The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Abdullahi Ganduje

  • New Emirs appointed before court order – Ganduje

    The Kano State Government said on Saturday it did not receive any court order restraining Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje from further action concerning the newly appointed First Class Emirs of Rano, Karaye, Gaya and Bichi Emirates.

    This is contained in a statement signed by Abba Anwar, the Chief Press Secretary to Ganduje and made available to newsmen in Kano.

    According to the statement, the court order was reportedly issued around 5pm on Friday May 10, 2019, long after the new emirs had formally accepted the appointment.

    “Letters of the Notification of Appointment were written from the office of the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Usman Alhaji, since Thursday, May 9, 2019 and were despatched to the concerned Emirs the following day Friday, May 10, 2019, in the very early hours of the day.”

    It added that  the the letters dated May 9, 2019, had reference number SSG/REPA/5/A/86/T and were addressed to the newly appointed Emirs.

    The statement said each letter states that: “In accordance with the power conferred on the Governor by the Kano State Emirs (Appointment and Deposition) Amended Law 2019 (1440 AH) which provides the creation of more Emirates.

    Read Also: Cabinet shake-up imminent, says Ganduje

    “ I wish to convey the approval of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kano State, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje OFR for your appointment as First Class Emir of (Bichi) (Karaye) (Rano) (Gaya) Emirate.”

    According to the statement, all the four new emirs had formally accepted the appointment.

    It explained that the new Emir of Karaye, Dr Ibrahim Abubakar II forwarded his acceptance letter at about 12 noon on Friday, that of Rano, Alhaji Tafida Abubakar Il around 10:15 am while the Emir of Bichi, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero and the Emir of Gaya, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdulkadir, forwarded theirs at 10am and 10:30am respectively.

    The  statement therefore said the ceremony expected to hold at the Sani Abacha Indoor Stadium, Kofar Mata, this Saturday was merely for the new emirs to thank the Governor for appointing them.

    NAN

     

  • Kano: Ganduje and challenges of second term

    Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje has been re-elected for a second term. Many challenges will confront his administration. Correspondent Kola Adeyemi examines the issues and how the governor should tackle them.

    The Kano State governorship poll was an epic battle between Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and his challenger, Abba Yusuf of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Yusuf is also the anointed  god-son and son-in-law to former Governor Rabi’u  Kwankwaso.

    The PDP and its candidate have resolved to challenge Ganduje’s victory at the Kano State Election Petition Tribunal. Ganduje, has maintained that the PDP and its candidate have no case at the tribunal, describing his victory as the wish of God and the people who, he said, massively voted for him.

    Ganduje who penetrated the ranks of the PDP before and during the elections. He has also promised to run an all-inclusive government, designed to carry everybody along. With the  defection of PDP chieftains into APC, shortly before the general elections, pundits continue to ponder on how Ganduje will be able to handle the crowd of defectors, and their diverse interests.

    Last week, a PDP chieftain, Yahaya Umar Bagobiri, led notable leaders and stakeholders of the party on solidarity visit to Ganduje. They revealed how and why they assiduously worked for Ganduje’s victory, even as they remained in PDP. They pledged to continue to support the governor for a successful second tenure.

    According to Bagobiri, what they did by supporting Ganduje was not  anti-party activity. He said: “We did it in the open and also through the media. That our people should support Governor Ganduje in his second term bid, and we all did it. What we did was simply efforts in strengthening democratic structures and principle of free and fair choice.”

    Bagobiri said Ganduje’s victory was ordained by God, pointing out that, “with this victory, Your Excellency, we can say Allah saved us, Kano and its people from that tyranny. This is what we have been yearning for, Your Excellency. That was why we came in block and supported your candidature, which yields fruits at the end of the day.”

    He added: “We hope the next four years would be more fruitful to the state. We believe Governor Ganduje has all the capacity to take the state to the Next Level.” Bogobiri said that their visit to Ganduje was approved by PDP leaders such as former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Bashir Wali, Senator Bello Hayatu Gwarzo and Dr. Akilu Sani Indabawa.

    A PDP leader, Bello Gambo Bichi, said original PDP members, who never defected to any political party in the past, from the entire 44 Local Government Areas, strongly supported Ganduje. He said: “All of our leadership across the 44 Local Government Areas are with you Sir. All our women leaders and youth leaders were with us when we supported your candidature. We are all hoping to continue supporting your government alongside its policies and programmes.”

    Ganduje thanked them for the visit and assured that, he would run an all-inclusive government, as a show of appreciation and respect for the harmonious working relationship between him and the original PDP members in the state.

    Ganduje pointed out that, “the candidature of the said PDP gubernatorial candidate who contested in the last guber poll, was unfairly imposed on other PDP members. What unfair treatment is as painful as this one?” He also expressed surprised that  Kwankwaso did not concede defeat and wondered why the former governor should hold the view that the  election was not free, fair and credible.

    Ganduje said: “The election was freely, fairly and credibly conducted. You know this man (Kwankwaso) is not familiar with anything free, fair and credible. That is why whenever there is any free, fair and credible treatment; he sees that as unfair treatment. I know him more than anyone else. I am the Dictionary and Encyclopedia of knowing Kwankwaso”.

    “During the gubernatorial poll, all peace-loving people in the state decided to see to the exit of Kwankwaso from partisan politics. That was why you deemed it necessary to join hands with us and finally stone the Devil. Kwankwaso should expect more, looking at how he super-imposed the gubernatorial candidature on others in the PDP. That was not within the ambit of free, fair and credible primary election. What moral justification does he (Kwankwaso) have in this kind of scenario. To even open mouth and cry for help against what he terms as injustice?”

    In what looks like a move to assuage the fears of pundits who believe that Ganduje may abandon the defectors and those who worked for him while still in the PDP, he said, he will dissolve his cabinet immediately after May 29 inauguration. He hinted that he will collapse his current cabinet on May 29, with a view to ejecting fresh blood that will help consolidate on the modest achievements recorded in the past four years.

    Read also: Ganduje mourns ex-Kano Gov.Hamza Abdullahi

    To many, Ganduje is faced with the challenge of allocating political positions to numerous heavy-weights who lent their support to him before, during and after the election. Though some are of the view that sharing of positions may lead to controversy within the APC and other political shades that worked for his victory, the governor said he would carry everybody along. He also said he will pick the best ‘eleven’ that will only propel the state to the Next Level.

    Pundits are of the opinion that Ganduje’s second tenure should ensure the spread of democratic dividends across the 44 Local Government Areas in terms of providing infrastructural development and ensuring revolution in agricultural, which could be enhanced through creation of access roads that can connect the rural areas to urban areas for easy movement of agricultural produce.

    Another challenge is the five kilometer road project started and abandoned by the Kwankwaso’s administration. Though Ganduje has complained that the project was not duly planned, many residents has called on him to revive the project and ensure its completion in this tenure.

    Another area begging for attention is the education sector. Many residents said they are still interested in the free-feeding programme for primary school pupils, as well as expansion of class rooms in both primary and secondary schools in the state.

    With the zeal at which Ganduje is coming up, one can only expect that the next four years will re-write the history of the ancient commercial city of Kano in terms of socio-economic development. As Ganduje begins the second-term on May 29, all eyes are on him as he takes up the task of righting the wrongs to put Kano on the front-pew of emerging mega-cities in Africa.

     

  • Abba files petition against Ganduje’s victory

    Twenty days after the declaration of Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje as winner of the March 23 governorship election in Kano State by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP in Kano on Thursday finally filed petition against the victory.

    The petition filed by the party before the governorship election tribunal is contending its governorship candidate Abba Yusuf, won the March 9 election, as such any result other than that was a nullity.

    The party is also contending that the supplementary election conducted by INEC was unconstitutional and unlawful.

    Read Also: I’m ready to face PDP in court, says Ganduje

    Speaking to journalists shortly after filing the petition, Yusuf said during the March 9 governorship election the PDP got the highest votes across the 44 local governments in the state.

    “The prayer we are asking is for the tribunal to determine the actual winner in the election that took place on March 9.

    ” To me as the PDP candidate the only election that took place was on March 9.”

    He noted the issue of supplementary election as far as PDP is concerned was an illegality ‘which we reject and have nothing to do with that is the content of the petition.”

    The petitioners Counsel, Maliki Kuliya-Umar, said the declaration of the March 9 election as inconclusive was an opportunity given to APC to rig its candidate back to power.

    “We trust the tribunal to do what is right by confirming the election of March 9, as it was the only election recognized by law,” he said.

    Umar argued that whatever reason INEC had to declare the March 9 election inconclusive was unconstitutional and not in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act.

    NAN

     

  • APC legal team set to defend Ganduje’s election victory — spokesman

    The All Progressive Congress (APC) legal team in Kano State on Wednesday expressed its readiness to defend the victory of Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ganduje was declared winner of the March 23 supplementary election held in the state.

    Mr Ma”aruf Mohammed-Yakasai, A member and spokesman of the legal team, made the APC’s position known while addressing a news conference in Kano on Wednesday.

    He said the legal team found it necessary to explain its position in respect of the prayer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) granted by the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal to inspect election materials conducted in the state.

    “As a member of the legal team of the APC and spokesman of the Team, we received a copy of an order in respect of the permission granted to the PDP to inspect the election materials, which is in order.

    Read also: On APC’s near fall in Kano

    “The court served us with the copy of the order and as the court directed, we will be there to observe and be part of the process,” he said.

    According to him, the legal team is prepared to defend the victory of Ganduje before the Tribunal which began preliminary sitting on Tuesday.

    He stressed that the APC and Governor Ganduje were ready to defend the mandate given to them by the people of the state.

    According to him, the candidate of the PDP, Abba Kabir-Yusuf had no substance to pose any threat to the victory of Ganduje.

    NAN reports that the Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Halima Shamaki had on Tuesday ordered INEC to allow PDP to inspect the election materials conducted for governorship election in the state. (NAN)

  • PDP is bad loser, says Ganduje

    Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje has described the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as bad loser in elections.

    The governor, however, said he is ready to meet the party at the Election Petitions Tribunal.

    He spoke with State House correspondents at the weekend after meeting with the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He also said that there was jubilation in Kano State when he was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), after the Supplementary elections.

    The whole state, he noted, has also been peaceful since his victory.

    He assured that his second tenure will favour the people.

    He said, “I came to consult with the Chief of Staff that Kano is peaceful, people are jubilating and I am happy to inform him that everything is normal.”

    Speaking on the petition by the PDP to challenge his victory at the Election Petitions Tribunal, he said that it was common for the PDP to go to tribunal.

    “Well we are waiting for them; we know that they are not good losers anyway. So, it is common to go to the tribunal, we are ready to meet them because the first election they committed a lot of fraud, a lot of irregularities and the Supplementary election was fair and free.

    “It was carried out in 28 local government areas, they didn’t win a single local government out of the 28, so that is paining them a lot. So we are ready to go to the tribunal.”

    On his blue print in the next four years, he said, “The next four years is going to be a very interesting four years because we are going to consolidate on what we have achieved so far.

    “In particular we see what we can do in order to make education is free, affordable and also to ensure that girl education is being given prominence.

    Read also: PDP blackmailing Supreme Court, APC alleges

    “Of course, agriculture is another issue that we must take the state to another level. So far we have done a lot and the production of rice is now we feed ourselves. We are happy Mr. President has stopped the importation of rice into the country and farmers are very happy.

    “What is existing now is agric mechanisation; we can see what we can do so that our farmers can achieve maximum production with ease.”

    On how reassuring his second term will be in terms of holding unto his promises to the people of Kano state, he said that he was taking the state to the next level.

    He said, “Our first term is very successful, if you go to Kano you will see how we have changed the face of Kano and in terms of youths empowerment we have also done very well we have even built multi billion naira ultra-modern skill acquisition centre in Kano.

    “Very soon, Mr. President will go and commission it. So as I told you that we are taking Kano State in the next four years to next level,” he stated.

  • Kano re-run: Observers’ group tasks aggrieved politicians on peace

    The Coalition of INEC Accredited observers for the re-run Governorship election in Kano State have advised losers and other aggrieved politicians to channel their complaints through established legal processes.

    The leader of the group, Dr Ibrahim Baba, gave the advice at a news conference in Kano on Monday following the declaration of the incumbent governor, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje as the winner of the re-run election.

    He said there was need for those who felt cheated during the Saturday’s March 23 supplementary election to seek legal redress instead of disseminating false information and inciting people for violence.

    “We call on the winners/losers to respect the rule of law and call on their supporters to remain peaceful and law abiding.

    “They should also refrain from disseminating false Information and channel their grievances through established legal processes,’’ Baba said.

    READ ALSO: Kano re-run: PDP vows not to sign result sheets

    The leader of the group, who represents Centre for Intervention, commended security agents for maintaining the highest level of professionalism before, during and after the conduct of the exercise.

    He said the collaborative relationship between INEC and Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security contributed to the generally peaceful atmosphere in the state.

    Baba said: “despite some reports of election-related violence and intimidation, the overall political climate in the entire state during the election remained largely peaceful and conducive for the conduct of democratic elections.

    “We also observed significant improvement on the issues raised during the March 9 election like the card reader and other electoral materials on the unpreparedness of INEC.’’

    The group commended the citizens of the state for their resilience, commitment, dedication and steadfastness toward this great democratic venture.

  • Abba Yusuf won Kano rerun, PDP insists

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has insisted that its candidate, Abba K. Yusuf, won the Kano state governorship election, saying any declaration that does not reflect such cannot stand.

    The main opposition party said the whole world knows the PDP and its candidate, Abba Yusuf, won the Kano state governorship election since March 9, 2019, having fulfilled the constitutional requirement of securing the highest number of votes and the statutory 25 percent in two-thirds of the state.

    A statement on Sunday night by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the governorship supplementary election in Kano was a national disgrace and a mere figure allocating exercise by compromised INEC officials.

    According to Ologbondiyan, INEC collaborated with “power drunk” politicians in the All Progressives Congress (APC) to award results to the APC candidate.

    The party cautioned INEC against any attempt to import contrived figures from the “illegitimate” March 23 “charade”, saying doing so would be a clear recipe for anarchy and serious crisis in the state.

    “The people of Kano state have a long history of firm resistance against corrupt and oppressive forces. Their will must therefore not be stretched in this election.

    “The Kano people have abundantly expressed their rejection of the corrupt and incompetent government of Abdullahi Ganduje and his party, the APC, and no amount of machination can cow or force them to abandon their resolve for a new governor in Abba Yusuf,” the statement added.

  • Ganduje commissions N270m road project

    Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje on Friday commissioned the 1.1 kilometer Gidan Zakkah – Kofar Waika road in Kano metropolis, constructed by his administration valued at about N 270 million.

    Ganduje explained that the project was conceived following the noticeable hardship faced by commuters within the densely populated area, particularly during the rainy season.

    “This project is one of the road projects we constructed in Kano city to ensure easy flow of traffic and to generally reduce flooding, since some of the old roads do not have culverts. As you can see this road has concrete gutters and will soon be fitted with street lights.

    “As we can see, change is visible within this area as the quality of homes and indeed the environment is looking modern while people can now use their vehicles’ conveniently.

    “Even those walking on foot will be happier as pavements have been constructed,” he stated.

    Ganduje expressed the commitment of his administration to ensure speedy completion of more roads especially in the state capital to consolidate its urban renewal programme.

    READ ALSO: Ganduje distributes safe delivery kits to expectant mothers in Kano

    “Because of our population and the arrival of people to do business, our city is growing and gradually becoming a mega city. This means that we must invest in critical infrastructure like roads to facilitate movement of goods and services,” he stressed.

    The governor called on the people in the Goron Dutse – Kofar Waika axis of Kano city to make good use of the road and to support the government to enable it accomplish its vision.‎

    Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport, Engr. Aminu Aliyu Wudil explained street lights would be installed at designated points along the road while the Kofar Waika Gate would be reconstructed at the end of the road, to preserve the state’s history and culture.

    He disclosed that the second phase of the road, which would cover Kofar Waika to Dawakin Tofa would commence before long.

  • Ganduje, 30 gov candidates sign peace accord

    Thirty- one governorship candidates in Kano, including Governor Abdullahi Ganduje on Wednesday, signed the second round of Peace Accord for violent-free election on Saturday.

    Addressing reporters shortly after the signing ceremony held at Bayero University Kano, Co-Chairman of the Committee and Kano Catholic Bishop, Rt. Reverend John Namaza Niyiring, appealed to the candidates to see election as a game with sportsmanship and not a do or die affair.

    The Bishop also called on the youths not to allow themselves to be used by the politicians in disrupting the desired peace for their selfish whims.

    “Whosoever is not satisfied with the results after the elections should follow the available peaceful channels to seek redress and not to engage in violence,” he stated.

     Sheikh Nura Manzo, the Chief Imam of Kofar Ruwa Jumaat Mosque in Kano, also appealed to the contestants and the youths to be peaceful and avoid any act that will lead to violence.

    Read Also: Ganduje to would-be losers: accept defeat

    He said: “Whosoever commits an atom’s weight of good will be rewarded for it by God Almighty and whosoever commits an atom’s weight of evil shall be punished for it in the hereafter.”

    Emir of Kano Malam Muhammadu Sanusi II, represented by Alhaji Aliyu Maharazu, the Bauren Kano, said the country is in need of political security, which can only be achieved by abiding with regulations.

    He pointed out peace is very crucial to achieving this while calling on politicians to learn from other nations that have faced instability around the world.

    Also the former representative of Nigeria at the United Nations, Ibrahim Gambari warned against hate speech, reminding candidates development can only be achieved where there is peace.

    The Kano Commissioner of political Wakil Muhammad said he will redouble his effort in ensuring peaceful conduct of the election as he did during the presidential election.

    ‘’I beg you, if any blood has to be shed during the election let it be my blood,” the CP said.

    In a declaration of commitment to the peace accord, the Kano state governor and candidate for the All Progressive Candidates APC, Ganduje assured the committee he will do all that it takes to ensure peace before, during and after the elections.

    He asked for a group photo with the other candidates in which the cameras were all on him standing by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP candidate Abba Kabir Yusuf.

    In a brief address to newsmen after the event, the PDP candidate also assured that he will keep to the terms of the accord.

  • Ganduje: Those doubting Kano presidential results are unserious

    Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje on Wednesday described those doubting the elections results from his state as unserious.

    From his state, President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had got the highest votes of 1,464,768 to defeat the People’s Democratic Party’s  (PDP) candidate Atiku Abubakar, who scored 391,593 from the state.

    While there were no incidences of violence in the state, seventeen local government areas were affected by election cancellation.

    Ganduje who was at the Aso Villa to congratulate President Buhari on his re-election, spoke with State House correspondents.

    Asked to react to those questioning the figures that came from Kano State, he said, “First of all, they are not serious people, they are people who are anti-democracy.

    “If you have seen how the elections were conducted I think everybody will agree that INEC tried very well. Even though there was low turnout of voters because we were expecting to get much more than that, but the election was fair and free.

    “Those who say we couldn’t have got that much are ignorant of the politics of Kano.” he added

    Read Also: Ganduje to would-be losers: accept defeat

    According to him, the result of the Presidential and the National Assembly in the state has put the APC in good position to win the March 9th gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections.

    Asked why he did not deliver on the five million votes he promised, he said, “Well, I told you it’s because of the low turnout of voters but I promise you next time…let’s look towards the governorship election.”

    On his chances on the coming governorship election, Ganduje said “My chances are very high and you can see the beginning of it with the presidential elections. We gave Mr. President the highest number votes, all the three senators are back, 24 House of Representatives members out of 24 have succeeded. What else are you expecting? That is the foundation.

    “Another thing is that Mr. President has done a lot of work in Nigeria and in Kano and as a government we have done a lot in Kano State. If there was negative reaction we would have seen it from the presidential election.

    “That is why I say we are heading for a huge success in Kano both in the gubernatorial and state House of Assembly elections.”

    On why he was in the Presidential Villa, the Kano governor said, “First of all we have to thank almighty God. I am here to expressed my happiness and congratulate Mr. President personally and to also thank all Nigerians for voting Mr. President for the second term, for voting the most honest person because he laid the foundation for the development of a new Nigeria, and a man who loves Nigeria more than himself, a man who believes in free and fair elections.

    “We are forging ahead in terms of getting the right thing done in Nigeria. So, I’m here to congratulate him personally before we come as a group from Kano to congratulate him.” he added