Governor Mai Mala Buni has urged Chief Imams of Jummat Mosques in Yobe State to pray for Nigeria and its President, Bola Tinubu, and other leaders for peace and unity in the country.

He made the call during a series of consultative meetings with Chief Imams at the Government House, Damaturu.

The first phase of the meeting was organised for both Muslim and Christian clerics in the state, and attended by more than 800 Chief Imams from the various Friday Jummat mosques in the state.

The governor stated: “Nigeria is in dire need of prayers and fasting against the internal and external evil machinations for peace to reign, and for Nigeria to prosper with a sustained economic development and growth.”

He, therefore, explained to the clerics that there would be no meaningful development without peace, stating: “That is why we need to come together to support our leaders to protect our country from insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, and other criminalities that led to the loss of many lives and property.”

Buni also reminded the religious leaders of the unfortunate experience of the state at the peak of the Boko Haram insurgency.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Religious Affairs, Babagana Malam Kyari, said the meeting was to remind the Imams of the need to pray for the country and its leaders.

IN another development, a broad-based national coalition, spanning civil society organisations, professional bodies, labour groups, artisan associations, and other grassroots networks, has unveiled plans to back President Bola Tinubu’s second term bid with 20 million signatures.

Spearheaded by the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria (COCSON), the alliance said it extends far beyond the traditional civic space, bringing together over 1,500 groups from diverse sectors of the Nigerian society.

In a statement, COCSON’s National Secretary, Tabuko Kennedy, revealed that the landmark convention is set for May 17, 2026, bringing together leaders and representatives from diverse groups in what is projected to be “the largest endorsement gathering in Nigeria’s history.”

He explained that the event would provide a formal platform for the coalition to jointly declare support for the President’s re-election bid.

Kennedy further noted that the planned 20 million-signature campaign is designed to demonstrate widespread grassroots acceptance and national consensus across regions, professions, and socio-economic divides.

The coalition, he said, is leveraging both physical outreach and digital platforms to achieve the ambitious target within the stipulated timeframe.

ALSO, the people of Kwara North Senatorial District have joined the clamour for President Tinubu’s second term bid.

They also urged the Nigerian leader to assist in breaking the age-long jinx in which their zone had been denied the governorship seat.

They recalled, at a mega rally in Ilorin, that since the creation of the state in 1967, the zone has been governed for just 22 months through former Governor Shaba Lafiagi.

At the well-attended event, all the speakers agreed that Tinubu had performed excellently to deserve a second term.

Speaking on behalf of the Kwara North traditional rulers, the Emir of Lafiagi, Muhammad Kudu Kawu, described the agitation for power shift as a reflection of the longstanding aspiration of the people of the district.

According to him, the district has, for decades, remained on the margins of Kwara’s top leadership despite its contributions to electoral victories and political stability of the state.

Kawu pleaded to the Chairman of Kwara State Council of Traditional Rulers, Emir Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, to prevail on the state government and other prominent stakeholders to concede the Government House to Kwara North.

Equally, former Speaker of the state House of Assembly and two-time minister, Issa Bio Ibrahim, addressed the gathering on behalf of the leaders and stakeholders of the district.

He used the forum to announce the resolve of the people to support any of their sons who emerge as the gubernatorial candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) so that the district could occupy the state’s number one political office for the first time since the return to democratic rule in 1999.

Erstwhile legislator and Commissioner of Information, AbdulMumin Katibi, rolled out data to show that Kwara North in the past elections produced the second largest vote bloc after Kwara Central.