The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Abdullahi Ganduje

  • Ganduje to would-be losers: accept defeat

    Kano state governor Dr Abdullahi Ganduje has appealed to whoever loses at the ongoing Presidential and National Assembly Elections to accept defeat in good faith.

    He spoke shortly after casting his vote along with his wife Hajiya Hafsat at the Ganduje Cikin Gari unit PO 008 of  Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of Kano.

    The governor, who arrived the polling station at about 10 am joined the queue, was verified and voted at about 10:30 am.

    Addressing newsmen, the governor expressed satisfactions with conduct of election that verification and casting of votes was smooth without hitches.

    Ganduje however called on losers to accept defeat adding that politics is not a do- or- die affair.

    Read Also: Kano poll: Why Ganduje will win

    According to him: “The striking thing is that the system adopted by INEC this time for people to instantly be accredited and vote immediately.

    “Such move is quiet commendable because it doesn’t allow people to be crowded in one place to cause violence. “As soon as you vote you move away making the place peaceful.”

    He expressed delighted he was properly verified by the card reader and as such this is an indication that the conduct of election will be hitch free.

    He hailed INEC for providing the necessary electoral materials required for the elections on time to allow for quick and smooth voting.

    Our reporter in Ganduje town observed that the turnout of voters was massive with security efficient.

    The Emir of Kano Muhammad Sanusi II voted at about 9:45am with a call on the electorate to come out en-mass and cast their votes.

    He also commended INEC for a job well done.

  • Ganduje swears in four new commissioners

    Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State on Wednesday inaugurated five new commissioners to the State Executive Council. ‎

    The commissioners, who had been screened by the State House of Assembly, took their oath of office before thousands of supporters at the Coronation Hall, Government House.

    ‎Ganduje congratulated all the new commissioners on their appointment and tasked them not to betray the trust of the people.

    The newly sworn-in commissioners are: Mukhtari Ishak Yakasai, (Special Duties); Bashir Yahaya Karaye, (Science and Technology) and Tahir Muhammad Adamu, (Higher Education).

    Read Also: Ganduje awards contract for cancer centre

    Others are Shehu Muhammad Na’Allah, (Planning and Budget); and Hajiya Aisha Jafar that was moved to ministry of Education from Budget and Planning.

    Ganduje advised them to always reflect on their oath of office and fear Allah in all their undertakings.

    The governor also advised them to treat all citizens of the state equally.

    He advised them to come up with innovative ideas that would move the state forward.‎

    The commissioners were sworn in by the state Attorney -General, Mr Ibrahim Mukhtar.

  • Kano Assembly receive N205.2 billing LG’s Budget

    The Kano State House of Assembly on Wednesday received the N205.2 billion 2019 budget for the 44 Local Governments in the state for deliberation.

    The Speaker, Alhaji Kabiru Rurum, who announced this at the plenary, said the document was signed by Alhaji Abba Ladan, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

    Rurum explained that 52 per cent of the Appropriation bill was for capital projects while 48 per cent was for the recurrent expenditure.

    He said that the submission of the appropriation bill for the local governments was in line with the Kano State Local Government Law of 2016.

    Read Also: Kano Assembly suspend KASCO MD

    “Adequate provision for the development of the 44 Local Government Areas has been made in the proposed 2019 budget.

    “The budget, if approved, will ensure the provision of more rural feeder roads across the 44 local government areas of the state and also other developmental projects,” he said.

    Shortly after the announcement, the house’s Majority Leader, Alhaji Baffa Danagundi,instantly called for the rejection of the document.

    According to him, the document should not be accepted until it is duly signed by the Commissioner in the ministry.

    He recalled that the house had earlier resolved that any document from any establishment in the state to the assembly should be duly signed by the political head of the establishment.

    But, Alhaji Abubakar Zakari, representing Tarauni Constituency, in his contribution,informed the house that the permanent secretary signed it because the commissioner accompanied Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje on an official assignment abroad.

    He, therefore, urged his colleagues to accept the document which they later did unanimously, after others had contributed to the hot debate.

    The speaker further referred the bill to the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, giving three weeks’ deadline for the submission of its report to the house for further consideration.

    Rurum urged the Chairmen of the 44 local governments to get ready to defend the proposed budget for their respective council areas.

  • Kano Assembly confirms 4 commissioner nominees

    The Kano State House of Assembly on Wednesday confirmed four commissioner nominees sent to it by Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje.

    The Speaker, Alhaji Kabiru Rurum had on Dec. 27, 2018, announced receipt of a letter from Ganduje seeking the nod of the house for the appointment of the nominees as commissioners and members of the state executive council.

    The house gave the confirmation after they were screened at the committee of the whole.

    Read Also:Army confirms 14 killed in Boko Haram ambush

     

    The lawmakers unanimously considered and approved their appointment as commissioners and members of the state executive council.

    Speaking shortly after the screening, the nominees pledged to work hard as expected by Ganduje towards moving the state forward.

    The nominees are -Malam Bashir Yahaya-Karaye, Alhaji Mukhtar Ishak-Yakasai, Alhaji Shehu Kura and Alhaji Muhammad Tahir, popularly called Baba Impossible.

     

     

  • EFCC denies receiving N10 million donation from Ganduje

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has denied receiving N10 million donation from Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje.

    The EFCC Acting Head, Media and Publicity, Mr Tony Orilade, said in Abuja on Tuesday that the story was false and a deliberate attempt to malign the efforts of the Commission in the fight against corruption.

    “The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has been drawn to a trending story in the social media.

    “This is concerning a purported statement credited to the media aide of the Kano State governor to the effect that the Commission got a N10 Million donation from the state government.

    “For the records, it is a tradition that the EFCC does not receive donations from state governors or government or any individual at that.

    “The EFCC, as a reputable anti-graft agency is sponsored by the Federal Government through budgetary allocation and in some cases, foreign organisations in terms of capacity building.

    “It is true that the Commission in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Crimes (ICPC) and the Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and other stakeholders is organising the first National Anti-Corruption Marathon.

    “Mr Jacob Onu, leader of the National Anti-Corruption Marathon had fortnight ago visited the Commission.“He informed the Acting Chairman and his management about the marathon which he said is being planned in tandem with the International Anti-Corruption Day which usually comes up on Dec. 9 every year.

    “He said it was aimed at raising national consciousness on the scourge and danger of corruption to the country and the need for all and sundry to join hands to eradicate it.
    “It is therefore very shocking to read of a purported donation of N10 million to the Commission.

    “The story is not only unfounded but very mischievous.“For the avoidance of doubt, no state governor or some other individual or group has donated any amount of money to the EFCC to carry out the Anti-corruption Marathon project or any other project for that matter,” Orilade said. (NAN)

  • Kano Govt, UNICEF to open new office for three states

    The Kano State Government and UNICEF have agreed to establish a new office to serve Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States to focus on addressing children issues.

    Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje confirmed this when UNICEF officials led by its Country Representative, Mr Mohammed Fall, paid him a courtesy visit in Kano on Thursday.

    He said the state government started processing the new UNICEF field office since August 2018, by proposing Magwan Water Restaurant, which was inspected by a team of professionals and fully endorsed by UNICEF.

    Ganduje, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr Nasiru Gawuna, said Kano was one of the most peace loving states that has been accommodating development partners and other officials from all over the world.

    “For Kano state, it is very clear and considering that Kano is a very peaceful state and His Excellency is doing very well in terms of security and peace of the people of Kano state, that is why we are happy to welcome UNICEF to Kano state.
    “I want to on behalf of His Excellency, inform you that he has approved for a befitting facility to serve as the new UNICEF office in Kano in a choice and prime area and one of the most secured places we have in the state,” he said.

    He expressed the readiness of the present administration to continue to collaborate with UNICEF and other development partners towards addressing issues that affect the wellbeing of children and women.
    “I want to assure you that this administration will do its possible best to fulfil all the requirements needed to ensure effective commencement of the UNICEF office and smooth collaboration with Kano state.

     

    Read Also: Ganduje puzzles Kano with legal rigmaroles

     

    By the time you move your office to Kano, you will be very conversant with people of Kano and on our part we are going to make sure that you stay very comfortably here in Kano,” he added.
    Fall had earlier said they were at the Government House to discuss and officially inform the state authority on the move by the UNICEF to open a field office in Kano.

    He noted that their physical presence in Kano would help in boosting their programmes to other parts of the country.
    “UNICEF is focusing more on result. Result is linked to numbers and you know Kano is one of the densely populated states in the country, therefore, if one succeeds in Kano, you will be able to reach a large number of children even beyond the population in the state.

    “Some of the deprivations affecting children whether it is difficulty to access health, nutrition, sanitation and education services and all issues related to child protection, they all happen at a very large scale in mega cities or urban areas that we must work together to alleviate the sufferings of children,” said the country representative.

    e expressed optimism that Kano state would provide all the enabling environment and support to help in reaching out to a very large number of children in need of UNICEF’s support the most.

    he official further thanked the Ganduje administration for all the support and cooperation it has been according UNICEF towards the success of its interventions and support programmes in the state.

    NAN

  • Ganduje: Court fixes December 6 for judgment

    A Kano High Court has fixed Thursday, December 6 to rule on whether the state House of Assembly has the power to investigate the bribery allegation against Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.

    The National Coordinator of “Lawyers for Sustainable Democracy in Nigeria’’, an NGO, Mr Mohammed Zubair had filed a suit challenging the court’s constitutional right to investigate the bribery allegation.

    When the case came up for hearing on Wednesday, counsel to the Kano state House of Assembly, Mohammed Waziri argued that the Assembly had the power to investigate any person including the governor for the purpose of making laws and checking corruption.

    Read Also:Court remands fake army Colonel

    He said even though the governor had immunity but it is not against the investigation to be conducted by the House.

    Waziri, therefore, prayed the court to dismiss the application filed by the counsel to the plaintiff due to the fact that it was trying to usurp powers given to the House by the constitution.

    However, in his argument, counsel to the plaintiff, Nuraini Jimoh said the House had the power to investigate the governor in view of the fact that it would conduct the investigation in order to expose corruption specifically mentioned by the constitution.

    “What the House is investigating is no doubt a crime against the governor. But by doing so, they are exercising their powers to expose corruption,’’ he said.

    In his submission, the third defendant, who is also the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ibrahim Muktar maintained that the House had no power to conduct criminal investigation against the governor.

    According to him, the state Assembly has no trained experts or investigators to conduct the investigation, and as such assignment should be referred to the police or any relevant agencies.

    “The House has no capacity to conduct criminal investigation and it will be to the detriment of the person being investigated because they lack the capacity to conduct the investigation,” he said.

    In his ruling after listening to the argument of both parties, the presiding Judge, Justice, A. T. Badamasi fixed Thursday, December 6 for judgment on whether the state Assembly had the power to carry out the investigation or not.

    NAN

  • Court again stops Kano Assembly from investigating Gov. Ganduje

    A Kano High Court on Monday upheld its earlier order halting the state House of Assembly Investigative Committee from investigating the bribery allegation against Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje.

    The court also ordered all other parties involved in the investigation of the bribery allegation to maintain status quo ante, pending the determination of the originating summon.

    NAN reports that the originating summon was filed by Mr Mohammed Zubair, the National Coordinator of Lawyers for Sustainable Democracy in Nigeria.

    When the case came up for hearing, counsel to the plaintiff, Kalid Abdullatif, said that going by Order 29, Rule 1 and Order 28, Rule 1 and 4 of the Rules of the Court, 2014, the application filed on behalf of the plaintiff on Nov. 5, restraining the defendants, Kano state House of Assembly, Baffa Babba Danagundi and the state Attorney-General from further investigation of the bribery allegation, still subsist.

    “The application still remains an Order of interlocutory injunction, restraining the defendants, either by themselves, agents, privies, or officials, or other persons, whosoever, from further inviting anybody, questioning, examining, making any further Press Releases, releasing or playing any further video tapes, investigation or further proceedings, with the, or any bribery allegation against Gov. Ganduje, or anybody, whatsoever, therewith, pending the determination of the substantive suit before this Honourable Court, “he said.

    He further argued that the act of the defendants to have constituted a Committee to investigate the bribery allegation against Governor Ganduje remains, “unconstitutional.”

    However, counsel to the Kano state House of Assembly (first defendant) and Investigative Committee Chairman, Hon. Baffa Babba Dan Agundi (second defendant), Mohammed Waziri, described his clients as law-abiding citizens who would not breach the law in any way.

    “I wish to state that the First and Second defendants are law-makers and law-abiding citizens. The Order came a day to the date slated to listen to witnesses at the Investigative Panel.

    “Since then, no step has been taken by the state House of Assembly or the Investigative Committee to breach the law. “This is to tell you that Kano state House of Assembly is law-abiding.

    “The Assembly has no intention whatsoever to take any further steps until the subsisting matter is decided upon because constitutional issues are being raised.”

    The Third Defendant who is also the state Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, aIbrahim Muktar did not object to the prayers of counsel to the plaintiff.

    In his ruling, the presiding Judge, Justice Ahmed Badamasi, ordered all the parties involved in the case to maintain the status quo ante, pending the determination of the Originating summon.

    Badamasi commended counsel to the defendants for advising his clients wisely and adjourned the case to Nov. 21, for hearing of the originating motion on summon. (NAN)

  • Ganduje tasks parents on immunization for children

    Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State has called on parents in the state to ensure full routine immunization for their children.

    The governor gave the charge on Saturday while inaugurating immunization for the month of November at Panshekara Ward in Kumbotso Local Government Area of Kano.

    Represented by the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Kabiru Getso, the governor said there was need for parents to support in sustaining the successes recorded in immunization in the state.

    According to him, “About 3 million children below the age of five are expected to be immunized across the 44 local government areas of the state.”

    He added that the state had recorded over 52 months now without any case of wild polio virus in all the local government areas in the state.

    The governor also stressed the importance of regular environmental hygiene to guard against infectious diseases in the communities.

    Read Also: False accusation: Ganduje sues medium for defamation

    Ganduje said his administration has placed high premium on the health sector by provision of infrastructure, financing, human resources, procurements and drugs chain supply system, among others.

    He enjoined the people to continue to rally round the administration for more meaningful achievements in effective health care provision.

    The Chairman Kumbotso Local Government Council, Alhaji Kabiru Panshekara, expressed commitment towards ensuring the success of immunization in the area.

    NAN

  • NAJGG declares Ganduje’s bribery video fake

    The Nigerian Alliance for Justice and Good Governance, NAJGG, on Wednesday declared that a video being circulated on social media by an online medium, Nigerian Daily, which allegedly displayed the Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, receiving a bribe in dollars.
    The NAJGG National Coordinator, Cyril Obande, said this at a press conference which held at Abuja.
    Obande, who described the video as ‘edited’ and ‘a clone,’ also explained that the governor was not at the location of the video at that time.
    “The governor was not there from our own forensic investigation. If you check the time and place at which the video occurred, the governor was not at that particular place at that particular time.
    “I am not in the best position to disclose where he actually was, but if you go through records of where his appointment was as at then, you will know he wasn’t at the premises. Therefore, the video, as you can see, was edited.
    “Governor Abdullahi Ganduje has taken effective measures to prevent corruption in his administration. This includes appropriate frameworks, legislation, internal controls, ethics and compliance.
    Obande also demanded that the journalist behind the viral video publication either bring forward the names of the contractors who gave the bribe, the contracts for which the bribe was taken, as well as the total worth of the contract, or be subject to arrest and prosecution.
    “Therefore, we condemn in totality the allegations leveled against the governor that he collected a kick-back for contracts awarded.
    “We view this as an orchestrated attempt by some opposing politicians to dent the credibility of the governor and prevent him from going for second term in office.
    “The NAJGG urges the Kano State House of Assembly to carry out a holistic investigation into the allegation and to engage the services of experts to review the authenticity of that video clip while making sure that justice is done at the end of their probe.
    “We call on the law enforcement agencies to arrest the author of the purported story, compel him to provide complete facts including unedited video recordings of the alleged bribe taking and where he fails to provide these facts, he should be arrested and prosecute for libel.
    “When he is able to furnish the people with some of these facts, then Nigerians will have reasons to believe his report.
     “We have seen investigative reports both local and international with facts and figures but he only mentioned the amount of the alleged bribe given, he did not mention the names of the companies, the worth of the contracts and the persons who were awarded the contracts. Therefore, we condemn this form of deceptive journalism in totality.
    “In as much as we don’t condone corruption, we also do not support yellow journalism, and journalists should not allow themselves to be used to propagate fake news.
    “We support investigative journalism but it must be objective, unbiased, and without an ulterior motive.”
    The National Coordinator went ahead to petition that Nigerian Daily should make available the unaudited video clips of the alleged bribe taken to the Kano State House of Assembly and the relevant law enforcement agencies for proper investigation.
    He also adjured media practitioners in the country not to engage in disseminating fake news and should always confirm their news stories from publishing to avoid heating the polity especially during an electioneering period.