Today’s Headlines: Atiku cannot rely on Hausa, Fulani votes to beat Tinubu – APC chieftain Kwankwaso;Sultanate Council plans Islamic bank to fight poverty, create jobs

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Musa Iliyasu Kwankwaso, has said the presidential candidate for the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Atiku Abubakar cannot rely on Hausa-Fulani support alone to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

This was contained in a statement signed by Dr Kwankwaso on Monday.

According to the statement, Kwankwaso argued that the political situation in northern Nigeria had changed and that Atiku could no longer count on ethnic or regional sentiments to secure voters’ support.

𝗦𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗜𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗽𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘆, 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗷𝗼𝗯𝘀

The Sultanate Council says it is working to establish the Caliphate Islamic Microfinance Bank to combat poverty, create jobs and promote sustainable livelihoods across Nigeria and the West African sub-region.

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, disclosed this on Sunday in Sokoto at the opening of a three-day training and capacity-building programme for stakeholders on Baitul Mal wat Tamweel .

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was organised by the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) in collaboration with the Sokoto State Zakat and Endowment Agency.

Portugal Football Federation president Pedro Proença has backed Cristiano Ronaldo to resolve his disagreement with national team coach Jorge Jesus, insisting the forward remains a key figure for the country despite his recent suspension.

Proença reaffirmed Ronaldo’s importance to Portuguese football while speaking at a federation event in Funchal, the 41-year-old forward’s birthplace, according to Goal.com on Monday.

“We are in the home of the greatest asset Portuguese football has ever produced: Cristiano Ronaldo, our captain,” Proença said, as quoted by ESPN.

“Our captain, Cristiano Ronaldo, is one of our key pieces,” he added.

A pro-Tinubu group, the Asiwaju Media Team, has urged political stakeholders to focus on issue-based campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that it would challenge what it considers false information and misinformation about President Bola Tinubu.

The group also said it had directed its members in Ondo State to intensify media engagements in defence of Tinubu, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and the ruling All Progressives Congress.

This was contained in a statement issued on Monday by the group’s Director-General, Prince Emorioloye Owolemi.

The statement, titled ‘Official statement on media engagement, constructive criticism and the protection of constituted authorities’, said the group would respond to misinformation and challenge publications or statements directed against the party and its leaders.

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