Take My Gist

Heart to Heart with Hajara – Series 4: “My Partner Doesn’t Listen to Me.” But Have You Really Talked to Each Other Openly and Honestly? One thing I hear quite often in counselling is: “My husband doesn't listen to me.” “He does not even care about me.” “He does not protect me from his family.” “He cheats…” And from men, I hear: “My wife doesn't understand me.” “She is troublesome.” “Stubborn.” “No empathy.” “Disrespectful…” Ba ta jin magana. (in Hausa) Wun de tosaya. (in Nupe) You see, women complain. Men complain too. Sometimes, both people are actually unhappy, but each person is so focused on how badly the other person is treating them that neither stops to ask, “What are we both doing wrong?” Most times, both parties believe they are right and blame the other without reflecting on themselves. From what I have seen as a counsellor, sometimes the problem is not that there is no love. The problem is that both people are speaking, but neither is really listening. A wife can say...

My people of Bida, Gbako and Katcha, let’s talk honestly. Yes, people are criticizing. Some are asking: “Where are the hospitals? The roads? The schools?” Others are counting the 370 motorcycles SMA distributed and asking why ₦370 million plus went to bikes instead of completing the abandoned hospital in Gbako/Katcha.   “Bikes fade. Hospitals heal,” they say. And I hear them. But let’s also be fair with facts. A Federal Representative’s job is different from what many people think. SMA’s seat is in Abuja. He goes there to make laws, speak for us at the national level, and fight to bring federal attention, funding, and opportunities back home to Bida, Gbako and Katcha.   The boreholes in your area, the grading of roads in your ward, the streetlights on your street — that responsibility lies with the Local Government and your Councilors who are closer to the ground.   Think of government like a house. The Rep helps design the plan and brings the materials. Th...

What a beautiful celebration of love, family, and unity. The family of Honourable SMA joyfully gave out their beloved daughter, Aisha Musa Abdul, in marriage to Abdulmalik Adamu Ndako. It was a wedding that was celebrated with elegance, tradition, and warmth. From Minna to Bida, the celebration came in different colours and styles. The joy was seen in every gathering, every smile, and every prayer. Well-wishers from different parts of the world came together to honour this union and to share in this special moment. It was an exceptional series of events. It began with Walimat, followed by a gracious Dinner, then the vibrant Nupe cultural celebration, and finally the sacred Wedding Fatih which took place at the family house of Dangis. In prayers and in presence, the two families stood together as one. The family of the bride, led by Professor Sheik Ahmad Abdullah OON, Magajin Garin Nupe and Former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the family of the groom, the family of ...