Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim

An Islamic scholar, Imam Murtadha Gusau, has warned that remaining silent in the face of oppression and injustice amounts to complicity and poses grave moral and spiritual dangers to individuals and societies.

Delivering a Friday sermon titled “The Prohibition of Silence in the Face of Oppression and Injustice”, the cleric said injustice remains one of the most destructive forces in human societies, driven by the abuse of power through money, authority, weapons and the media.

Imam Gusau explained that the Qur’an strongly condemns oppression, describing it as the misplacement of rights and the elevation of unqualified individuals over the deserving. He noted that oppressors may appear powerful temporarily, but divine justice ultimately ensures their failure.

Quoting several Qur’anic verses, including “The oppressors do not succeed” (Qur’an 12:23), he cited historical examples such as the persecution of Prophet Yusuf and the tyranny of Pharaoh against Prophet Musa, stressing that oppression never leads to lasting success.

The cleric lamented what he described as widespread injustice across the world, including Nigeria and conflict-ridden regions such as Palestine, Yemen and Syria, accusing many leaders and politicians of turning a blind eye to the suffering of innocent people.

According to him, Islamic teachings place a collective responsibility on believers to confront injustice, warning that silence in the presence of wrongdoing can attract divine punishment. He cited Qur’an 5:78–79, which recounts how past nations were punished not only for committing evil, but also for failing to prevent it.

Imam Gusau stressed that Islam commands believers to actively stand for justice, even when it is difficult or risky. He recalled prophetic traditions which teach that evil should be resisted with action, speech, or at the very least, inward rejection, describing silence as the weakest form of faith.

He further reminded political leaders and those in authority that ignoring oppression constitutes a betrayal of trust and accountability before Allah, warning that excuses such as poverty, weakness or fear do not absolve societies from their moral obligations.

The sermon also drew attention to the Islamic distinction between lawful justice and unlawful aggression, emphasising that preventing crimes, protecting victims and holding perpetrators accountable through just means are necessary for social stability and human dignity.

Imam Gusau concluded by urging Muslims to support the oppressed through advocacy, humanitarian assistance, lawful action and moral courage, stressing that justice, not silence, strengthens nations and faith.

The sermon was delivered on Friday, January 9, 2026, corresponding to Rajab 19, 1447 AH.

Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim

Members of the Kano State House of Assembly have unanimously endorsed the planned decision of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to defect from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing deepening legal and leadership crises within the NNPP.

KANO FOCUS reports that the lawmakers said remaining in the NNPP poses serious political and legal risks, warning that the party’s internal disputes and ongoing court cases could jeopardise the mandates of elected officials in the state.

The legislators recalled the political crisis in Zamfara State, where the ruling party lost power despite winning elections, as a key reason behind their support for Governor Yusuf’s proposed exit from the NNPP.

Speaking to journalists on Thursday, the Majority Leader of the House, Lawan Hussaini, said the Assembly could not ignore what he described as the “dangerous legal situation” surrounding the party.

“There is an existing court judgement that recognises a particular faction of the NNPP,” Hussaini said. “We cannot continue to remain in the party and risk a repeat of the legal disaster that happened in Zamfara State.”

He explained that the NNPP is currently embroiled in rival leadership claims and multiple court cases, creating uncertainty over the party’s legal standing and the validity of its nominations ahead of future elections.

According to Hussaini, the Zamfara experience remains a painful reminder of how internal party disputes can nullify electoral victories. In the 2019 general elections, the APC won most elective offices in Zamfara State but failed to conduct valid primaries due to internal disagreements.

He noted that shortly before the inauguration of elected officials, the Supreme Court ruled that the APC had no valid candidates, declared the votes cast for the party wasted and ordered that candidates with the next highest votes who met constitutional requirements be declared winners.

The judgement handed the governorship to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Bello Matawalle, while the PDP also secured nearly all legislative seats in the state, despite losing at the polls.

Drawing lessons from that precedent, Hussaini warned that Kano could face a similar fate if the NNPP’s internal crisis remains unresolved. He said continued factional battles and litigation could invalidate the party’s candidates, even after successful elections.

The Majority Leader disclosed that this concern informed the Assembly’s decision to support calls urging Governor Yusuf and the leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, to consider leaving the NNPP for what lawmakers described as a more stable political platform, including the APC.

He added that consultations were already ongoing with Governor Yusuf and Senator Kwankwaso to agree on what he termed a “strategic and timely” defection that would safeguard the mandate given to them by the electorate.

Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim

The Kano State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), in collaboration with the Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE), has organised a six-day capacity-building programme aimed at strengthening the teaching and learning of English Language in public primary schools across the state.

KANO FOCUS reports that the training, which targets English Language teachers in selected Local Government Education Authorities (LGEAs), is part of ongoing efforts to improve literacy outcomes at the basic education level in Kano State.

Speaking during a monitoring visit to one of the training centres in Takai Local Government Area, the PLANE State Team Leader, Malam Umar Lawan, said the programme is a continuation of the technical and capacity-building support PLANE has been providing to the Kano State Government over the last three to four years.

He explained that the initiative is designed to equip English Language teachers with modern, learner-centred teaching methodologies, while ensuring that pupils are exposed early to effective reading and speaking skills at the lower primary level, ahead of their transition to upper classes.

According to Malam Umar, the pilot phase of the programme is being implemented in four local government areas—Takai, Gabasawa, Minjibir and Karaye—covering 115 primary schools and involving 484 English Language teachers. He added that the six-day training would expose participants to innovative instructional strategies aimed at improving classroom delivery and learning outcomes.

In his remarks, the Deputy National Team Leader of PLANE, Mr Samuel Achimugu, expressed satisfaction with the dedication of the resource persons and the enthusiasm shown by participating teachers in engaging with the training content. He stressed that continuous professional development of English Language teachers remains critical to achieving quality education outcomes at the basic education level.

Mr Achimugu commended Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for his commitment to revitalising the education sector in Kano State, and also praised the Chairman of SUBEB, Malam Yusuf Kabir, for his initiatives and leadership geared towards making basic education more progressive and effective.

Participants at the training described the programme as timely and impactful, expressing appreciation to PLANE and SUBEB for the support. They pledged to apply the knowledge and skills acquired to enhance the learning experience and literacy development of pupils in their respective schools.