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Son of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, Bashir, has vowed never to forgive the All Progressives Congress, APC, over what he described as an attack on his family during its weakest moment.

Bashir said even if his father emerged victorious from his current ordeal like India’s nationalist, Mahatma Gandhi, he would personally refuse to forgive the APC.

He made the remarks in a post on X, where he also expressed his intention to acquire political power with the aim of retaliating against those he accused of attacking his family.

Bashir said he would pursue power for the purpose of confronting members of the APC whom he accused of turning against his family when it was vulnerable.

He, however, exempted Mahmud Ribadu, whom he described as his biological brother, from the threat, saying everyone else could be targeted.

His comments came amid an ongoing face-off between him and his brother, Bello, a member of the House of Representatives.

On Friday, Bashir had used derogatory remarks against Bello over an undisclosed family dispute and sibling rivalry.

Meanwhile, El-Rufai has spent about 200 days in detention under the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, over alleged corruption during his tenure as governor of Kaduna State.

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Niger’s national television was off air on Saturday after a night of heavy gunfire in parts of the capital, including around a military base near the city’s airport which has been attacked twice this year by jihadists.

Niger has been ruled for three years by a military junta that has struggled to contain jihadist violence, which has blighted the West African country for around a decade.

The origins of Saturday’s shooting were not immediately clear but the military said: “In light of current events, let us remain calm and avoid sharing unverified information.

“Our defence and security forces have been mobilised for the defence of the homeland,” it wrote on its official social media pages.

One local resident told AFP that there was “heavy gunfire and explosions” at Base 101 in Niamey, a report confirmed by several other witnesses.

At 9:00 am (0800 GMT), a black screen had replaced Tele Sahel’s programming both via satellite and online. Soldiers blocked access to the presidential palace and national television, residents added.

The first shots were heard at about 1:00 am local time (0000 GMT) and continued until daybreak, according to a video published by a local journalist filming the area around the airport.

Another local resident said he heard “bursts of gunfire” at about 7:00 am local time.

“I went to get credit for my phone. I saw a military vehicle heading towards the base that had to turn back,” he added.

“The weapons we’re hearing are not the kind that terrorists on motorbikes can carry. The fighting has been non-stop since last night.”

Another resident in the west of Niamey said he heard sporadic small arms fire at about 5:00 am.

Several social media posts also reported shooting and explosions in the city, particularly in the administrative area where the presidential palace and national television station are located.

Videos online showed armoured vehicles deployed to reinforce the neighbourhood near the airport.

– Rival jihadist groups –
Niamey airport has been targeted twice this year by jihadists, first by the Islamic State in the Sahel (EIS) in January, then in late June by their rivals the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), the Sahel branch of Al-Qaeda.

The jihadist groups not only target civilians and the military but are also struggling for dominance over each other in the Sahel, and especially in Niger.

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Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo brought humour to the 60th birthday celebration of the Olota of Ota, Oba Professor Abdulkabir Obalanlege, as he jokingly promised to attend the monarch’s 70th birthday while asking to be excused from the 80th.

Obasanjo, who is 89, made the remark while speaking in Yoruba at the anniversary celebration held in honour of the traditional ruler.

The former president recalled calling Obalanlege earlier in the morning to pray for him before turning his attention to the monarch’s future milestone birthdays.

“Kabiyesi, I called you this morning and prayed for you,” Obasanjo said.

He then calculated his own age in relation to the monarch’s next major birthday celebrations, telling the gathering that he would be 99 when Obalanlege clocks 70 in 10 years.

“I’m here celebrating your 60th birthday. I’ll join you for your 70th birthday in 10 years,” he said.

However, Obasanjo joked that attending the monarch’s 80th birthday celebration 20 years from now might be beyond his reach.

“But for your 80th birthday, which is 20 years from now, ẹ yonda mi (you’ll excuse me); you’ll celebrate that one the way it pleases you,” he added.

The comment drew laughter from dignitaries, traditional rulers and other guests who gathered to celebrate the Olota’s diamond jubilee.

The celebration also featured a notable display of Yoruba cultural respect when Fuji musician, King Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as K1 De Ultimate, prostrated fully before Obasanjo after coming on stage.

The gesture further added to the cultural significance of the event held to mark Oba Obalanlege’s 60th birthday.