Umar Faruk Umar, the Emir of Daura, says Nigeria is “lucky” to have Muhammadu Buhari as president at this point in time. The monarch said things “would have been very difficult” if Buhari was not at the helm of affairs. He spoke on Friday when the president visited him at his palace in Daura, Kastina state. “Your visit to Daura reflects your good character which we are very proud of,” he said to the president. “I can assure you that men, women, children, marketers and artisans are always pleased to receive you and they will be praying for you. “Today is not for speeches but for appreciation. We have been blessed so much as a community because you are the leader of the country. You have brought honour to our domain. “As a community, we have benefited a lot with increased traffic of people and organisations coming to help us here. We know it’s because of you. “May the good Lord always go before you and behind you, and remove all obstacles from your path. “Nigeria is lucky to have you at this time. I am not saying it to please you, but if you had not been in power it would have been very difficult. I doubt if we will be here today.” The Emir said the president must remain focused on getting results, particularly in securing the country.

I President Muhammadu Buhari has asked those who are beneficiaries of government patronage to always engage in corporate social responsibility, instead of seeking to favour individuals with gifts. Buhari spoke in Daura, Katsina State, Friday, when he visited the Emir of Daura, Dr Umar Faruk Umar. “I don’t want your cheque. Go and assist our communities instead of trying to return kickbacks to public officers.” “We don’t want cheques from anyone or organisation as returns or influence of any kind. Let them remember their Corporate Social Responsibilities,” Garba Shehu, his media aide, quoted to have said. The President noted that he would love to visit Daura more frequently, but for the high cost of presidential movements and exposing security personnel to the weather, assuring that his heart remains with the people. “We are known for farming and I have my farm here. I could come every two weeks and no one can stop me. But the cost to the movement is high.” Unity The President said the grace of God had kept Nigeria together as a country in spite of differences that led to a 30 months civil war “We want to thank God always for keeping us together as a country. From January 15, 1966, the country was thrown into political crisis. We had a 30 months civil war that resulted in the loss of about a million lives. “We still thank God for keeping us together. We remain grateful to all those who showed interest in our unity and progress. May God continue to bless them,” he added. The President, who recalled fond memories of visiting the Palace as a military Head of State, expressed happiness that the warmth and hospitality of the traditional institution had been sustained over the years. In his remarks, the Emir of Daura, thanked the President for always creating time to visit his hometown and the palace despite the tight schedule. “Your visit to Daura reflects your good character which we are very proud of. I can assure you that men, women, children, marketers and artisans are always pleased to receive you and they will be praying for you.” At the meeting, the Emir publicly announced conferment of the title of Talban Daura on Yusuf Buhari, son of President Buhari. He said a date would be announced for the turbaning ceremony of the President’s son, which might likely be before his wedding. The Emir also announced creation of a District in the community of the President, with headquarters in Dimurkol. He said the turbaning of young Buhari and creation of the District was to further extend and deepen the long relationship between the Palace and the family. He said the decision was in agreement with the kingmakers in Daura Emirate Council.

The Minister of Interior, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, has asked governors to sign the death warrant of 3,008 inmates on death row at custodial facilities across the country. Aregbesola said this in Osogbo, Osun State, while inaugurating the newly constructed headquarters of the Nigerian Correctional Service, NCoS in the State, on Friday. He lamented that jail congestion is the major headache of the Service, saying that the entire national custodial facilities with a maximum capacity for 57,278 inmates currently has a total population of 68,747 inmates, made up of 67,422 males and 1,325 females. He also noted that 50,992 inmates, representing 74 per cent of the total population of inmates in the nation’s custodial centres were awaiting trial inmates while only 17,755 inmates which is a mere 26 per cent were the actual convicts. Aregbesola said: “There are presently 3,008 condemned criminals waiting for their date with the executioners in our meagre custodial facilities. This consists of 2,952 males and 56 females. “In cases where an appeal has been exhausted and the convicts are not mounting any challenge to their conviction, the state should go ahead, to do the needful and bring closure to their cases.” Aregbesola, however, said the state governors could, in the alternative, set some of the condemned inmates free on compassionate ground, especially those who have grown old on account of the long time they have been in custody and those that are terminally ill. He added that those that have been reformed and demonstrated exceptionally good behaviour could also be released or commute their sentences to life or specific terms in jail. He said all these could be done by putting in place a system of amnesty and prerogative of mercy that would review all cases of convicts on death row periodically. He said more than 5,000 inmates were set free during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. He said the federal government was building a 3,000 high-capacity custodial centre in Kano and Rivers States as well as Abuja. He said this would be extended to the six geo-political zones in the country and that it would ease congestion considerably and enhance the capacity to manage the facilities for corrections.