act and the Disability Act.”
“Where we have, in the past, polarised the political system and undermined political opponents, let us remember the virtues of a man who would rather present his case to the electorate than descend into the politics of mudslinging.”
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria has warned licensed private Hajj tour operators against spreading misinformation regarding the allocation of slots for the 2027 Hajj.
In a statement signed by its Head of Information and Publications Division, Shafii Mohammed, NAHCON described allegations of the diversion of 5,000 Hajj slots as completely unfounded.
The commission was reacting to a report published on Friday titled, “Hajj 2027: Private Operators Demand Probe of Diverted 5,000 Slots.”
It noted that critics had presented no evidence to demonstrate that the slot allocation violated Saudi Arabian regulations or the commission’s internal guidelines.
The commission explained that Nigeria’s approved quota of 50,000 slots comprises 35,000 allocated to state boards and the Federal Capital Territory, alongside 15,000 reserved for duly licensed private operators under seven approved lead companies.
It urged aggrieved operators to rely on facts, established regulations, and dispute-resolution channels rather than anonymous allegations.
“The commission is aware of a coordinated and diversionary campaign built around entirely unfounded allegations of Hajj slot diversion.
“Rather than presenting evidence of wrongdoing, the allegations appear designed to shift attention away from the inability of certain operators to comply with the strict regulatory requirements, timelines, and digital upload obligations established by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah for the 2027 Hajj,” the statement read.
He added, “It is noteworthy that the report itself is built almost entirely on claims made by unnamed individuals described as Concerned Private Travel Operators, and readers are not informed who these operators are.”
The spokesperson stressed that despite the sensational nature of the report, no documentation had been produced to establish any breach.
He stated, “At no point has it been demonstrated that the allocation of the disputed 5,000 slots violated Saudi Arabian Hajj regulations, NAHCON guidelines, or any policy governing Hajj operations in Nigeria.
“The concerns raised are largely framed around perceptions and commercial grievances rather than documented breaches of established rules or procedures.
“Indeed, the report itself acknowledges that NAHCON provided a clear explanation regarding the allocation process. The commission clarified that Nigeria’s approved allocation for the 2027 Hajj is 50,000 slots, comprising 35,000 slots for the states and the Federal Capital Territory and 15,000 slots for duly licensed private Hajj tour operators.”
Mohammed maintained that the 15,000 private-sector slots were properly distributed among licensed operators functioning under seven approved lead entities in compliance with Nigerian and Saudi rules.
He emphasised that all participating companies were registered, licensed, and fully subject to regulatory sanctions where defaults occur.
Highlighting the immediate task facing operators, the commission pointed out that Saudi Arabia’s Nusuk-Masar digital portal closes irrevocably on September 26, 2026.
“The Saudi authorities have made it explicitly clear that the digital gateway for uploading prospective pilgrims’ biometric and registration data closes irrevocably on September 26, 2026. This deadline is a directive of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and not of NAHCON. The commission has no authority whatsoever to extend it by even a minute.
“Unfortunately, rather than expediting the registration of their clients, uploading biometric information, and remitting funds within the stipulated timelines, some operators have chosen to devote considerable energy to fabricating conspiracy theories and promoting narratives intended to conceal their own operational deficiencies,” the statement read.
NAHCON warned that it would not hesitate to impose stiff penalties—including licence revocation, suspension, and blacklisting—on defaulting tour operators.
It also advised prospective pilgrims registered through private travel agencies to confirm that their biometric and registration details are successfully uploaded before the September 26 deadline.
The commission noted that high-stakes commercial interests often trigger public campaigns, lobbying, and media pressure to overturn administrative actions, but insisted that resistance to regulatory reform must not be mistaken for evidence of illegality.
Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, has removed one of his legislative aides, Umar Alhassan, following a social media post perceived as disrespectful to Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf.
Alhassan, also known as King Indara, was relieved of his position after posts on his Facebook page, including the phrase “Abba Must Go”, were brought to the attention of the Deputy Senate President’s office.
The decision was announced in a statement issued on Friday by Barau’s Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Shitu Madaki Kunchi, with the removal taking effect from September 18, 2026.
According to the statement, the posts were considered inconsistent with the expected conduct of political appointees and officials serving in Barau’s office.
Kunchi said aides and other appointees were expected to demonstrate discipline, respect public office holders and encourage constructive engagement among different levels of government.
He said the action was taken to protect the standards and values expected of officials working under the Deputy President of the Senate.
The statement added that the decision followed what the office described as conduct that breached the principles of discipline, respect and decorum expected of a legislative aide.
Barau’s office consequently announced Alhassan’s removal as Special Legislative Assistant, bringing his tenure in the Deputy Senate President’s office to an end.
A former Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Professor Daniel Iyorkegh Saror, has recalled how opposition to his administration allegedly escalated to the point where a snake was brought into his office in an attempt to force him to resign.
Saror said the crisis began with petitions and demonstrations by some members of the university community who disagreed with his administration, particularly over the management of the institution after the implementation of the Structural Adjustment Programme.
The former vice chancellor, who led ABU between 1991 and 1995, made the revelation while speaking on Trust TV’s Reminiscences programme, recalling that he first learnt of a petition against him on December 31, 1994, while returning from Gboko, where he had attended a chieftaincy ceremony.
He said he heard reports of the petition against him on radio while travelling to Zaria and later went to the Kaduna office of the Nigerian Television Authority to respond publicly to the allegations.
According to Saror, the controversy subsequently led to demonstrations, while the university’s Senate Building was reportedly locked during the period of heightened tension.
He attributed part of the disagreement to demands by some members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities for greater involvement in the administration of universities, a position he said he rejected.
Saror said the opposition eventually took a more unusual turn when he was informed that a snake had been taken to his office as an intimidation tactic aimed at making him quit.
He identified a snake charmer from Shika, whom he knew as Haruna, as the person allegedly brought into the episode, adding that he refused to resign despite the pressure.
Saror said he maintained that only the then Head of State and visitor to the university, General Sani Abacha, had the authority to remove him from office.
The former vice chancellor added that the crisis later attracted government intervention, with Abacha setting up a commission of inquiry headed by Major-General Mamman Kontagora to investigate the unrest.
He said the commission eventually recommended his removal, although he had already informed the university council that he would not seek another term. Saror said he was nevertheless allowed to complete his tenure before handing over to Kontagora, who became the university’s sole administrator.
Despite the turbulent period, Saror said his relationship with ABU was not permanently damaged, noting that he later sold his agricultural farm in Zaria to the university and was subsequently honoured by its alumni association.
He added that the experience influenced his decision not to seek another tenure, as the hostility had become sufficiently intense to raise concerns about the safety of himself and his family.
NAHCON dismisses alleged 5,000 Hajj slot diversion
Deputy Senate President sacks aide over social media post against Governor
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