An honest account of life and times of Mohsina Kidwai

Looking at the participation of women and especially Muslim women in politics and their representation in the Parliament, it’s surprising to know that only 20 Muslim women have been elected as Members of Parliament since inception.

Congress leader Mohsina Kidwai

She won from Azamgarh, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, in 1978, a year after Congress had suffered a resounding defeat, leaving Nagaur (Rajasthan) and Chhindwara (Madhya Pradesh) for Indira Gandhi. And none of its candidates including Sanjay Gandhi could win.

Mohsina Kidwai, the president of the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee, hailing from a conservative, elite Muslim family of Awadh, won. Her success gave a fresh lease of life to Congress. Within no time, once again in 1980, Congress not only back in power but also won a majority in most of the State Assemblies.

Mohsina Qadwai not only saw Indian politics from 1960 to 2016 but was also part of its ups and downs and she described them all in the name of My Life in Indian Politics in Hindi and English.

Her memoirs have been documented by senior journalist and author Rashid Kidwai.

Thereafter Congress remained active under Indira Gandhi and later Rajiv Gandhi till 1989. Both these leaders included Mohsina Kidwai in their cabinets. During her tenure as a union minister, Mohsina handled her work with transparency leaving no scope for allegations of any sort.

She had already served in the Uttar Pradesh cabinet and also led the State unit of the party.

Kidwai presided over Congress in UP in the most difficult times. As AICC General Secretary she tried her best to keep Congress — from Kerala to Himachal, including Bihar and Chhattisgarh, — in power and she was often successful.

Mohsina Kidwai made her debut at the age of 28 when she was elected a member of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council in 1960. At that time her father-in-law Jamilur Rahman Kidwai was the pillar of Congress politics in Uttar Pradesh.

Interestingly, Mohsina Kidwai’s record as a leader and political career is clean; her family never had to face embarrassment in terms of even allegations of corruption, etc.

She went on to emerge as a staunch Muslim, enlightened, and secular leader. Undoubtedly she had the support of Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, and above all the encouragement and political guidance of his father-in-law Jameel Kidwai. Those who know her personally, have an appreciation for the role her husband Khalilur Rahman Kidwai played in her rise.

In her case, it was Khaleel Kidwai was the quintessential man behind every woman’s success.

In the book, you will find commendable impressions about famous faces of Indian politics including Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh, Digvijay Singh, AK Antony, Bhupesh Baghel, Dr. Shashi Tharoor, Sharmila Tagore, and Shabana Azmi.

Similarly, Mohsina Kidwai has spoken about her colleagues and contemporaries in detail and to some extent candidly. These include Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Arjun Singh, ND Tiwari, Dr. Manmohan Singh, Pranab Mukherjee, Ahmed Patel, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Chandrashekhar, Devegowda, IK Gujral and Madhavrao Scindia, who worked with him. Sachin Pilot’s name also figures in the book.

It would have been better if she had shed some light on the events and incidents during the time of Rajiv Gandhi and Narasimha Rao, which to some extent led to the downfall of the Congress.

The book portrays Mohsina Kidwai as a sensible and skilled politician; an ideal wife, a good mother, a good sister, and a caring woman for her family.

The choice of words for her daughters and sons-in-law is endearing. She has dedicated the book to her late husband Khalilur Rahman Kidwai. He wrote:

“I dedicate this book to my husband late Khalilur Rahman Kidwai who always inspired me to fly towards my dreams and serve society and the nation. Khalil, your Rooh (soul) has always been with me.

Mohsina Kidwai and her biographer Rashid Kidwai not only belong to the Kidwai family of Barabanki but both of them are related to Maulana Abdul Majeed Dariyabadi, whom the former called Dada. Dada happened to be the maternal grandfather of Rasheed Kidwai.

Like Mohsina Kidwai has left her mark as a determined and strong leader, Rashid Kidwai has done a yeoman’s work in journalism and as an author.

Anyway, thank you Mohsina Kidwai for sharing important developments of Indian politics and her life on her 90th birthday, and to Rasheed Kidwai Kidwai for bringing it to the fore.

This book has been published in English and Urdu and should be translated into Hindi for more people to read. This biography is an honest account of not only Kidwai’s journey but of an era of Indian politics. 

Beat the heat in dry season with LG air conditioner

Split Air Conditioner is an appliance that you must own especially if you are unable to resist from the scorching heat and hot season waves. In order to keep yourself calm and composed throughout the day and cut down on your bills, you should vouch for an energy-efficient split Air Conditioner at the earliest. Before the heat traps you, you must know how to beat the heat with the utmost smartness. The innovations have revolutionised the way people perceive their home appliances and thus the need to transform your home into a SMART HOME makes more sense.

LG air conditioner

The dry season is around the corner and now you need to hurry up and buy the best AC at home. But before you start your shopping spree, here is something that you need to know. It is natural that customers want an Air Conditioner either Wall–Mount or Floor Standing that has three main compositions — Comfort Function, Convenient Installation and Easy Maintenance. These compositions are summarised as; Less Energy Consumption, Powerful Performance, Durability, Less Noise and Hygiene.

Do you wish to purchase a split Air Conditioner? You have landed on the right page. We are here to solve every doubt of yours especially when it comes to the best energy efficient, durable and health conscious Air Conditioner from a caring brand called LG Electronics. Let’s get started!

What is an inverter AC?

Inverter AC is the most recommended form of split AC. It ensures that you don’t see a hike in your electricity bills even if you switch on the AC for a prolonged period. An inverter AC is more economical. It has a smooth operation compared to the fixed speed air conditioners available in the market. As soon as the room is cooled, the inverter air conditioner lowers the speed of the compressor motor to save energy and refrigerant required to cool the air. This variable speed compressor consumes less electricity and thus you will never see a drastic change in your electricity post AC usage.

LG Electronics (LG) is presenting ample evidence with its innovative solutions for air conditioning in residential spaces. With several models and array of smart features, DUALCOOL Premium, GENCOOL and ARTCOOL Mirror air conditioners offer outstanding cooling capabilities, excellent performance and practicality.

Equipped with an array of smart features and gorgeous, sleek designs, the latest ARTCOOL models offer power and performance while also serving as stylish additions to any modern living space. An expanded range comprising various capacities presents more choice to satisfy LG’s ever-expanding customer base in Nigeria.

According to Joonkyu Song, general manager, Air Solution Division, LG Electronics West Africa Operations, LG’s Dual inverter compressor technology enables our residential air conditioners to operate at a pleasantly low noise level, enabling users to relax or rest comfortably without the distracting hum of the air conditioner. “The Artcool Mirror black embodies beauty, power, and performance while functioning as the centerpiece to any stylish, modern living room.” The ultra-sleek black mirror and frame adds an extra touch of elegance to its already stunning appearance, making it ideal for premium style homes. The eye-catching aesthetic design of the appliance is sure to attract attention just as its convenient features are guaranteed to enhance usability.

DUAL Inverter Compressor™ available on the innovative DUALCOOL Premium, GENCOOL and ARTCOOL Air Conditioner, eliminates the noise problem and maintains the desired temperature, saving energy, having a longer life and providing economical and silent cooling. The inverter compressor continuously adjusts the speed to maintain the desired temperature levels. In addition, the DUAL Inverter Compressor™ and its energy-saving operating frequency range save more energy than a standard compressor. This allows more flow and a more even distribution of air in the room. The elegant design of the LG air conditioner makes installation easy, the sliding EZ filter makes maintenance easy, and the large discreet display shows the current energy consumption.

LG’s DUALCOOL is the first air conditioner to utilize LG’s energy-efficient Dual Inverter Compressor™ for energy saving without sacrificing cooling performance. Verified by the world-renowned testing organization TÜV Rheinland, the Dual Inverter Compressor allows LG DUALCOOL to consume up to 70 percent less electricity while providing up to 40 percent faster cooling than typical non-inverter Residential Air Conditioners. LG’s advanced compressor technology also enables DUALCOOL to operate at exceptionally low noise levels, ideal for apartments. The reliable Dual Inverter Compressor is backed up by a 10-year warranty, one of the best in the industry, and it expertly balances form and function with its slim and clean design that blends in perfectly with any interior décor increasing installation flexibility.

The need for clean and healthy air has been one of the most important issues of daily life since 2020. Consumers, who spend most of their time indoors, began to question the quality of the air they breathe. Air quality has become even more important, especially in post-Covid era. LG, which offers healthy, hygienic and fresh air in addition to offering the right temperature air to consumers with its air conditioning solutions, received the certification that UVnano technology provides 99.99percent sterilisation. With the approval, it has been officially approved that LG Artcool Air Conditioners with UVnano technology destroy 99.99percent of bacteria, mold, harmful particles and odors in the fan.

So, in addition to the UVnano technology, all this year’s models also have an automatic cleaning feature (Auto Cleaning) that prevents the formation of bacteria and mold on the heat exchanger and ensures a more pleasant and comfortable environment for users. There is also a pre-filter that serves as the first line of defense against large dust particles and a Plasmaster ionizer that prevents the accumulation of bacteria and unpleasant odors.

The Air Conditioners, which can also be controlled remotely thanks to the LG ThinQ application, can turn their air conditioners on and off. The intelligent application gives household members various personalised options, allowing them to choose and save their preferred air conditioning temperatures. 

Puneri Paltan vs Gujarat Giants Live Streaming: When and Where to Watch PKL 2022–23 Live Coverage on Live TV Online

Gujarat Giants will desperately be aiming to end their six-match losing streak when they will be in action on Tuesday in the ninth season of the Pro Kabaddi League. However, it will not be an easy task for Gujarat Giants to clinch a victory in their next encounter as they face a stern test against table-toppers Puneri Paltan. The Pro Kabaddi League match between Puneri Paltan and Gujarat Giants will be played at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium in Hyderabad.

Puneri Paltan vs Gujarat Giants Live Streaming (Twitter Image@ProKabaddi)

Gujarat Giants will head into the fixture after suffering a 42–39 defeat against Tamil Thalaivas, in their last match. After securing just 36 points from 17 matches, Gujarat Giants currently occupy the 11th spot in the Pro Kabaddi League standings.

Puneri Paltan, on the other hand, have been in fine form in this season’s Pro Kabaddi League. The league leaders will come into Tuesday’s fixture after winning their last five matches.

Ahead of Tuesday’s PKL match between Puneri Paltan and Gujarat Giants; here is all you need to know:

What date PKL 2022–23 match between Puneri Paltan and Gujarat Giants will be played?

The PKL 2022–23 match between Puneri Paltan and Gujarat Giants will take place on November 29, Tuesday.

Where will the PKL 2022–23 match Puneri Paltan vs Gujarat Giants be played?

The PKL match between Puneri Paltan and Gujarat Giants will be played at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium in Hyderabad.

What time will the PKL 2022–23 match Puneri Paltan vs Gujarat Giants begin?

The PKL match between Puneri Paltan vs Gujarat Giants will begin at 7:30 pm IST.

Which TV channels will broadcast Puneri Paltan vs Gujarat Giants PKL match?

Puneri Paltan vs Gujarat Giants PKL match will be televised on Star Sports Network in India.Read more

The Xiaomi 13 series is going official this week with an iPhone-like design

Xiaomi phones may not have any official US presence, but they’re still very much on our radar, and the top-end Xiaomi 12 series made it big in Europe and other international markets, going head-to-head with some of the best flagships out there. The Xiaomi 12 Pro was quite impressive in its own right and left us hopeful about its follow-up. That sequel is finally going official this week, with the Xiaomi 13 and 13 Pro set to debut with some major camera upgrades in partnership with Leica.

XIAOMI13

The company confirmed that the Xiaomi 13 and 13 Pro will be unveiled on Thursday, December 1 (via Android Authority). The two phones will first go official in China before presumably being announced elsewhere, but given Xiaomi’s track record, international availability shouldn’t take long.

The announcement post mentions that both flagship phones will come with two big upgrades. Firstly, they’ll come running MIUI 14 out of the box. While there isn’t much information about Xiaomi’s unreleased software so far, it is expected to be based on the latest Android 13 version. Secondly, Xiaomi is continuing with its Leica association on the Xiaomi 13 and 13 Pro after testing the waters with the Xiaomi 12S Ultra.

In his Xiaomi 12S Ultra review, Ben Sin of XDA found that Leica’s color science gives the images a distinct, contrasty look. The photos turned out to be good in all lighting conditions, and low-light shots were particularly less grainy. Considering the Xiaomi 13 Pro is rumored to borrow the same 50MP 1-inch IMX989 main sensor, you can expect a similar look from the upcoming phone as well.

Thanks to the renders produced by OnLeaks, we’ve already had a good look at how the Xiaomi 13 and 13 Pro are likely to appear. The non-Pro model takes heavy design inspiration from recent iPhones with a very flat front and back. Those symmetrical display bezels and a single selfie camera in the center give it a reasonably minimalist look, though we do still get a triple-cam setup on the back.

In contrast, the Xiaomi 13 Pro will get you that premium touch with its curved display and back for a better in-hand grip. A massive camera bump houses the new sensor, while Qualcomm’s top-tier Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor hides under the hood. Other rumored specs include Samsung’s new E6 LTPO display, up to 12GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and super-fast 120W charging.

Elon Musk's "Go To War" Post Against Apple's Tight Control On App Store

San Franisco: Twitter owner Elon Musk on Monday opened fire against Apple over its tight control of what is allowed on the App Store, saying the iPhone maker has threatened to oust his recently acquired social media platform.

Elon Musk also accused Apple of having "mostly stopped advertising on Twitter

Musk also joined the chorus crying foul over a 30 percent fee Apple collects on transactions via its App Store — the sole gateway for applications to get onto its billion plus mobile devices.

A series of tweets fired off by Musk included a meme of a car with his first name on it veering onto a highway off-ramp labeled “Go to War,” instead of continuing onwards towards “Pay 30%.”

The billionaire CEO also tweeted that Apple has “threatened to withhold Twitter from its App Store, but won’t tell us why.”

Apple did not immediately reply to an AFP request for comment.

Both Apple and Google require social networking services on their app stores to have effective systems for moderating harmful or abusive content.

But since taking over Twitter last month, Musk has cut around half of Twitter’s workforce, including many employees tasked with fighting disinformation, while an unknown number of others have voluntarily quit.

He has also reinstated previously banned accounts, including that of former president Donald Trump.

Yoel Roth, the former head of trust and safety at Twitter who left after Musk took over, wrote in a New York Times op-ed that “failure to adhere to Apple’s and Google’s guidelines would be catastrophic,” and risk “expulsion from their app stores.”

Describing himself as a “free speech absolutist,” Musk believes that all content permitted by law should be allowed on Twitter, and on Monday described his actions as a “revolution against online censorship in America.”

He also tweeted that he planned to publish “Twitter Files on free speech suppression,” but without clarifying what data he had in mind to share with the public.

Though Musk says Twitter is seeing record high engagement with him at the helm, his approach has startled the company’s major moneymaker — advertisers.

In recent weeks, half of Twitter’s top 100 advertisers have announced they are suspending or have otherwise “seemingly stopped advertising on Twitter,” an analysis conducted by nonprofit watchdog group Media Matters found.

Musk on Monday accused Apple of also having “mostly stopped advertising on Twitter.”

“Do they hate free speech in America?” he asked, before replying with a tweet tagging Apple CEO Tim Cook.

In the first three months of 2022, Apple was the top advertiser on Twitter, spending some $48 million on ads which accounted for more than 4 percent of the social media platform’s revenue, according to a Washington Post report citing an internal Twitter document.

San Franisco: Twitter owner Elon Musk on Monday opSarah Roberts, an information studies expert at University of California, Los Angeles, told AFP that “Musk didn’t understand that Twitter itself was a brand, had cachet.”

“Now companies don’t even want to be associated with it. It’s not even that they worry about the content. Twitter is a tainted brand, a brand non grata companies don’t want to be associated with,” she added.

- Tarnishing Tesla? -

Musk on Monday also called Apple’s fee on transactions through its App Store a “secret 30% tax.”

He shared a video released last year by Fortnite maker Epic Games that portrayed Apple as an oppressor in a mocking spin on a famous “1984” ad for Macintosh computers.

Apple has clashed in court with Epic, which has sought to break Apple’s grip on the App Store, accusing the iPhone maker of operating a monopoly in its shop for digital goods or services.

A federal judge last year ordered Apple to loosen control of its App Store payment options, but said Epic had failed to prove that antitrust violations had taken place.

Musk’s controversial moves at Twitter, along with the possibility he will need to sell more Tesla shares to keep the social media platform afloat, has taken shine off of the electric car company and its stock, according to Wedbush analyst Dan Ives.

“The Musk vs Apple new battle is not what investors want to see,” Ives said in a tweet.

“(Wall) Street wants less drama, not more as this Twitter situation remains the gift that keeps on giving for the Tesla bears with every day a new chapter.”

SpaceX Dragon carrying solar panels and science experiments docks with ISS

A SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft carrying over 3,500 kilograms of science experiments, crew supplies and other cargo successfully docked with the International Space Station at 7.39 AM EST (6.09 PM IST) on November 27. This mission marks SpaceX’s 26th commercial resupply mission.

With the arrival of the CRS-26 cargo Dragon, six spaceships are parked at the International Space Station.

With the arrival of the CRS-26 cargo Dragon, six spaceships are parked at the space station currently including a Cygnus space freighter, a Crew dragon, the Russian Soyuz MS-22 crew ship and the Progress 81 and Progress 82 resupply ships. SpaceX’s cargo Dragon spacecraft launched from the Kennedy Space Center at 2.20 PM IST on November 26. (12.50 AM IST on November 27)

Adding solar power to the space station
SpaceX’s 26th commercial resupply mission carried a set of two International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Arrays (iROSA) to the space station. These solar panels roll out using kinetic energy and are aimed at expanding the energy production capabilities of the space station. These new iROSA arrays will be in addition to another set carried to the space station by SpaceX’s 22nd commercial resupply mission in 2021.

Science experiment on the mission
Apart from the solar arrays and crew supplies, the cargo Dragon spacecraft also carried a host of important science experiments to the International Space Station. One of these is the “Moon microscope,” which is a kit designed for in-flight medical diagnosis. It contains a hand-held microscope and a small blood sampling device.

The Moon microscope is designed to allow astronauts to collect and stain blood samples and transmit images to the ground. These images can then be used by doctors to diagnose illnesses and prescribe treatments.

Another science mission onboard is the Veg-05 which will try to grow dwarf tomatoes in space. Currently, astronauts in space are dependent on pre-packaged food that is made on Earth but according to NASA, this could be supplemented by fresh food grown in space in the future.

Some of the other experiments that hitched the ride to the space station include BioNutrients-2, which tests a system for producing nutrients using yoghurt and other producers, Falcon Googles, which is an experiment aimed at helping scientists understand the effect of different gravities on human eyes. 

FIFA World Cup 2022: How Germany can still qualify for Round of 16 after 1–1 draw against Spain

Niclas Fullkrug’s late goal gave some respite to Germany as Alvaro Morata’s 62nd minute goal was cancelled out in the Group E meeting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup on Sunday, ending the tie in a 1–1 draw. But Germany remain wounded. For the first time ever in a World Cup edition have Germany failed to win their first two group games as they now stand at the bottom of the points table. Yet, they is still hope for the Die Mannschaft, albeit a slender chance to make the Round of 16 of the Qatar World Cup.

Germany's players react at the end of the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group E football match between Spain and Germany at the Al-Bayt Stadium in Al Khor

Japan had stunned Germany in their opener earlier last week before they managed to hold Spain in the battle between the former champions. The results leave Germany depending more on other factors to go their way to make the Round of 16.

Germany presently sit bottom of the Group E points table, led by Spain with four points, and followed by Japan (3) and Costa Rica (3).

For the four-time World Cup winners to make the knockout stage, the need to beat Costa Rica and hope that Spain emerges as winner in their final group meeting against Japan. In such a case, Spain will head to the next round as Group E leaders with 7 points while Germany will be the second-placed side with 4 points.

However, if Japan scripts another stunner to beat Spain, the only way for Germany to make it through to the knockouts would be to not just beat Costa Rica but also outscore Spain’s in terms of goal difference. As of now, the 2010 World Cup winners have a goal difference of +7 as against Germany’s -1.

On the other hand, if Japan hold Spain, Germany would have to beat Costa Rica and better Japan’s goal difference to qualify.

Kirill Tsarev: biography and the development of Sberbank's retail business

Russia’s banking system is quickly developing, and one of the leaders in driving innovations is Sberbank. Kirill Tsarev, who holds the position of Deputy Chairman of the Board of directors, heads the “Retail Business” unit of Sberbank. Many of the modern banking solutions that we are enjoying today are the result of his efforts.

Kirill Tsarev,

Contents

• Early life of
  Kirill Tsarev
• Developing “Retail Business”
• Deputy Board Chairman on the future of the banking system

Early life of Kirill Tsarev
Kirill Tsarev was born in Leningrad on 25 September 1978. He graduated from high school and then obtained two higher education degrees:

In 2000 he graduated from St. Petersburg State Marine Technical University with a degree in Economics.
In 2003, Kirill Tsarev successfully completed a law degree at the same university.
Tsarev’s working life began even before he completed his higher education. In 1999, he started working at Project Economics Centre Ltd as an economist. Later, he headed Interleasing for 12 years.

In 2011, Kirill Tsarev began his career at Sberbank by becoming the CEO of Sberbank Leasing. In 2018, he moved directly to Sberbank and became its Vice President, and two years later he became Senior VP. Moreover, in 2020, Tsarev became a part of the company’s Management Board. He occupied the position of Deputy Chairman. Tsarev became the head of the “Retail Business” unit, supervising all work with private individuals.

Developing ‘Retail Business’
Kirill Tsarev took over the “Retail Business” unit after the previous head, Svetlana Kirsanova, left it. The department was well-developed, but the new leader took charge in a very difficult period.

By the time Kirill Tsarev joined “Retail Business”, the unit had created a convenient ecosystem of services for individuals. Trade and transport acquiring systems were organised, and a large number of points accepting cashless payments were created. Kirill Tsarev’s arrival at “Retail Business” coincided with the beginning of instability in the Russian and global economies and a sharp increase in the credit default risk. Holding the position of the head of the unit, Tsarev promised to take all possible measures to improve the situation and further develop “Retail Business”. Indeed, he managed to keep his promise.

Kirill Tsarev and his team prevented a non-payment crisis. They diversified risks for existing and potential investors, allowing Sberbank to remain reliable in their eyes. The “Retail Business” unit promptly developed the SbepPay QR payment system, which returned the same level of comfort to the users of iOS devices.

Nearly 70% of the population of Russia currently use Sberbank retail services with more than 144,000 employees helping them. The number of clients using Sberbank mobile app and web services is close to 50 million. This is clearly an achievement of the “Retail Business” unit managed by Tsarev.

Deputy Board Chairman on the future of the banking system
In June 2022, St. Petersburg hosted the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. Kirill Tsarev also had a speech there. As a part of a specialised session, he outlined his vision of the future of the banking system.

According to Kirill Tsarev, the banking system is based on two cornerstones: safety and security. Together they provide the progressive development of a bank. Actually, Sberbank has this basis. Tsarev mentioned recent drastic changes in the country’s financial system and noted that thanks to the coordinated cooperation between the government, Sberbank and the National Payment Card System (NPCS), the bank’s clients have not experienced any problems at all.

According to Kirill Tsarev, it’s high time to stop considering a plastic card the main means of payment. The deputy chairman of Sberbank Management Board spoke about modern ways of making payments, such as biometrics, QR-code payment and others. Tsarev assured that the “Retail Business” unit of Sberbank provides customers with the widest possible range of payment methods, thus neutralising the issues of the unstable economy.

Another important trend in the evolution of the banking system, according to Kirill Tsarev, is the synergy between the government and a commercial bank. Tsarev gave the example of integration of “Gosuslugi” (Government-owned platform which provides many popular services such as paying bills, making an appointment with a doctor, etc.) portal and the Sberbank Online system. It has brought digital services for private individuals to a new level of development. Tsarev believes that this is an area that needs to be further developed.

French Version of Buhari's Biography Unveiled in Niamey, African Leaders Extol His Virtues

Some African leaders who attended the unveiling of the French version of President Muhammadu Buhari’s biography, titled, “Muhammadu Buhari: The Challenges of Leadership in Nigeria”, in Niamey, Niger Republic, on Friday extolled the leadership qualities of the Nigerian leader.

Niger’s President Bazoum said Buhari us uncompromising and humble.

According to a statement issued by presidential spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, President Mohamed Bazoum of Niger Republic; his Guinea Bissau counterpart, Umaro Sissoco Embaló; President of Chad, General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, and former President of Niger Republic, Mahamadou Issoufou; shared glowing testimonies on the leadership qualities of Buhari.
The event took place on the sidelines of the African Union Summit on Industrialisation and Economic Diversification, as well as the Extraordinary Session on African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which ended Friday in Niger Republic.

Speaking at the book launch, the President of Niger described the Nigerian leader as “an austere man, uncompromising, humble man, an ardent patriot and a committed democrat.”

Bazoum adds: “Professor John Paden, you were well inspired to have chosen to write about the life and work of an exceptional man. I commend your work for being comprehensive, objective, and for shedding new light on the personality of the patriot, the courageous military man, and the conscientious politician that is President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Nigeria is Niger’s main trading partner. It is therefore normal for any Nigerien politician to follow the evolution of political life in Nigeria. That is why I have closely followed Muhammadu Buhari’s political struggles, especially his participation in the presidential elections from 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015.”

He disclosed that the fight against Boko Haram being waged together with Nigeria and other neighbouring countries in the Lake Chad Basin had allowed him to discover “the strategist and statesman in Buhari, who is determined to ensure peace for his country and the sub-region.”
Continuing, Bazoum said: “His fight against corruption and for good governance has earned him the esteem of all. It is a pleasure to work with a man of conviction like him.

“I am sure that those who read the book will not fail to draw useful lessons for their political or professional careers. They will not fail to learn life lessons at all. This book will certainly educate the younger generation.”
Embalo, who is also the current chairman of ECOWAS, disclosed that his father was equally called Muhammadu and was born the same year as Muhammadu Buhari.

“I just want to emphasise that there is a reciprocating affection for this man. Today l am the President of the Republic of Guinea Bissau, firstly it is God and secondly it is this man, Baba. Thank you very much,” the Guinea Bissau leader said.

He added that the book is a portrait of a great African leader, saying: “I pay homage to President Buhari for his patriotism and commitment in maintaining peace in our sub-region.

“We have an Avenue in Guinea Bissau bearing Buhari’s name since a year ago. Baba, as I fondly call him, is a mentor, always available to offer solutions. Baba is a tireless artisan in the maintenance of peace and solidarity in the sub-region.”

Also speaking, the President of Chad described President Buhari as a very experienced man with a great dream for Nigeria and a clear vision for Africa.

According to him: “President Buhari brings a heritage and a source of knowledge for us all. Thank you for this inestimable gift, Mr President.
“President Buhari is undoubtedly an icon whose role and action makes the African voice to be heard in the world. He has always contributed to development in Africa by protecting and defending Africa and Africans. You are undoubtedly a model. You taught us perseverance in politics.
“As a major actor in fight against terrorists and trans-border insecurity, especially in the Lake Tchad region where Boko Haram is, I want to use this opportunity to appreciate the relations between my country Tchad and Nigeria and to President Buhari for his availability, especially in difficult times.”

On his part, the immediate past President of Niger, Issoufou, praised the incumbent for launching the French version of the book, whose idea was conceived during his tenure as President.

He recounted that he graced the launch of the English version of the book in 2016 in Abuja, commending the author for documenting the life “of an exceptional man.

“As a military head of state, his primary preoccupation was fighting corruption, and even now as a democratic president, he is a leader who knows the close links between security, democracy and development.
“His fight against Boko Haram, organised crime and corruption are notable. Part of his priorities include education and health development, climate change, democratic transition.

“I agree with John Paden to state that Buhari is known for patience, honour, faithfulness and sense of duty. These helped him rule Nigeria differently from a military leader.

“He is Mr Dignity and Mr Truth, as he’s called and a sincere friend of Niger,” the former President said.

One of the book reviewers, Prof Abdallah Adamu, former Vice Chancellor, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), said President Buhari has rightly earned the name “Mai gaskiya”, which is translated to mean, “someone who keeps his words.”

He added that the author, John Paden, had fairly provided a biography of the current Nigerian President where he exposed the qualities of President Buhari that may not be known to many.

“The author is very much qualified to give an account of President Buhari, having been involved in Nigerian politics in the 1970s and 80s,” he said.
Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika recounted the role played by the President’s nephew, Mamman Daura, in the publication of the book, describing him as the initiator and driving force.

“It is a book on the personality, character, content of President Buhari, what he stood for and what he still stands for,” Sirika said.

Sirika and three other Nigerians, Mohammed Indimi, Chairman of Oriental Energy Resources (OER); Sayyu Dantata, Chief Executive Officer, MRS Holdings Limited and Farouk Adamu Aliyu, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, received awards from the President of Niger for their roles in fostering excellent bilateral relations between Nigeria and Niger.

President Buhari’s biography, authored by John Paden, a Professor of International Studies at George Mason University, North Virginia, United States, was first launched in Abuja in 2016.

"Both Are Assets": Rahul Gandhi Amid Ashok Gehlot vs Sachin Pilot

Indore: Rahul Gandhi, reacting today to an NDTV interview in which Ashok Gehlot called his Rajasthan rival Sachin Pilot a “gaddar (traitor)” who could never be Chief Minister of the state, said both leaders are important to the Congress.

The Congress yesterday said it would not hesitate to take "tough decisions" in Rajasthan

“Both leaders are assets to the Congress,” Rahul Gandhi said, speaking to reporters during a pit stop in his Bharat Jodo Yatra in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore.

The former Congress president also dismissed the suggestion that Mr Gehlot’s no-filter takedown of Sachin Pilot in the explosive interview, and the sharp divide within the party in Rajasthan would ruin his yatra in the state.

“Every time I enter a new state, I am told by you (media) that there will be a problem. Now you are saying there will be a problem in Rajasthan…,” Mr Gandhi said. “The fact is, this yatra has gone beyond the Congress. It is now the inner voice of India. No one can say where it will reach and where it won’t.”

The Congress yesterday said it would not hesitate to take “tough decisions” in Rajasthan and that Mr Gehlot shouldn’t have used “certain words”.

In an exclusive interview to NDTV on Thursday, Mr Gehlot said: “A gaddar (traitor) cannot be Chief Minister. The High Command cannot make Sachin Pilot the Chief Minister… a man who doesn’t have 10 MLAs. Who revolted. He betrayed the party, (he) is a traitor,” Mr Gehlot said.

Mr Pilot, in response, said it was “unbecoming” of a senior leader to use such words, that too at a time the Congress needed to project a united front.

The Congress is stunned by Mr Gehlot’s poorly timed outburst.

“There are some differences. (Rajasthan) chief minister has used certain words which were unexpected. I was surprised. Ashok Gehlot shouldn’t have used certain words in the interview,” Jairam Ramesh told reporters.

“We will find a solution to the Rajasthan issue which will strengthen our organisation. For this, if we have to take tough decisions, we will take them. If a compromise has to be made, then it will be done,” he said, according to news agency PTI.

Mr Ramesh said the party “needs both leaders” and the Congress leadership was considering a proper solution to the feud in Rajasthan, which will vote for a new government next year. “But I cannot fix any time frame for this solution. Only the Congress leadership will decide the time frame for it,” he was quoted as saying by PTI.

Rahul Gandhi’s yatra is set to enter Rajasthan on December 4 and in the Congress is desperate to ensure a drama-free stint as infighting peaks between its two biggest leaders in the state where elections will be held next year.