Dr. Tijjani Sarki

 WHEN POWER OVERSHADOWS PROTECTION — MY FINAL POSITION ON WALIDA’S CASE By Tijjani Sarki  In recent days, many have asked me where I stand on the troubling case of Walida Abdulhadi Ibrahim. I have reflected deeply, and I believe silence at a time like this would amount to complicity. This case is no longer a private matter. It has become a test of institutional integrity and moral responsibility. The public was informed that Walida is 22 years old. The Department of State Services (DSS) maintained that her stay in custody was voluntary and for her safety. The Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Minister of Women Affairs, reinforced this position by emphasizing official age verification. With due respect, I must ask, is the core issue her age, or the circumstances that brought a young woman into the custody of a security operative under a cloud of controversy? Even if she is 22, does that automatically dissolve concerns about power imbalance, institutional influence, and professional misco...

 ARRESTS, DETENTIONS AND DEMOCRACY: WHY NIGERIA MUST END THE POLITICS OF INTIMIDATION By Tijjani Sarki Good Governance Advocate & Public Policy Analyst Nigeria is once again confronted with a troubling political pattern the dramatic arrest and prolonged detention of opposition figures under the banner of investigation. The recent case involving Nasir El-Rufai has reignited national debate about the use of state institutions in politically sensitive moments. Let me state from the outset: accountability is non-negotiable. No public official should be shielded from lawful scrutiny. However, as a public policy analyst, I am equally convinced that the integrity of the process is as important as the allegation itself.  When enforcement appears selective, excessive, or procedurally questionable, institutions risk losing the moral authority they seek to assert. Malam El-Rufai voluntarily honoured an invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He was subseq...

 WHEN HEALTHCARE BETRAYS A PEOPLE: A LATE WAKE-UP CALL, BUT A NECESSARY ONE By Tijjani Sarki  I write this with deep pain and patriotic anger, not as an outsider, but as a citizen who has walked through many public health facilities across Kano State. Each visit left me heavier than the last. The story is ugly, repetitive, and humiliating. One facility after another tells the same tale of neglect, forcing me to ask,are we truly serious about the lives of our people? What I saw disturbed me deeply. Broken or nonexistent equipment, careless handling of patients, poor documentation, weak infection prevention, and an alarming absence of compassion. In many places, ethics have collapsed, professionalism has faded, humanity is missing, and patriotism appears to have died within hospital walls. As such there are no innocent parties. I indict health workers who have reduced care to routine indifference, forgetting that behind every case file is a human life. I indict patients too not ...

 THE GHOST OF JANUARY 15: WHY NORTHERN NIGERIA’S LEADERSHIP VACUUM REMAINS UNFILLED By Tijjani Sarki  Good Governance Advocate and Public Publicy Analyst  Sixty years after the assassination of Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, and Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, the condition of Northern Nigeria provokes not pride, but pain. A region once guided by discipline, vision, and moral clarity now staggers under the weight of poverty, insecurity, and lost direction. What should have been six decades of consolidation and progress have instead become years of drift and decline.  The tragedy of January 15, 1966, did not end with the gunshots in Kaduna and Lagos, it lives on in the daily realities of a people still searching for leadership equal to their history. On that day, the cold barrels of mutinous rifles did more than end two remarkable lives they punctured the soul of Northern Nigeria. Today, with nearly 70% of the region’s population living in poverty and an educat...

 KANO’S HUMANITARIAN TRUST FUND MUST SERVE OUR ELDERLY By Tijjani Sarki I strongly support the proposed Kano State Humanitarian Intervention Trust Fund. The bill is a critical step toward institutionalizing compassion and ensuring that humanitarian response in Kano State is structured, timely, and sustainable rather than ad hoc or dependent on goodwill. The priority now should be to shape this initiative around our shared moral responsibility, by placing senior citizens, particularly pensioners facing health and social challenges, at the center of its mandate. Across Kano State, many elderly citizens live with persistent hardship. After years of service to society, they now struggle with inadequate pensions, rising medical costs, and age-related illnesses. Their vulnerability is long-standing and often overlooked, yet it remains one of the most urgent humanitarian concerns in our communities. Any intervention framework that fails to address this reality leaves a critical gap in soc...

 NO DRUMS FOR THE NEW YEAR: A GENERATION BETRAYED BY POWER AND FALSE EMPOWERMENT By Tijjani Sarki  Good Governance Advocate and Public Policy analyst  Though I see no reason why Nigerians, especially the youth, should celebrate the New Year, I pause only to thank God for the gift of life. Beyond that, celebration feels dishonest. Our survival is mistaken for progress, yet our lives are gambled with daily by a system that neither protects nor prepares us for the future. Nothing in Nigeria is moving smoothly nothing.  Institutions are shaky, opportunities are scarce, and hope is rationed. What disturbs me most, and what fuels this anger, is the issue of empowerment a word that should have been a weapon against poverty but has been turned into a tool of political deceit. If sincerely designed and rigorously executed, empowerment alone could resolve over 75 percent of Nigeria’s socio-economic crises, especially youth unemployment, unemployability, and the criminal waste...

 FROM PAID CHANTERS TO PURPOSEFUL LEADERSHIP: EIGHT YEARS OF CONSISTENT PROGRESS,THE ZASA STORY By Tijjani Sarki 3rd January,2026 For years, the narrative around many Students’ Associations has been both predictable and painful. Bodies established to protect student welfare and advance collective development have, in many places, deteriorated into political guard units and propaganda machines for elected officials. Leaders mobilize students not around ideas or reforms, but around personalities. Funds meant for progress dissolve into private pockets, leaving behind disillusioned youths and hollow institutions. It is against this troubling backdrop that the recent Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Zawaciki Students Association (ZASA) demands serious attention. What unfolded was not an isolated moment of brilliance, but the continuation of a progressive tradition ZASA has sustained for about eight years a rare consistency in an era of transactional student politics. ZASA is an umbre...

 LAWS PASSED IN PUBLIC, TAMPERED WITH IN SECRET How the Alleged Alteration of Nigeria’s Tax Laws Threatens the Soul of Our Democracy By Tijjani Sarki Good Governance Advocate & Public Policy Analyst There are moments when a nation must stop pretending that all is well, moments when silence itself becomes complicity. Nigeria has reached one of those moments. What unfolded on the floor of the House of Representatives on 17 December 2025 was not routine parliamentary friction. It was a constitutional alarm bell. Loud. Stark. Impossible to ignore. Hon. AbduSsamad Dasuki’s allegation that provisions of four Tax Bills lawfully debated and passed by the National Assembly were materially altered before being gazetted as Acts strikes at the very foundation of democratic governance. If this allegation is true, it is not a typographical error. It is not bureaucratic sloppiness. It is a deliberate usurpation of legislative authority a silent coup against constitutional lawmaking. And when ...

 BEYOND THE PARADE: Why Kano’s Neighbourhood Watch Must Become a Lasting Security Institution. By Tijjani Sarki Beyond the colours, salutes, and symbolism of the passing-out parade lies a deeper truth, security is not a ceremony, it is a responsibility. When Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf commissioned the Kano State Neighbourhood Watch Corps, he did more than unveil uniforms and patrol vehicles, he acknowledged the silent fear in vulnerable communities, the anxiety of families, and the growing demand for safety at the grassroots.  This was a bold, humane, and timely decision, worthy of commendation. At a time when banditry and criminal infiltration threaten border communities and strain conventional security agencies, no responsible leader would fold his arms and wait for tragedy to multiply. Governor Yusuf’s action reflects leadership that listens, anticipates danger, and chooses prevention over condolences. By deploying 2,000 operatives across all 44 local government areas, suppo...

 STRENGTHENING GOOD GOVERNANCE IN THE AGILE PROJECT: A DIRECT APPEAL TO HIS EXCELLENCY ENGR. ABBA KABIR YUSUF By Tijjani Sarki Good Governance Advocate and Public Policy Analyst 15/12/2025 Your Excellency, I write to draw your attention to a matter of great significance the urgent need to deepen transparency, accountability, and good governance in the implementation of the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project in Kano State. Taking decisive action in this direction will not only ensure better project outcomes but will also strengthen public trust, enhance community participation, and elevate the credibility of your administration. The AGILE Project, funded by the World Bank, seeks to remove long-standing barriers that prevent adolescent girls from accessing quality secondary education across Nigeria. In Kano State, implementation is steered by the Ministry of Education through the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU), aligning seamlessly with ...

 U.S. VISIT TO NIGERIA: FACT-FINDING OR CURATED NARRATIVE? By Tijjani Sarki, Good Governance Advocate and Public Policy Analyst 13th December 2025 The recent visit by a U.S. Congressional delegation to Nigeria leaves more questions than answers. Officially a fact-finding mission on security, the itinerary tells a different story. Led by Congressman Riley Moore and including Representatives Mario Díaz-Balart, Norma Torres, Scott Franklin, and Juan Ciscomani, the delegation met Nigerian officials in Abuja and toured Benue State,but skipped the states facing the fiercest assaults from Boko Haram, ISWAP, and armed bandits, Borno, Zamfara, and Katsina. This selective engagement raises a stark question, was the mission truly about understanding Nigeria’s security realities, or a carefully managed showcase designed to fit a narrative? By focusing on Benue a state mainly affected by farmer-herder conflicts and displacement, the U.S. risks signaling that communal violence and allegations of...

 STRENGTHENING GOOD GOVERNANCE IN THE AGILE PROJECT: A DIRECT APPEAL TO HIS EXCELLENCY ENGR. ABBA KABIR YUSUF By Tijjani Sarki Good Governance Advocate and Public Policy Analyst 12/12/2025 Your Excellency, I write to draw your attention to a matter of great significance the urgent need to deepen transparency, accountability, and good governance in the implementation of the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project in Kano State. Taking decisive action in this direction will not only ensure better project outcomes but will also strengthen public trust, enhance community participation, and elevate the credibility of your administration. The AGILE Project, funded by the World Bank, seeks to remove long-standing barriers that prevent adolescent girls from accessing quality secondary education across Nigeria. In Kano State, implementation is steered by the Ministry of Education through the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU), aligning seamlessly with ...

 ANTI-CORRUPTION DAY: A CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME, BUT IS THE FIGHT TRULY HONEST? By Tijjani Sarki Good Governance Advocate and Public Policy analyst  As the world observes another International Anti-Corruption Day, we must confront a harsh reality, corruption continues to undermine governments, institutions, and economies worldwide. Despite numerous promises and international frameworks, including the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), the battle against corruption remains largely ineffective, particularly in countries like Nigeria. What should be a fight for justice often becomes a farce. Corruption the misuse of public power for private gain erodes trust, hinders development, and perpetuates inequality. The UNCAC, signed by Nigeria in 2003, urges states to establish robust systems to combat corruption. Yet, years of empty promises and half-hearted reforms have left Nigeria, among others, mired in the same systemic failures. Nigeria’s Struggle: A Microcosm of...

 REJOINDER TO “KANO: NEW BANDITS’ FRONTIER” A MISLEADING NARRATIVE IN NEED OF BALANCE By Tijjani Sarki Good Governance Advocate & Public Policy Analyst Write from Kano 6th December, 2025 Your article, “Kano: New Bandits’ Frontier,” raises important concerns about the recent incidents in a few border communities. However, the framing, emphasis, and overall tone project a distorted image of Kano State one that either reflects a lack of understanding of Kano’s strategic national importance or, regrettably, suggests an attempt to exploit isolated events to reinforce a negative, almost hostile predisposition toward the state. No fair-minded observer can deny the seriousness of any security breach. Yet only someone deeply misguided  would ever wish insecurity upon any Nigerian state, much less a state as historically central and cosmopolitan as Kano. CONSTITUTIONAL AND SECURITY MISPLACEMENTS Your analysis attempts to localise what is fundamentally a regional and federal securit...

 A REGION SEEKING SECURITY MUST ALSO SEEK CLARITY: SUPPORT WITH CAUTION, AND A CALL FOR PRIORITY RESET. By Tijjani Sarki 2nd December,2025 I commend the Northern Governors and the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council for their collective resolve at this crucial moment in our region’s history. Their recent communiqué reflects seriousness and unity in confronting insecurity, which has taken a painful toll on families and communities across Northern Nigeria. I support the resolutions outlined, especially issues concerning state Police and Security trust fund which carry the greatest potential impact, but also the greatest risk if not handled with absolute transparency and strategic clarity. The Push for State Police The renewed commitment to establishing State Police is a necessary and overdue step. A locally grounded security structure is essential for rapid response and genuine community intelligence. I strongly urge both the National Assembly and the State Houses of Assembly to acc...

 A REJOINDER: KANO NEED TRUTH,NOT CONVENIENT SCAPEGOATS. By. Tijjani Sarki Good Governance Advocate and Public Policy Analyst 26 November 2025 The insecurity in Kano is real, painful, and deeply troubling. Families are fleeing their villages. Parents are afraid for their children. Businesses are suffering. But in the midst of this crisis, truth must not be sacrificed for partisan convenience. I am not exonerating Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, yet it is crucial to understand who truly holds the levers of power over security. In Nigeria, Governors are “Chief Security Officers” in title, but not in practical authority. The Nigeria Police Force, the Army, DSS, and other federal security agencies answer only to the federal government. Governors cannot deploy soldiers, command police officers, transfer DPOs, or enforce compliance. Despite this, some commentators have blamed the Governor entirely for security failures. This misrepresentation ignores reality and misleads citizens. Even within...

 A SILVER JUBILEE IN THE MIDST OF SHADOWS: A CALL FOR THE ACF TO DELIVER REAL SOLUTIONS NOT JUST SPEECHES. ByTijjani Sarki Good Governance Advocate & Public Policy Analyst I will be sincere,as I listened to the tributes, dignitaries, eloquent speeches, and ceremony marking the Arewa Consultative Forum’s silver jubilee, two emotions battled within me respect and a deep, unsettling discomfort. Respect, because surviving twenty-five years in Nigeria’s volatile political climate is no small feat. The ACF has weathered transitions and turbulence. The BOT Chairman, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, reminded us how, in 2000, northern elders, governors, emirs, and statesmen unified rival associations to create a platform that would protect the region’s dignity and pursue peace. But discomfort, because beneath the polished speeches and chandeliers, a harsh truth echoed: This is not enough. Not anymore. The North is bleeding, and speeches,no matter how elegant can no longer slow the flow. A REGION ...

 CROSS CARPETING AND THE CRISIS OF IDEOLOGY IN NIGERIAN POLITICS: A Call for Reform In Support of Abbati Bako’s “Can Nigerian Democracy Continue Without Political Party Ideology?” By Tijjani Sarki For a democracy to thrive, political parties must stand as ideological pillars representing distinct visions, values, and policies that guide national development. Yet in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic, our political space is increasingly characterized by ideological confusion and unprincipled party switching, commonly known as cross carpeting. This has not only weakened the structure of our democracy but has also left the electorate disoriented and disillusioned. Abbati Bako’s insightful piece rightly raises a critical question, Can Nigerian democracy truly survive without political party ideology? If our parties continue to operate as vehicles for seizing power rather than platforms for promoting principles, and if elected officials continue to change parties with impunity, we are not practi...

 A DAY OF GRATITUDE, REFLECTION AND INSPIRATION AT MADATAI PRIMARY SCHOOL By Tijjani Sarki Good Governance Advocate and Public Policy Analyst 10th November, 2025 Saturday, 8th November 2025, will forever remain etched in the hearts of the people of Madatai, Kano City, as a day of gratitude, reflection, and renewed hope. It was the day when one of Kano’s illustrious sons, Professor Nazifi Abdullahi Darma, returned to his humble beginnings to give back generously to the very foundation that shaped his life, Madatai Primary School, an institution that has stood for over sixty years, nurturing thousands of pupils from the neighbouring quarters of Darma, Chedi, Sheshe, Madatai, Yola, Sharfadi, Sorondinki, Satatima, and others. As one privileged to be among the invited guests, I witnessed firsthand the overwhelming emotion that swept through the gathering tears of joy, heartfelt prayers, and a renewed sense of communal pride. It was more than a ceremony; it was a revival of faith in huma...