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North split on restructuring

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Some Northern leaders and groups yesterday expressed divergent views on whether the country should be restructured. At the ongoing two-day conference on “The North and the future of the Nigerian Federation” organised by Arewa Research and Development Project (ARDP) in Kaduna, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State said the insinuation that the north was against restructuring was false .

Tambuwal, who is the chairman of the forum, said: “The fact that some people continue to parrot such a lie only helps to give credence to the flawed argument. Let us be clear: the north wants restructuring as much as anyone else.

“However, as a people, we do not easily jump into the bandwagon because we are always there for the long haul. We believe that any decision we take must be inclusive, and respect procedures and processes so that the outcome is sustainable.”

He said that only recently, the Northern States Governors’ Forum and Northern Traditional Leaders Council Committee on Restructuring of the Nigerian Federation, which he chairs, inaugurated a technical committee reflecting the diversity of northern Nigeria to look at the issues surrounding the call for restructuring and get the aggregate views of the north for use during the proposed public hearing across the 19 northern states.

“I think we should first, as a country, mutually agree on a definition of the term restructuring. In my view, if restructuring means taking stock of our arrangement to ensure that no state takes a disproportionate amount of the resources, or most of the available space in the education or job sector, or subjugates the others’ culture or religion, or lords it over the other so that the number of the poor and uneducated whose future is circumscribed by their circumstance is shared proportionately, then we agree.

“We all want a country where there is peace and progress, where there is justice, where all lives are safe and people can pursue their legitimate livelihoods wherever they choose. I believe each state in this country has areas of comparative advantage and life is a cycle so that what was once the largest revenue earner can in time become less so while something else takes ascendancy. As a country we must look to the future and agree on what in the long run will benefit us all.”

But former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, as always, was more forthcoming. He insisted that power and resources should shift to the states as part of restructuring.

Atiku, who was represented by Dr. Awwalu Anwar, said: “My idea of restructuring is devolution of power to the states with the resources. The Federal Government should only be bothered about the economy while the states should be left to provide education, security and build roads.

“To me, if a state is given the responsibility of providing security, state police will better secure their areas because they will be familiar with the nature and peculiarity of their security challenges.

“In the whole of this, the north has nothing to fear because we have the land, we have the population and we have the resources. The north has nothing to fear because oil will soon become history.”

If Atiku sounded moderate, former vice chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, went extreme. He said: “I was a student when we got independence and we saw that each time there was a need to unite Nigeria, the north made the largest sacrifice.

“Now we have 36 states from three regions which existed in 1960. No country has had constitutional conference like Nigeria, yet it has not created the basis for a united country. If we want to restructure Nigeria, we have to start from the beginning, 1914, north and south, let’s go our separate ways.”

According to Abdullahi, such a clamour for restructuring is not new, as it has always come from the south whenever a northerner is in charge of leadership.

“The governor of Sokoto State who is the chairman of the Northern Governors’ Restructuring Committee, and chairman of this conference, we do not want you to rush into committing us, the views of the north should be collected, nobody should stampede us,” Abdullahi said.

The northern chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Jamatul Nasir Islam (JNI) insisted that the country was better together than to restructure it.

The northern CAN chairman, Rev. Yakubu Pam, who was represented by Air Commodore Tanko Ato (rtd), said “the north can stand. Our position on the restructuring debate is that Nigeria is better and firmer together. To us, it does not matter whether we restructure or not, what matters to us is the united north and Nigeria where we respect each other’s faith and freedom of worship.”

The JNI represented by Bashir Dahiru Bauchi, maintained that the north had always contributed to the country even before the coming of the colonial masters, so the region should see itself as “a big brother.”

“We are better as a united Nigeria than going our separate ways. Nigeria is held in high esteem in the world politics, but it will be devoured by the world powers if broken into pieces,” he said.

The Jam’iyar Matan Arewa (Northern Women Assembly) said even if the country was restructured to family units, there would still be the problem of leadership.

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, represented by his deputy, Bala Bantex, said: “We should bother about poverty, illiteracy and insecurity in our region. We should strive to reverse this trend.”

At another event, El-Rufai who is the chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Committee on True Federalism urged those pushing for resource control to work towards a more united and virile nation.

At the town hall meeting organised by his committee to interface with the youths in Abuja, El-Rufai faulted those clamouring for all the 36 states of the country to be treated on equal terms.

The governor said that each of the 36 states of the country had its own peculiarities and comparative advantage that could not be wished away.

“It is just like saying everyone who is six feet, five can play basket ball. As human beings, we are equal but you cannot come and stand here and say we should create nine states in each zone, Nigeria is not equal, likewise the population and resources, you can’t do that.

“The greatest injustice is trying to make equal, unequal and unequal equal, things are not done like that. There are those who have said that Nigeria and Unites States are the same.

“The representatives of the agitators are few in number and so the majority must always win. Some people say because we have oil, let’s us have resource control. We must think of the overall interest of Nigeria. By that I mean what works for everyone. Because what works for one part of the county will not necessarily work for the other.

“And so as long as we are from one country we must seek what is of common good not the one that serves one interest group. If you do things like that, you will get it wrong. Otherwise you will continue to make argument in which there will be no consensus.”

– Channels

MUSIC

Tems Debut Album Ranks #2 On Billboard’s R&B List Of 2024

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Tems debut album hits #2 on Billboard's R&B list of 2024 | fab.ng

Tems’ Global Impact: A Billboard Recognition

Tems, a global music sensation, has solidified her position as one of Africa’s most successful artists, with her album captivating millions of fans worldwide and garnering numerous prestigious awards.

In a recent testament to her talent, her debut album secured the second spot on Billboard’s list of the best R&B albums of 2025.

This remarkable achievement places Tems alongside renowned artists such as Chris Brown, PartyNextDoor, Muni Long, and Bryson Tiller.

Furthermore, Billboard has praised Tems’ music for transcending the boundaries of Afrobeats, resonating with audiences across the globe.

“The Nigerian star finds her footing in the global spotlight and stands firmly in her purpose on her dazzling debut album Born in the Wild.

“She opens up about surviving her mental wilderness and learning to thrive in it on the opening acoustic ballad that shares the album’s title.

“And on the mid-tempo standout “Burning,” Tems confronts the trappings of her newfound stardom but finds comfort in the collective struggle. As someone who’s studied Céline Dion, Destiny’s Child, and Mariah Carey and dreamt of making soul-stirring songs that send people into their feelings, Tems succeeded with aplomb.

“Born in the Wild became her highest-charting project on Top R&B Albums (reaching No. 5) and marked her career-first entry on the Billboard 200, peaking at No. 56.

“And while Born in the Wild and “Love Me JeJe” earned Tems 2025 Grammy nominations for Best Global Music Album and Best African Music Performance, respectively, her best R&B song nod for “Burning” further reinforced the rich diversity of her music–  and the notion that African artists like Tems cannot be bound to the catchall “Afrobeats” term, as their music has traveled well past the borders of the continent. – H.M.”

Tems’ debut album, “Born In The Wild,” received critical acclaim in the United States.

Indeed, the album earned a Grammy nomination for Best Global Album.

Additionally, her single “Burning” broke records by securing a nomination for Best R&B Song. Meanwhile, “Love Me Jeje” received a nomination for Best African Music Performance.

Check out more music updates here.

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MUSIC

Adekunle Gold Reveals The Role Pheelz Played In Getting Him Signed To YBNL

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Adekunle Gold credits Pheelz for his YBNL signing | fab.ng

Adekunle Gold marks a significant milestone this December 2024 as he celebrates 10 years since releasing his breakthrough single ‘Sade.’

This debut track, which creatively reimagined One Direction’s ‘Story Of My Life,’ catapulted him into Nigeria’s mainstream music consciousness in December 2014.

The artist recently shared compelling details about his journey to stardom in an industry interview, particularly highlighting his unique path to signing with YBNL.

Before his musical breakthrough, Adekunle Gold cultivated a professional relationship with Olamide through his work as YBNL’s graphic designer, creating cover art for the label’s artists, including Lil Kesh and Viktor.

The pivotal moment in his career arrived when producer Pheelz discovered ‘Sade’ and advocated for Gold’s signing to Olamide, leading to a transformative partnership with YBNL.

Under the label’s guidance, Gold released his debut album, ‘Gold,’ which produced standout hits like ‘Orente’ and ‘Pick Up,’ earning both critical acclaim and commercial success.

AG Baby, as fans affectionately call him, has demonstrated remarkable artistic versatility throughout his decade-long career.

He began his journey by crafting a distinctive urban interpretation of folk and traditional Yoruba music, later evolving into a dynamic pop star with the release of ‘Afro-pop Vol 1.’ His musical portfolio now spans five albums, each showcasing his growth and artistic range.

The singer-songwriter has established himself as one of Nigeria’s most accomplished artists, earning recognition for his exceptional songwriting abilities and commanding stage presence.

His performances continue to captivate audiences across Africa, solidifying his position as a leading figure in the continent’s music scene.

Gold’s journey from a graphic designer to a celebrated musician exemplifies his artistic versatility and dedication to his craft, marking him as one of Africa’s most sought-after performers.

Check out more updates here.

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FOREIGN

Beyoncé Achieves Historic Milestone As Most Certified Female Artist

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Beyoncé is most RIAA certified female artist of all time | fab.ng

Renowned singer Beyoncé has solidified her position as the most certified female artist of all time, a distinction bestowed upon her by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Her recent surge in song certifications has propelled her to an impressive total of 103 RIAA-certified titles, surpassing all other female artists in this category.

The RIAA celebrated this monumental achievement in a post on X on Tuesday.

“Crowning achievement! Congratulations to @Beyonce, who now holds the record for the most certified titles for a female artist in RIAA history, including her first two Diamond singles! @parkwood @columbiarecords,” RIAA announced in a post on X on Tuesday.

Among her numerous accolades are Diamond certifications for two iconic singles: “Halo” and “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It).” These certifications signify extraordinary sales and streaming figures.

Additionally, Beyoncé boasts a string of impressive certifications for her albums. “Renaissance” has achieved 2x Platinum status, “Lemonade” has attained 4x Platinum, and both “Sasha Fierce” and “Dangerously In Love” have earned 7x Platinum certifications.

This latest milestone further solidifies Beyoncé’s legacy as one of the most influential and successful artists of all time.

Her ability to consistently deliver groundbreaking music that resonates with audiences worldwide has undoubtedly contributed to her unparalleled success.

Check out more music updates here.

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