Buni approves the appointment of Ga Dakatar as the new Emir of Gudi

By: Yahaya Wakili

The Executive Governor of Yobe State, Hon. Mai Mala Buni, CON, COMN, Chiroman Gujba, has approved the appointment of Hon. Alhaji Samaila Ahmed Gadaka as the new Emir of Gudi.

The appointment of Hon. Samaila Ahmed Gadaka follows the passing away of the late Emir, Alhaji Isa Bunuwu Ibn Madubu Khaji, after a long protracted illness.

His Royal Highness, the new Emir, Hon. Alhaji Samaila Ahmed Gadaka, was a member of the House of Representatives, Fika/Fune Federal Constituency, from 2011 to 2019.

The new emir also served as Hon. Commissioner in the Yobe State Government from 2007 to 2010. He is also the chairman of the Governing Council, Federal College of Education, Yawuri, Kebbi State, from 2024 to date.

The new emir was a banker by profession; he served in the Standard Trust Bank, now the United Bank for Africa (UBA), where he rose to the position of business manager.

His Royal Highness, the new Mai Gudi, Hon. Samaila Ahmed Gadaka, until his appointment, was currently the Chairman of the Local Government Project Monitoring and Evaluation Committee.

Until his appointment as the new Emir of Gudi, Hon. Samaila Ahmed Gadaka was holding the traditional title of Yariman Gudi.

Buni approves the appointment of Ga Dakatar as the new Emir of Gudi

Six kidnapped law students rescued in Benue–Taraba border operation

By: Zagazola Makama

At least Six kidnapped law students who were abducted by armed men along the Jootar–Wukari road, a known buffer zone between Benue and Taraba states were successfully rescued by security forces.

Zagazola Makama gathered that the incident occurred on July 27 at about 3:30 p.m. when armed assailants intercepted a commercial bus with passengers, diverted the occupants to an unknown destination, and disappeared into the forest.

The vehicle, a white Pullo bus was later recovered and returned to the police station.

In response, tactical teams comprising the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Operation Zenda, Strike Force, Anti-Kidnapping Unit, and the Hunters Squad were immediately deployed to the forest area for an intensive rescue operation.

The sustained operation led to the safe rescue of all six abducted students on August 1 at about 8:00 a.m.

The victims, who were identified as law students, were profiled and reunited with their families.

Six kidnapped law students rescued in Benue–Taraba border operation

Olawepo-Hashim and the Leadership Nigeria Deserves in 2027

By Hassan Mahmood Ibrahim

As the clock ticks toward the 2027 general elections, Nigerians are once again faced with a pressing question: Who can truly lead the nation out of its current economic quagmire, rising insecurity, and deep national distrust?

While many familiar names have started to re-emerge, one figure deserves closer attention—Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, a former presidential candidate, businessman, and now chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). His name has of recent, dominate the headlines, with a profile that suggests a leader whose time may finally be at hand.

A rare blend of activist integrity, private-sector competence, and democratic consistency, Olawepo-Hashim represents a departure from the conventional political class that has delivered far less than Nigeria needs or deserves.

Olawepo-Hashim’s political roots lie not in opportunism, but in conviction. He was an active figure in Nigeria’s pro-democracy movement during the military era, a committed voice during the struggle for resistance, and a victim of the junta’s crackdown on democratic activists.

That kind of political baptism by fire has shaped him into a principled democrat—someone who understands not just the mechanics of government but the moral obligations of leadership. In an era where uncertainty pervades the landscape due to the action of many politicians without clear ideological anchors, Olawepo-Hashim has remained focused on nation-building, not self-promotion.

Academically grounded, with degrees from the University of Lagos and the University of Buckingham , and successful in business across sectors such as energy and strategic communications, Olawepo-Hashim brings a technocratic edge to political leadership.

He is part of a class of leaders who not only understand economic theory but have created jobs, negotiated deals, and built institutions. That experience is critical in a country where economic mismanagement has led to historic inflation, a currency crisis, and record youth unemployment.

His proposals during previous campaigns—ranging from rural industrialization to energy reform,were not just populist soundbites. They were actionable policy suggestions that remain relevant in today’s Nigeria.

Nigeria’s political landscape remains deeply fractured along ethnic, religious, and regional lines. Olawepo-Hashim stands out as a potential bridge-builder. As a Nigerian with long-standing connections across the North and South, he carries a unique national outlook that is both inclusive and pragmatic.

Unlike many whose appeal is rooted in ethnic loyalty or religious dogma, he promotes a Nigerian identity anchored in equity, opportunity, and meritocracy. This kind of leadership could be instrumental in rebuilding trust between government and citizens,and among citizens themselves.

One of Olawepo-Hashim’s distinguishing characteristics is his refusal to indulge in political theatrics. He prefers issues to insults, and substance to soundbites. In a system dominated by identity politics and patronage, this may not win overnight popularity, but it commands respect among Nigeria’s growing population of young, informed, and reform-minded voters.

His ideological orientation is clear: a belief in market-led growth complemented by targeted state intervention to support the poor and vulnerable. In other words, growth with inclusion, not just wealth for a few.

Within the PDP, Olawepo-Hashim’s presence adds intellectual depth and generational balance. As the party continues its internal repositioning ahead of 2027, it would be wise to look beyond recycled aspirants and recognize emerging figures who combine vision, integrity, and strategic competence.

If the PDP is serious about renewal, and if it hopes to regain national trust, it must elevate leaders who reflect the future, not the past.

The demand for authentic leadership is growing louder. If these trend continue, and if leaders like Olawepo-Hashim can build grassroots alliances and communicate their vision effectively, the 2027 elections may prove to be more open than many expect.

Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim embodies many of the qualities Nigeria desperately needs in a president: principled, competent, inclusive, and reform-minded. His leadership style, anchored in ideas, not egos, could provide the national reset that millions of Nigerians are yearning for.

As the political class prepares for another contest, Nigerians must look beyond old loyalties and flashy slogans. They must ask: Who among us can unite the country, rebuild the economy, and restore hope? In that national search, Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim’s name deserves prominence on the shortlist.

Hassan Mahmood Ibrahim ,a journalist and public affairs analyst, writes from Kaduna, Nigeria.

Olawepo-Hashim and the Leadership Nigeria Deserves in 2027