Bardef News Network-BNN

30/05/2026

30/05/2026

*. *ADC to FG: El-Rufai Is a Prisoner of Conscience, Free Him Without Delay*

VN

The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has condemned the continued detention of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, declaring him a “prisoner of conscience” and demanding his immediate and unconditional release.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the party described El-Rufai’s detention as politically motivated and an attack on free speech, warning that holding dissenting voices hostage threatens Nigeria’s democracy.

“Nasir El-Rufai is being held not for any crime, but for his conscience. This is unacceptable in a democratic society,” the ADC said, calling on the federal government and security agencies to respect the rule of law.

30/05/2026

*Insecurity Deepens: Bandits Whisk Away Retired General, Wife in Katsina’s Matazu Area*
_DT_

*Katsina* — Anxiety has gripped Katsina State following the abduction of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar and his wife by armed bandits along the Matazu axis on Friday.

Eyewitnesses said the senior military officer and his spouse were traveling when gunmen blocked the road, forced them out of their vehicle, and whisked them into the forest at gunpoint.

The incident marks one of the most high-profile kidnappings in the state in recent months, raising fresh concerns about the deteriorating security situation across the North-West.

Security agencies have yet to issue an official statement, but sources confirmed that a search-and-rescue operation is underway.

General Abubakar, a former Director of Defence Information, retired from active service a few years ago. His abduction underscores the growing audacity of bandits, who now target both civilians and prominent figures.

30/05/2026

Oyo Insecurity: Makinde Says Exclusive Federal Control Left State ‘Incapacitated’ Against Kidnappers*

DT

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde says the federal government’s exclusive control of Nigeria’s security architecture left his administration “powerless” to prevent the recent wave of kidnappings in the state.

Speaking on Friday, Makinde argued that governors are reduced to “chief security officers only in name” because they lack command over the police and other agencies needed to respond swiftly to criminal threats.

His remarks come amid rising public outrage over abductions along major highways and rural communities in Oyo, with residents demanding urgent action.

“The current structure does not work. When incidents happen, I get the calls, but I cannot deploy the men with guns,” Makinde said, renewing his call for state police and a full restructuring of Nigeria’s security system.

29/05/2026

*Your Frustration May Be Pointing You to Nigeria’s Next Solution*
_By Gambo Abdullahi, 29/05/2026

In a tough economy, frustration is everywhere: at the fuel station, in the newsroom, in classrooms without chairs, in markets where prices change by the hour. Most of us spend our days asking the same questions: “Why is this process so difficult?” “Why won’t the government fix it?” “Why do we keep facing the same problems?”

But what if that frustration is not just pain? What if it is direction?

A powerful lesson from the book _Scratch Your Own Itch_ is this: the problems that repeatedly annoy, drain, and anger you may actually contain the blueprint for something meaningful you were meant to build. The idea is simple — stop looking outside for the “perfect solution” and start paying attention to your own lived experience.

In Nigeria’s current economic reality, that message matters more than ever. With high inflation, widespread unemployment, and a weakening naira, waiting for a miracle from outside will only deepen the hardship. The roads that flood every rainy season, the erratic power supply that kills small businesses, the bureaucratic processes that waste hours in government offices — these are not just complaints. They are opportunities staring us in the face.

The book shifts our perspective completely. Your irritation is not always a distraction. Sometimes it is instruction. The issue you understand deeply because you have felt it personally may be the exact problem you are uniquely equipped to solve. The trader who loses goods to bad roads knows more about logistics than any consultant. The teacher who manages 80 pupils with no textbooks knows more about creative learning than any imported policy. The reporter who battles poor record-keeping in a newsroom knows exactly where the system is broken.

The deeper message is about ownership. Nigeria will not change if we keep blaming Abuja, Washington, or “the system.” Real progress begins when citizens and leaders stop asking, “Who will fix this?” and start asking, “What can I do about it?”

Leaders must look inward and design solutions that fit our local realities, not just copy models from abroad. Citizens must stop waiting and start creating — even in small ways. The woman who opens a solar-charging kiosk for her street. The youth who builds an app to track market prices. The civil servant who redesigns one slow process in his office. These are “scratches” that heal real itches.

The book also reminds us that lasting growth rarely comes from chasing trends or copying someone else’s dream. Real motivation survives hard times when it is personal. When you solve a problem that genuinely bothers you, discipline becomes easier, learning becomes purposeful, and resilience becomes natural.

Here is the takeaway for Nigeria today: the things that bother you most are not just ruining your peace. They may be revealing the work you were meant to do.

If every Nigerian, from the policymaker in Lafia to the student in Keffi, begins to treat frustration as a clue instead of a curse, we will stop outsourcing our future. We will start building it.

Because in this economy, the solutions we keep waiting for may already be living inside the people who feel the pain the most.

28/05/2026

*Beyond Politics: What a Well-Lived Nation Can Teach Nigeria and Nasarawa State*

_By Gambo Abdullahi, 28/05/2026_

A meaningful society is not measured only by GDP figures, infrastructure projects, or political victories. Often, it is measured by how deeply citizens feel seen, how leaders serve with purpose, and how communities stay connected and true to themselves through changing seasons of governance and hardship.

That idea, drawn from the reflections in _The Well-Lived Life_ by Gladys McGarey, offers a timely lens for Nigeria and Nasarawa State as leaders and citizens mark another year of their democratic journey.

At its core is a simple but urgent truth: governance becomes richer when it is guided by purpose, curiosity about people’s real needs, and genuine connection—not just by routine bureaucracy and election cycles. In Nasarawa State, this is visible in the ongoing efforts of Governor Abdullahi A. Sule’s administration to expand infrastructure across water supply, roads, education, and healthcare. From rural water projects under NARUWASSA to road rehabilitation and investments in education, the focus has been on improving daily living for ordinary citizens.

Development is not something to postpone until the next budget or administration. It is shaped by how leaders and citizens choose to engage with each other today. Recognizing these efforts matters. When citizens acknowledge and appreciate visible progress, it reinforces accountability and encourages continuity. At the same time, appreciation should not silence constructive criticism. A healthy democracy thrives when people support good work and speak out civilly where gaps remain, pushing for transparency, equity, and faster delivery.

One of the strongest lessons is that purpose does not expire with age or political tenure. For leaders in Abuja, Lafia, and at the local government level, this means seeing public service as more than personal legacy or party politics. Aging administrations and seasoned politicians still have space for deeper wisdom, reflection, and emotional clarity if they remain open to listening. A meaningful political life does not end when the spotlight fades.

There is also a reminder that the health of a state goes beyond roads and hospitals. True stability is tied to emotional balance in public discourse, the strength of relationships between government and citizens, and a shared sense of belonging. People suffer and distrust grows when they feel disconnected from purpose and excluded from decisions that affect their lives.

Another key theme is acceptance and resilience. Nigeria and Nasarawa State face no shortage of pain—economic hardship, insecurity, loss, and political disappointment. Yet societies can choose openness, compassion, and growth over bitterness and fear. Leaders who acknowledge challenges honestly and citizens who hold them accountable with civility create room for healing.

The book also highlights the power of connection. In politics, relationships built on trust, kindness, and shared presence often outlast short-term power plays. Over time, the goodwill earned through service and empathy becomes more valuable than political status or material gain.

The tone here is not about perfection. No administration will get everything right. But a well-led state is built through presence, purpose, and the willingness of leaders and citizens to stay engaged until the end of the term—and beyond.

Because governing well is less about how much time a leader has in office, and more about how fully they choose to experience and serve the people within that time.

For Nigeria and Nasarawa State, the challenge is clear: appreciate genuine efforts, criticize constructively, and move beyond managing routines to build a political life that feels worth living for everyone.