The Kano State Police Command has praised residents for their peaceful conduct as Emirs Muhammad Sanusi II and Aminu Bayero held parallel Friday prayers in Kano, each laying claim to the throne.

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The tension arose after Emir Sanusi was reinstated by Governor Abba Yusuf, while Emir Bayero is challenging his dethronement in court. Predictions of clashes between supporters of the two factions led the police to issue warnings against potential disturbances in the city.

Emir Sanusi led the Friday prayers at the Central Mosque, while Emir Bayero conducted his prayers at the Nasarawa Palace.

Despite the potential for conflict, the prayers proceeded without incident.

Commissioner of Police Usaini Gumel reported that the prayers were conducted peacefully across all 44 local government areas of the state.

“I am very pleased with the orderly manner in which residents conducted themselves before, during, and after the prayers without any unrest,” he said.

The Commissioner commended residents for their cooperation with the police, which ensured zero crime was recorded during the event.

He called on residents to maintain this spirit of cooperation to ensure continued peaceful coexistence in the state.

“This peaceful outcome is a testament to the effective collaboration between law enforcement and the community,” Commissioner Gumel noted.

“The police command looks forward to continued partnership in maintaining peace and order in the state.”

On Friday, scores of female protesters gathered at the All Progressives Congress (APC) headquarters in Abuja, demanding the resignation of the National Women Leader, Dr. Mary Alile-Idele.

The protesters accused Alile-Idele of negligence, prioritizing personal interests, and misappropriating parts of a donation of 24,000 wrappers from First Lady Oluremi Tinubu.

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Carrying banners with messages such as “Enough is Enough,” “Mary Alile Resign Now,” and “APC Women Leader Must Go,” the protesters called on the First Lady and APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, to remove Alile-Idele for undermining female party members.

Dr. Mary Alile-Idele took over as the national women leader following the appointment of her predecessor, Dr. Betta Edu, as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation by President Bola Tinubu.

The demand for Alile-Idele’s resignation intensified two weeks after the First Lady, represented by Hajia Nana, wife of Vice President Kashim Shettima, presented bales of wrappers to Alile-Idele and state women leaders.

This presentation followed complaints that the president had neglected the women despite their support in his election victory.

Dr. Ganduje had urged the women leaders to distribute the fabrics fairly, but the protesters, led by Rebecca Sheneni, Coordinator of ‘Concerned APC Women,’ alleged that only 9,000 of the 24,000 wrappers were distributed.

Sheneni accused Alile-Idele of focusing more on only NGO’s agenda than on party matters, neglecting her responsibilities and engaging in political patronage.

“We, the Concerned APC Women Group, demand the immediate resignation of Mrs. Mary Alile-Idele, the National Women Leader of our party. She has shown incompetence and prioritizes her NGO over the party. The First Lady provided 24,000 wrappers, but only 9,000 were distributed. Where are the rest? How was someone with no political experience or party record chosen for this position? Her actions, including nominating her husband for a university governing council, show she prioritizes personal interests over the APC’s,” Sheneni stated.

However, Mrs. Patricia Okuebor-Benson, the women leader for Imo State, defended Alile-Idele, denying the allegations and claiming that all states had received their fabrics.

“I am hearing of this now. As I speak, the 36 state women leaders and the FCT are in Abuja having a meeting, and nobody has accused anyone of anything. I think somebody is sponsoring these women. Every state has received its fabrics,” Okuebor-Benson said.

When contacted, former Lagos lawmaker and women leader Jumoke Okoya-Thomas declined to comment, stating she was not aware of the situation and was in Lagos for an important event.

“I am not in Abuja. I am in Lagos because of a very important program. So there is nothing I can say about it,” she said.

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has annulled the 10,000 job positions in the State Civil Service previously approved by his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, and announced a new recruitment process.

Governor Wike, before leaving office, had sanctioned the immediate employment of numerous youths to address vacancies in the state’s workforce.

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However, during an interactive session with stakeholders in Port Harcourt on Friday, Governor Fubara explained that he cancelled the recruitment due to flaws and compromises in the process by those responsible for its execution.

Governor Fubara emphasized the need for a more transparent recruitment process, expressing disappointment that a significant portion of the names submitted from the 23 local government areas were politically motivated selections.

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Addressing questions, Governor Fubara stated, “The first question on the ten thousand jobs: when we reviewed the details submitted from the 23 local government areas, we found that about 60 percent of the names were over-aged and selected for political patronage.”

Fubara questioned the practicality of hiring individuals who are 52 years old as civil servants, noting the limited time they would have before reaching retirement age. “What we need is employment for the future,” he added.

Meanwhile, Governor Fubara reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to maintaining a strong social contract with the people of Rivers State, emphasizing that this bond will drive governance on a solid foundation.

In related efforts to improve the state, Governor Fubara urged service providers for the Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA) to enhance their performance in keeping the streets clean.

Represented by the Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr. George Nwaeke, Fubara issued this directive when he received a delegation of RIWAMA Service Providers Association leaders and members during a solidarity walk to the Government House Gate in Port Harcourt on Friday.