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Tension Rises As Sharia Council Challenges CAN Over El-Rufai’s Remark
The Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria came to the defense of former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, regarding a viral video where he justified appointing Muslims to key positions in the state government instead of Christians.
Recall that during former Governor El Rufai meeting with Islamic clerics on his last day in office, he revealed that Muslims had voted for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last election.
In the viral video of the meeting, he expressed his belief that the predominance of Islam in the governance of Kaduna State was here to stay, expressing his satisfaction that this trend had been successfully replicated at the national level with the election of former Lagos Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, as president, and Kashim Shettima as vice president.
In response to the former governor’s remarks, the Kaduna State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), represented by its chairman Rev. John Hayab, urged the public to disregard El-Rufai’s statements, asserting that he was simply seeking attention and playing games.
The statement from CAN provoked a strong reaction from the Sharia Council, with the state Secretary, AbdurRahman Hassan, in Kaduna on Sunday, expressing their frustration.
The Sharia Council declared that if the Christian Association had known the consequences, they would have refrained from making any statements and chosen to follow the path of honor.
Expressing their concern, the Council lamented that if not for divine intervention, Nigeria would have been in a dire situation after the 2023 general elections due to the careless remarks made by Christian leaders throughout the country.
The Council specifically referred to a viral video on social media featuring Apostle Kassy Chukwu, who made insinuation that Tinubu’s wife should have poisoned him yet CAN did not taking any action in response to such remarks.
The statement added, “For the past one week the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Kaduna State Chapter has been wagging tongues accusing the former governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasiru Ahmad El-Rufa’i for making some statements as far as CAN is concerned, simply because he aired his view on the political realities of Muslim-Muslim ticket.
“During the campaigns of the just concluded elections in this country, where was CAN when a majority of pastors were making unguarded utterances, which if not for the help of Allah (SWT), Nigeria would have been history.
“Where was CAN when a pastor stood on the pulpit with AK-47 in Abuja? Where was CAN when some Christian clergies were making prophecies of doom for this country? But Alhamdu Lillah, all the hullabaloo, and all the fake and false prophecies, nothing negative happened to our dear country Nigeria.
“The Muslim Ummah has been tolerant enough, if not, there is no way, a Muslim Dominated state like Taraba, will be governed by a Christian. If a plateau state with a population of over 35per cent Muslims were denied the Deputy Governor slot, why should Kaduna State with a Muslim population of close to 75 per cent not have Muslim-Muslim ticket?
“CAN should better understand that democracy is a game of numbers, and that was what played out during the just concluded presidential elections.
“The Muslim votes were divided into four places; Mallam Bola Ahmed Tinubu of APC, Alh. Atiku Abubakar of PDP, Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso of NNPP and Mallam Kola Abiola of PRP, while the entire Christians of both northern and southern parts of this country (if not but a few) gave a bulk vote to Mr. Peter Obi of LP. Despite this, Mallam Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a Muslim, emerged as the winner of the election and is now our President.
“Let the politicalised CAN understand that peace is only achieved when there is justice and adherence to the democratic norm, which is relative to demographic realities.
“Good men of God always preach peace, not violence and instigative tendencies which in turn, will be a threat to peace and development. We eschew CAN to toe the line of honour in neutrality, rather than playing double standards.”
In a letter addressed to the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of the Kaduna State Peace Commission, Apostle Emmanuel Nuhu Kure, the founder of Throne-room Ministry in Kafanchan, announced his immediate resignation. The letter stated that Kure’s decision to resign was effective immediately.
In his resignation letter, Apostle Emmanuel Nuhu Kure expressed that he could not, in good conscience, continue to serve on a committee that would contribute to disharmony and the further disintegration of the nation.
He further alleged that the former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, had not implemented any of the suggestions discussed during their numerous meetings.
The letter partly reads, “In the backdrop of the viral video statement credited to His Excellency, the now defunct Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai (which he is yet to openly deny) in which he openly thanked one religion over the other and explained why his government discriminated against one side and his wish that the Muslim-Muslim ticket and religion be entrenched as the sole ruler over Nigeria, which is contrary to my belief and the fairness that my faith teaches me and that, I think, the Peace Commission stands for.
“I hereby tender my resignation as both Co-Chair and Member of this laudable Committee because it is clear that we were set up to serve a diversionary interest and that we were not meant to succeed.”
In a compelling demonstration of how business can drive positive environmental change, leading cement manufacturer, Dangote Cement Plc (DCP) has reaffirmed its leadership in sustainable development with its mentorship offer as a Corporate Supporter of the 2026 Accounting for Sustainability International Case Competition (A4SICC), held in Toronto, Canada.
A4SICC, a global platform that empowers students to develop practical solutions for sustainable business growth and the competition brings together top student teams from around the world to tackle real-world sustainability challenges, with winners receiving prizes of up to CA$10,000 and internship opportunities.
As part of the 2026 edition, student teams were required to select companies listed on the World Benchmarking Alliance’s SDG2000 and develop a compelling business case for nature, recognising that while businesses depend on natural capital to create value, they have also contributed significantly to nature and biodiversity loss. Dangote Cement, itself an SDG2000-listed company, participated actively by mentoring REMI Solutions, a student team from Ashesi University, Ghana.
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The DCP sponsored team—comprising Jamiu Olamide Afolayan, Afi Adwoa Asare, Grace Mawuli Uchechi Onwuaha, Edem Korbla Anagbah and Bartels Ataanga Atindana—benefited from expert guidance provided by DCP’s Group Head of Sustainability, Dr. Igazeuma Okoroba.
Under this mentorship, REMI Solutions advanced to the semi-finals of the competition, emerging among the top teams from 132 entries submitted across 31 countries with its project addressing one of Africa’s most pressing sustainability challenges: the environmental, financial and safety risks associated with legacy mine waste, commonly known as tailings.
With global attention increasingly focused on responsible mining and the demand for critical raw materials, the team proposed an innovative circular model that transforms historical mine tailings from environmental liabilities into assets for value creation and ecological restoration.
Tailings storage facilities are costly to monitor and manage, and failures have, in extreme cases, resulted in severe environmental degradation, destroyed livelihoods and loss of lives—costing major mining companies over US$30 billion in damages and reparations worldwide.
To mitigate these risks, REMI Solutions proposed the reprocessing of historical tailings to recover residual minerals, alongside the rehabilitation of degraded heritage land using revenues generated from the reprocessing activities. Beyond mineral recovery, the model creatively repurposes tailings into value‑added products such as eco‑bricks and construction aggregates.
By integrating responsible resource recovery, environmental rehabilitation and commercial viability, the Solution demonstrates how ESG‑aligned investments can simultaneously deliver environmental protection and financial returns.
Reacting to the feat achieved by the REMI Solution Students team, Group Managing Director, Arvind Pathak described the collaboration as underscoring Dangote Cement Plc’s commitment to advancing sustainable development through strategic investments in education, research and youth-led innovation, while supporting global efforts to align business practices with nature‑positive outcomes.
Said he; “At Dangote Cement, our decision to support the Accounting for Sustainability International Case Competition is anchored in our belief that the future of sustainable business lies in the hands of informed, innovative and values‑driven young leaders. As a company whose operations are closely linked to natural capital, we recognise the responsibility to contribute meaningfully to global conversations around sustainability, climate resilience and nature‑positive growth.
“By supporting this platform, we are not only helping students translate academic knowledge into practical solutions, but also reinforcing the importance of embedding environmental, social and governance principles into core business decision‑making.
“This corporate support also reflects our long‑term commitment to education, research and collaborative partnerships as tools for sustainable development. The ideas generated through this competition—such as innovative approaches to responsible mining and circular use of resources—mirror the kind of thinking required to address today’s complex environmental and social challenges.”
Pathak pointed out that his Company is excited to play a mentoring role that bridges industry experience with youthful innovation, saying “we remain committed to nurturing solutions that create shared value for businesses, communities and the environment.”
Photo Caption:
Members of the DCP mentored REMI Solution team from Ashesi University, Ghana; (l-r) Jamiu Olamide Afolayan; Afi Adwoa Asare; Grace Mawuli Uchechi Onwuaha and Edem Korbla Anagbah
Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has reacted strongly to a recent report by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleging that a significant number of Nigerian university students are involved in internet fraud.
The EFCC had reportedly warned that cybercrime is becoming increasingly common among undergraduates, a development it described as a growing national concern requiring urgent attention from authorities, parents, and educational institutions.
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Reacting to the claim, Obi described the situation as deeply troubling, warning that Nigeria may be “raising a generation of fraudsters” if the trend is not urgently addressed.
According to him, if even a large fraction of the allegation is true, it signals not just a crime problem but a broader collapse of values and moral discipline in the country.
He stressed that young people do not operate in isolation, arguing that society, leadership, and institutions all play a role in shaping behaviour. Obi noted that when dishonesty appears to thrive without consequences, it sends the wrong message to the youth.
The former Anambra State governor also called for urgent reforms in governance, education, and value reorientation, insisting that integrity must be restored at all levels of society.
He added that the focus should not only be on condemning young people but on addressing the systems that influence their choices and actions.
Obi further urged leaders to set better examples, warning that a society cannot expect honesty from its youth if accountability is weak at the top.
The EFCC has continued to express concern over rising cybercrime cases in tertiary institutions, describing the trend as a threat to national development and security.
Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have successfully rescued five students of Gateway Polytechnic, Saapade, following their abduction by gunmen in Ogun State.
The students were reportedly kidnapped late Monday night in the Sapade area of Remo North Local Government Area, triggering a swift response from security operatives after a distress call was received around 10:55 p.m. at the Ipara Police Division.
Upon arrival at the scene, officers discovered an ash-coloured Toyota vehicle riddled with bullet holes and stained with blood. Several mobile phones and personal belongings were also recovered from the abandoned car.
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Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Oluseyi Babaseyi, said an identity card found at the scene linked the victims to Gateway Polytechnic, prompting an immediate escalation and a full-scale rescue operation.
The Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, subsequently ordered the deployment of tactical units in what he described as an intelligence-driven mission to secure the students’ release.
Security teams drawn from the Isara Area Command, Ipara Division, SWAT, Anti-Kidnapping Unit, Violent Crime Response Unit, Quick Response Squad, and Operation MESA were mobilised for coordinated bush-combing and tracking operations across suspected escape routes.
The sustained pressure paid off on April 28, when the students were rescued unhurt from their captors.
According to the police, the kidnappers engaged operatives in a gun duel during the rescue effort but were overpowered by superior firepower, forcing them to flee with suspected gunshot wounds. No casualties were recorded among security personnel.
“The victims were immediately evacuated, debriefed, and taken for medical attention due to the conditions they endured while in captivity,” Babaseyi added.
Commending the operatives, Ojajuni praised their gallantry and professionalism, noting that their swift coordination was instrumental to the success of the mission.
He assured residents that efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects, with intensified bush-combing operations already underway.
The police also urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements, emphasizing that community cooperation remains critical in the fight against crime.
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