Mourning Alhaji Aminu Dantata.

The passing of Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata on 28 June 2025, at age 94, plunged Nigeria into deep mourning, bringing together political leaders, business elites, and ordinary citizens in grief.

Governors, emirs, political and business leaders flew to Saudi Arabia, where he indicated his family should bury him beside his wife.

1. National Outpouring of Grief

Presidential Tributes:

President Bola Tinubu described Dantata’s death as a “monumental national loss,” praising his “sterling contributions to Nigeria’s growth” through business acumen and philanthropy.

Former President Muhammadu Buhari highlighted his “monumental legacy in philanthropy and entrepreneurship.”

Northern Leaders: The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) called him a “pillar of Nigeria’s anti-colonial struggle” and a beacon of unity. Northern Governors, led by Gombe’s Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, mourned the “close of a historic chapter in Nigeria’s economic journey.”

The Media across the spectrum wrote features, editorials, and aired documentaries on the life and times of Aminu Dantata. Daily Trust published a special supplement.

 2. A Life of Service and Simplicity

Humble Lifestyle: Despite his vast wealth (uncle to Aliko Dangote), Dantata lived in Kano’s impoverished Zoo Road area, shunning traditional titles. A local mechanic, Musa Shehu, testified: “I occupied his land for years—he never asked for rent”.

Philanthropy: Donated ₦1.5 billion to Borno flood victims (2025), funded schools, hospitals (e.g., Alhassan Dantata Haemodialysis Centre), and Islamic institutions. His motto: “I pray to Allah not to give me what would not benefit others.”

🏗️ 3. Architect of Modern Nigeria

Business Empire: Transformed his father’s trading enterprise into the Dantata Organisation, spanning agriculture, construction (e.g., Nigerian Defence Academy), oil (Express Petroleum), and banking (Jaiz Bank).

Policy Influence:
Pioneer board member of the Nigerian Industrial Development Bank (1964).

Kano State Commissioner for Trade (1968–1973) and House of Representatives member (1961).

 4. A Revered Burial in Medina

Final Journey: Buried at Al-Baqi Cemetery in Medina, Saudi Arabia, per his wishes. Saudi authorities granted “rare honours”, allowing Nigerian governors and Emir Sanusi II to view his body.

Dignitaries Present: Kano Governor Abba Yusuf, Jigawa Governor Umar Namadi, Defence Minister Badaru Abubakar, and former Emir Aminu Ado Bayero attended funeral prayers at the Prophet’s Mosque.

 5. Legacy: Bridging Tradition and Modernity
Mentor to Generations: Shaped Aliko Dangote and advocated for youth entrepreneurship, teaching that “a child starts earning at five”.

Philosophical Vision: Warned against moral decline, urging a blend of Islamic and Western education. His 2023 interview stressed: “Western development used African resources—we need true independence”.

National Symbol: President Tinubu’s viral bow to him before the 2023 elections captured his stature as a kingmaker.

💬 Voices from the Nation

Emir Sanusi II: “His life reflected humility and service. We witnessed the love he earned.”

Vice President Shettima: “We lost an irreplaceable institution—a titan in Nigeria’s philosophical history.”

Ordinary Nigerians: Flood victims, students, and artisans shared stories of unpublicized aid, cementing his image as a “quiet philanthropist”.

 Conclusion: An Eternal Blueprint

A tapestry of integrity, enterprise, and selflessness marked Alhaji Aminu Dantata’s 94 years. As Nigeria buries a merchant prince who built roads, banks, and hope, his legacy whispers: true wealth is measured in lives uplifted. His final resting place in Medina—a city of prophets—symbolises a life that transcended commerce to touch the divine.

“Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un” (Surely, we belong to Allah, and to Him we return).

Colourful narratives on social media
Many of the accounts were unverified.

THE MASSIVE WEALTH AND PROPERTIES LEFT BEHIND BY ALH. AMINU DANTATA
😳

He left behind ₦61 trillion in cash in both Nigerian and foreign banks. He also left behind 800 petrol stations, both within and outside Nigeria, that do not bear his name but belong to him.

In Kano alone, he left 500 houses, along with 1,200 plots with only fencing or partial structures, with no buildings on them—just empty plots.
He also left 320 houses in other towns across Nigeria and abroad.

He left 280 vehicles in use, and another 120 cars that are not in use, just parked. He left shares worth over ₦30 trillion in companies within and outside Nigeria.

In a 2022 interview, he mentioned that he began purchasing private jets in 1967 for USD 120,000. Currently, he owns 10 private jets, each valued at a minimum of ₦1 billion.

This is just a fraction of what his heirs said about the wealth of the late Alh. Aminu Dantata left behind!

He lived with four wives, had over 45 children, and more than 150 grandchildren.

Nigerians react to the new political coalition, the African Democratic Congress (ADC)

The formation of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition, which brings together opposition leaders Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar, as well as defectors from the ruling APC, has sparked a fierce debate across Nigeria. Here’s a summary of key reactions from political actors, analysts, and the public.

In Summary:

🔹 Supporters: See ADC as Nigeria’s last hope against APC’s dominance.

🔹 Detractors: Regard it as a sinking ship of embittered elites.

🔹 Undecided: Await policy clarity and proof of unity.

 1. Opposition Optimism: A Unified Front Against Tinubu

Strategic Alliance: Supporters hail the coalition as a necessary move to prevent a “one-party state” and challenge President Tinubu’s APC in the 2027 elections. By merging Obi’s Labour Party base (25% in 2023) and Atiku’s PDP support (29%), the ADC aims to surpass Tinubu’s 37% vote share.

Key Figures: The coalition comprises ex-APC heavyweights, including Nasir El-Rufai, Rotimi Amaechi, and former Senate President David Mark, lending it structural credibility.

Public Sentiment: Yunusa Tanko (Obi’s “Obidient” movement coordinator) frames the ADC as a fight for Nigeria’s “soul,” citing economic hardship and insecurity.
2. APC/Presidency’s Dismissive Counterattack

“Coalition of the bitter“: Presidential aides Bayo Onanuga and Sunday Dare describe ADC promoters as “desperate,” “selfish,” and motivated solely by hostility towards Tinubu. They compare this to the APC’s 2013 merger, which they assert was based on ideological grounds.

Attack on Credibility: The presidency highlights the controversies of defectors—e.g., ex-Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika’s corruption trial and Rauf Aregbesola’s expulsion from the APC—to question the coalition’s integrity.

APC’s Confidence: Party spokesperson Felix Morka mocks the ADC as a “roll call of Nigeria’s me-or-nothing politicians,” insisting Tinubu’s incumbency and economic reforms guarantee victory.

3. Analysts’ Split Verdict: Hope vs. Scepticism

Pro-Coalition:

“If Atiku and Obi had run together in 2023, they would have won. This merger corrects that mistake.”
— Ben Kenneth, political analyst.

Anti-Coalition:

Incumbent presidents seldom lose re-election in Africa. Tinubu’s machinery and APC’s unity make ADC’s task formidable.

Structural Doubts: Critics note ADC’s rushed formation (using an existing party to avoid registration delays) and question its ideological coherence beyond ousting Tinubu.

4. Internal Challenges: Unity and Strategy

Obi-Atiku Tensions: Despite their public alliance, tensions persist over their respective roles. Obi’s supporters reject him playing “second fiddle” as VP, while Atiku’s camp insists on his seniority.

APC Infiltration Fears: Nasir El-Rufai Warns of APC Plots to Sabotage the Coalition, Hints at Backup Plans to Migrate to Another Party if ADC Collapses.

Legacy Party Crises: The PDP and Labour Party risk irrelevance after losing star figures. PDP’s inability to counter-defect governors may determine its survival.

5. Public Reaction: Cautious Hope Amid Cynicism

Grassroots Energy: Young voters and Obi’s “Obidient” movement view the ADC as a means for change, promoting hashtags like #ADCRebirth on social media.

Economic Anguish: Many Nigerians support the coalition’s critique of Tinubu’s reforms (e.g., subsidy removal), which have exacerbated inflation and poverty.

Distrust of Elites: sceptics view ADC leaders as recycled politicians. As one Abuja trader lamented: “Same faces fighting for power, not for us.”

🔮 6. Implications for 2027

Opposition Reset: The ADC could eclipse the PDP as Nigeria’s main opposition force, especially if it attracts more governors.

Tinubu’s Response: According to El-Rufai’s allegations, the APC is allegedly using state resources and anti-corruption agencies to pressure defectors.

Democracy Test: Success depends on whether the ADC shifts from a “revenge alliance” to a policy-driven alternative. As DW notes: ‘Nigerians want solutions, not slogans.’

The following 18 months will determine if the ADC can evolve from a “hotel-room coalition” (as APC mocks) into a credible contender 9. For now, its birth has electrified Nigeria’s political landscape, for better or worse.

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Lagos and malaria elimination

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Nigeria had no formal diplomatic relations with Saint Lucia; the country Tinubu visited was supposedly due to its “strategic” importance. 🙄 Clueless clowns in power!

President Tinubu offers scholarships to students in Saint Lucia and loans to Nigerian students.

The contrast between the educational assistance to Nigerian students by the government of Nigeria and that to students in Saint Lucia was a significant talking point as President Bola Tinubu continued his trip to the Caribbean Island nation.
It sparked intense and polarised reactions.
Comedians portrayed it as absurd and insensitive.

Key Reactions:

1. Strong Domestic Backlash

Many Nigerians, including prominent opposition figures like Peter Obi, have criticised the move as insensitive and misplaced, given Nigeria’s severe education crisis. Critics point out that Nigeria currently has one of the world’s highest numbers of out-of-school children, with public schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) shut down for months due to unpaid teachers. Obi described the scholarship offer as “an act of betrayal,” questioning the logic of funding foreign students while millions of Nigerian children lack access to basic education and teachers remain unpaid.

Social media and public commentary have echoed these concerns, with many Nigerians expressing frustration that resources are being allocated abroad while domestic needs remain unmet.

2. Defence by Government Supporters and Some Public Figures

Supporters of the initiative, including former Senator Shehu Sani, argue that international scholarships are a standard diplomatic tool and should not be considered wasteful simply because Nigeria faces its challenges. Sani emphasised that countries providing aid and scholarships to Nigerians also have their domestic issues yet choose to assist as a matter of international solidarity and diplomacy.

Proponents argue that the scholarship scheme is part of a broader framework aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s connections with the Caribbean, promoting educational and cultural exchange, and enhancing the country’s international standing.

3. Broader Political and Social Commentary

The announcement has sparked a broader debate about government priorities, with critics pointing out the contrast between the scholarship offer and the ongoing strikes and protests by Nigerian teachers and civil servants over unpaid wages.

Some see the move as an attempt to secure diplomatic goodwill and international recognition, while others perceive it as a diversion from pressing domestic issues.
Summary Table: Reactions to Tinubu’s Saint Lucia Scholarship Offer
Social Listening 4 July 2025

The controversy underscores a growing tension between Nigeria’s international ambitions and urgent domestic needs, with many citizens demanding that leaders prioritise solutions to the country’s own educational and social crises before extending largesse abroad.

The Chagoury link to Saint Lucia

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Socio-Political

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