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How Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation Became ‘One-Man Estate,’ Abubakar Alleges

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Calls for Urgent Reforms to Save SABMF from Collapse

Urges Sultan of Sokoto, Emir of Kano, Shehu of Borno to Intervene

Raises Concerns Over Proposed Northern Security Trust Fund

By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna

A former insider at the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation (SABMF), Murtala Abubakar, has alleged that the foundation has been transformed into a “one-man estate” under the control of a self-appointed life chairman, warning that its original vision has been abandoned.

In a statement titled “The Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation: A Legacy in Peril,” Abubakar accused former Niger State Governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, and some former governors serving on the Board of Trustees of taking control of the foundation and deviating from its founding objectives.

According to him, the foundation was established in 2009 by the 19 Northern States Governors and registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) as a non-governmental organisation to preserve the legacy of the late Sir Ahmadu Bello through programmes focused on education, healthcare, youth empowerment, vocational training and regional development.

He said the foundation was officially launched at Murtala Muhammed Square in Kaduna in October 2009 with an appeal fund and several flagship initiatives.

Abubakar, however, alleged that political disagreements among northern governors and elders at the inception of the foundation created a leadership vacuum that was later exploited.

He claimed that the Northern Governors’ Forum, under the leadership of Dr. Aliyu, initially registered the organisation with placeholder trustees pending broader consultations but that the arrangement was never regularised.

According to him, the original plan was for a Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer to be recruited through a competitive process for a fixed tenure, after which the placeholder trustees would relinquish their positions once northern elders reached a consensus on the foundation’s leadership.

“That never happened,” he stated.

Abubakar further alleged that Dr. Aliyu later returned to the Corporate Affairs Commission to alter the composition of the Board of Trustees, dissolved the advisory committee, replaced the Managing Director/CEO structure with a Director-General appointed at the discretion of the board, and assumed the position of Life Chairman.

He argued that these actions undermined the principles of transparency, accountability and due process upon which the foundation was established.

While acknowledging that the foundation still operates a scholarship programme, Abubakar alleged that complaints have been raised over its administration and maintained that many of the organisation’s broader development objectives had been replaced by ceremonial activities, recognition awards and political networking.

Drawing comparisons with the ongoing leadership crisis within the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Abubakar claimed that similar governance issues were responsible for the dispute, including allegations of financial mismanagement and unilateral control of the organisation’s affairs.

He also expressed concern that the proposed Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund (NNSTF), expected to manage substantial financial contributions from northern states, could face similar governance challenges if adequate accountability mechanisms are not established.

To prevent what he described as “authoritarian capture,” Abubakar recommended fixed, non-renewable tenures for the trust fund’s leadership, competitive recruitment of an executive secretary, quarterly forensic audits and stronger oversight powers for the Northern Governors’ Forum.

He also called for the immediate democratisation of the SABMF Board of Trustees, restoration of the Managing Director/CEO model, a comprehensive forensic audit of the foundation’s activities since its establishment, and intervention by northern traditional and religious leaders, including the Sultan of Sokoto, the Shehu of Borno and the Emir of Kano.

“Sir Ahmadu Bello was no accumulator of wealth or abuser of power. He was a leader who believed in service, unity and the development of his people. The foundation that bears his name was meant to perpetuate those values, not become a vehicle for one man’s ambition,” Abubakar said.

He urged stakeholders to act urgently to restore confidence in the foundation and preserve its founding ideals.

As of the time of filing this report, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu and the management of the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation had not responded to the allegations.

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Group Lists Tinubu’s Achievements, Reaffirms Support For Renewed Hope Agenda

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Supporters of Team Gbaja on Friday held a sensitisation and mobilisation rally for Nigeria’s North Central Zone, where they reaffirmed their support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and commended the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, for what they described as his commitment to public service.

Addressing participants at the rally, the National Spokesperson of Team Gbaja, Tabuko Kennedy, said the gathering was aimed at promoting democratic participation, peaceful engagement, and national development.

Kennedy said supporters of the Tinubu administration believe the government’s performance should be assessed based on “measurable actions and visible results,” highlighting several initiatives and developments they said demonstrate progress under the current administration.

Among the achievements cited were the rescue of abducted pupils and teachers from Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State through what he described as a coordinated multi-agency security operation without the payment of ransom.

He also pointed to the commencement of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, describing it as one of Nigeria’s largest infrastructure projects intended to improve transportation, trade, and economic growth.

Other initiatives highlighted included the implementation of the Student Loan Scheme to improve access to higher education, increased investment in federal road infrastructure across the country’s six geopolitical zones, reforms in the oil and gas sector aimed at boosting local refining capacity, enhanced collaboration among security agencies to address insecurity, and
ongoing economic reforms focusing on agriculture, investment, digital innovation, and social intervention programmes.

According to Kennedy, these initiatives have strengthened the confidence of many supporters in the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda and justify continued public support.

He urged participants to conduct themselves peacefully throughout the rally, stressing that the event was intended to exercise citizens’ constitutional rights to freedom of expression and association.

“We are not here to insult anyone. We are not here to threaten anyone. We are here to demonstrate our constitutional right to freedom of expression and association,” he said.

Kennedy also encouraged supporters to continue engaging their communities through peaceful mobilisation, civic participation, voter education, and constructive dialogue aimed at promoting national unity, security, and development.

The rally concluded with calls for continued support for Team Gbaja, the North Central Zone, and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

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Group Rallies Support for Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Lauds Gbajabiamila

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Supporters of Team Gbaja on Friday held a sensitisation and mobilisation rally for Nigeria’s North Central Zone, where they reaffirmed their support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and commended the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, for what they described as his commitment to public service.

Addressing participants at the rally, the National Spokesperson of Team Gbaja, Tabuko Kennedy, said the gathering was aimed at promoting democratic participation, peaceful engagement, and national development.

Kennedy said supporters of the Tinubu administration believe the government’s performance should be assessed based on “measurable actions and visible results,” highlighting several initiatives and developments they said demonstrate progress under the current administration.

Among the achievements cited were the rescue of abducted pupils and teachers from Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State through what he described as a coordinated multi-agency security operation without the payment of ransom.

He also pointed to the commencement of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, describing it as one of Nigeria’s largest infrastructure projects intended to improve transportation, trade, and economic growth.

Other initiatives highlighted included the implementation of the Student Loan Scheme to improve access to higher education, increased investment in federal road infrastructure across the country’s six geopolitical zones, reforms in the oil and gas sector aimed at boosting local refining capacity, enhanced collaboration among security agencies to address insecurity, and ongoing economic reforms focusing on agriculture, investment, digital innovation, and social intervention programmes.

According to Kennedy, these initiatives have strengthened the confidence of many supporters in the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda and justify continued public support.

He urged participants to conduct themselves peacefully throughout the rally, stressing that the event was intended to exercise citizens’ constitutional rights to freedom of expression and association.

“We are not here to insult anyone. We are not here to threaten anyone. We are here to demonstrate our constitutional right to freedom of expression and association,” he said.

Kennedy also encouraged supporters to continue engaging their communities through peaceful mobilisation, civic participation, voter education, and constructive dialogue aimed at promoting national unity, security, and development.

The rally concluded with calls for continued support for Team Gbaja, the North Central Zone, and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

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FG to Launch Military Medical College for Armed Forces in 2026

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By Abigail David

The Federal Government has unveiled plans to establish the Armed Forces College of Medicine and Health Sciences, with the first set of military medical cadets expected to begin training during the 2026 academic session.

Minister of Education, Olatunji Alausa, announced the initiative in Abuja while inaugurating a Technical Working Group tasked with accelerating the college’s establishment. According to a statement from the ministry, the institution is intended to provide a dedicated pipeline of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals trained specifically for military service.

Alausa said the project would reduce the Armed Forces’ reliance on civilian universities for medical personnel and strengthen healthcare support for military operations. He noted that the college would focus on producing professionals equipped to meet the unique demands of military and battlefield medicine.

The minister also highlighted the government’s ongoing efforts to expand medical education nationwide, stating that admissions into Medicine and Dentistry have increased to over 10,000 annually, while nursing enrolment has risen significantly.

The Technical Working Group, comprising representatives from the Ministries of Education and Defence, regulatory agencies and other stakeholders, has been directed to develop the curriculum, secure accreditation and ensure the institution is ready for the 2026 academic session.

Chairman of the committee, Major General Idris Babatunde Solebo, said the college would operate from the Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna and follow a model similar to the Uniformed Services University in the United States. He added that medical cadets would receive both academic and military training, including battlefield medicine and Tactical Combat Casualty Care.

According to Solebo, the Armed Forces currently face a significant shortage of medical personnel, making the new institution a key step toward strengthening military healthcare capacity.

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