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Tag: Aminu Bello Masari

  • Aminu pays homage to Buhari in Daura

    Aminu pays homage to Buhari in Daura

    Gov. Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State has expressed gratitude to God and Nigerians for the sustained prayers for the unity of Nigeria and the wellbeing of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Masari said this in Daura on Saturday when he paid Sallah homage on President Muhammadu Buhari at his GRA residence in the metropolis.

    He said to God be the glory that the President was back hale and hearty, stressing that Nigerians would continue their prayers and enlightenment campaign on the importance of peace and unity.

    He said he was in Daura to felicitate and rejoice with the President on his return from medical vacation.

    In addition, “to assure the president of our support in his effort to unite the country,” he said.

    Masari called on Nigerians to place the interest of the nation at heart by giving it the priority it deserves, adding “we will  continue to give our unconditional support to the President for him to achieve his  agenda for the country.

    “We will not relent in promoting our unity in diversity for a prosperous Nigeria, “he said.

    He said the Katsina State Government under his leadership  had introduced a series of reforms in agriculture, education, infrastructure, health and empowerment programmes.

    Buhari thanked the governor for the visit and wish all Nigerians happy Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.

    NAN reports that Gov. Masari was accompanied during the visit by  the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Farouk, the governor’s commissioners, politicians and other well wishers.

  • Buhari walks home as crowd welcome him

    Buhari walks home as crowd welcome him

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday arrived his country home in Daura, Katsina State and opted to walk through the street from the helipad as an overwhelming crowd surged to welcome him.

    The President, according to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on media and publicity, Garba Shehu, was received at the helipad by the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Faruk Umar Faruk and abandoned the motorcade as a large number of people had already gathered around the helipad, snaking all the way to his house.

    READ ALSO: Buhari presides over FEC, announces N1m gift for each D’Tigress player

    An elated crowd cheered as the President walked home, screaming “baba ya da wo, baba oyoyo”, meaning “baba is back, welcome home”.

    Buhari was earlier received at the airport in Katsina by the Executive Governor of Katsina State, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari, and the Emir of Katsina,  Alhaji Abdulmumini Kabir Usman, before he was airlifted with a chopper to Daura.

    READ ALSO: Defunct CPC members to Buhari – Cede SGF position to us

    The President will be spending time with his family during the Eid-el-Kabir.

  • Masari demotes principals to classroom teachers

    Masari demotes principals to classroom teachers

    Katsina state Governor, Aminu Bello Masari Wednesday ordered the immediate demotion and redeployment of the Principal of Unity Secondary School, Manufachi, Malam Nurudeen Abubakar and the Head Teacher of Rimaye Model Primary school, Malam Yakubu Ibrahim as class room teachers.

    The governor has also warned the principal of the Senior section of Unity Secondary school Manufalchi, Malam Nasiru Muazu to sit up or face sanction.

    However, Governor Masari also directed that all retired secondary school teachers still living in government quarters to vacate the houses with immediate effect.

    Masari who gave the order when he visited the schools said that government was not owing any gratuity to any retired teacher in the state hence they have no option than to vacate the quarters.

    The Governor’s directive on the principal and the Head Teacher came as a result of his dissatisfaction with the condition he found the schools, suggestive of lack of seriousness by the management.

    Masari who was worried over the development despite the ongoing rehabilitation and renovation of sections of the school observed that the environment looked dirty and unkempt due to negligence on the part of the school management.

    According to him, “a wall which was recently erected by the state government has forcefully broken down thereby creating illegal entrance into the school premises; while at Rimaye Model Primary school which was comprehensively renovated, the doors and windows were found to be ajar at the mercy of elements and passing children.”

    The governor further stated that the action was aimed at sending a warning to other principals and Head Teachers to brace up or face similar sanction or punishment.

    He, however, dismissed the claims of the retired teachers still occupying official quarters that they are not being paid their gratuity as false, saying that, “Katsina state government is not indebted to any retired teacher as every one of them has been paid their gratuity to the last kobo.”

    Masari, however, warned that anyone who refused to vacate the official residence will be forcefully ejected.

     

  • Masari to Shema: Leave me out of your travails

    Masari to Shema: Leave me out of your travails

    The Governor of Katsina State, Aminu Bello Masari, on Thursday said he has nothing to do with the ongoing trial of his predecessor, Ibrahim Shema, for alleged N1 billion fraud.

    The governor asked Shema to be bold enough to face his ongoing trial instead of dragging him into it.

    The governor, who made the clarifications in a statement issued his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Abdu Labaran Malumfashi, said neither the judiciary nor security agencies takes directives from him.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, neither the judiciary nor the security agencies take orders from Governor Aminu Bello Masari, and on his part, the Katsina State Governor does not interfere in the work of other arms or agencies of government either at state or federal levels.

    “In fact Governor Masari has no need to interfere with the judiciary since he has set up a judicial commission of enquiry under the chairmanship of a Federal High Court judge, Justice Mohammed Suraj, with an unfettered mandate to interrogate the inexplicable disappearance of tens of billions of Naira from the state’s treasury during the administration of Ibrahim Shehu Shema.

    “What is more, the former governor, more than most people, knows very well that Governor Aminu Bello Masari is not vindictive.

    Let us make it clear that no amount of attempts at blackmail, subtle or obvious, will deter or distract Governor Masari from making good the mandate given to him voluntarily by the people of Katsina State in the most freely and fairly election ever conducted in the state, nay the country.

    “Our advice to the former Katsina State Governor is that he should be man enough to bear his cross without trying to drag Governor Masari into the cesspit of the judicial travails he willfully got himself entangled.”

     

  • Alleged fraud: I am ready for trial – Shema

    Alleged fraud: I am ready for trial – Shema

    A former Governor of Katsina State, Ibrahim Shema, on Wednesday said he is ready for trial on the alleged N1billion fraud case brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    But the ex-governor said he is prepared to defend himself in an atmosphere of fair hearing, justice and rule of law.

    He, however, faulted botched attempt to abduct him by some agents of the Katsina State Government.

    Shema, who made his position known in a statement issued by his Head of Media Team, Mr. Oluwabusola Olawale, said the failed abduction showed that his life is in danger.

    The statement said:  “We are saying it for the umpteenth time that Shema is not afraid of court trial. He has submitted himself to the court and he is ready to defend himself in an atmosphere of fair hearing, justice and rule of law.

    “We are calling on the international community and well-meaning Nigerians to call Governor Aminu Bello Masari to order on his use of state and federal institutions for political intimidation and harassment, before Masari and his aides, through desperation, truncate democratic institutions in Nigeria.

    “It is also necessary to remind Governor Masari that he has a tenure opportunity which he must not squander on witch-hunting his predecessor because what goes around comes around.”

    The ex-governor condemned failed attempt to abduct him at the premises of Katsina High Court by some agents of the state government.

    He accused Governor Masari of allegedly persecuting him.

    The statement added: “The failed attempt to abduct former Governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema on Tuesday, February 7, 2017 at the premises of Katsina State High Court by security agents  who were being used by Governor Aminu Bello Masari and his aides, despite the ruling of the court to maintain status quo on the bail granted  Shema pending the determination of the matter before the court,  has confirmed that the ongoing corruption case against Shema and his former aides is not about court trial and rule of law, but sheer personal vendetta and a wicked attempt to humiliate, and harass the immediate past governor.

    “It was on record that few days before the sitting of the court,  it was reported in the media that there was a plot by Governor Aminu Bello Masari and his aides to humiliate, denigrate and condemn Ibrahim Shehu Shema, which we took for granted because we never thought they could stoop so low.

    “But the failed abduction and desperation of Governor Masari and his aides have been confirmed to us that there is a sinister move to probably harm former Governor Shema.”

     

  • Buhari, Mark, former NASS leaders meet in Aso Rock

    Buhari, Mark, former NASS leaders meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday met behind closed doors with some ex- leaders of the National Assembly.

    Two separate meetings were said to have been held at the President’s office at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Those spotted at the Villa included former Senate Presidents, David Mark and Ken Nnamani, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Bello Masari and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Ita Enang.

    While Nnamani and Masari arrived the same time, Mark, who is still a current Senator approached the President’s office together with Enang about one hour later.

    But it was not clear whether Mark and Enang actually met Nnamani and Masari at the President’s office as Nnamani and Masari were said to have been taken out from the President’s office’s entrance in a vehicle.

    Nnamani and Masari, who had earlier trekked by the Council Chamber in the clear view of journalists when going to the President’s office, have not been spotted to go out through the same way they came in at the time of filing this report.

    The agenda of the meetings was unknown but may not be unconnected with the soured relationship between the Presidency and the current Senate.

    Mark, who came out after about thirty minutes in the President’s office, did not speak to journalists as he walked through the corridor with one protocol officer.

    His visit to the Villa was the first since he stepped down as the Senate President in the last dispensation.

    No official statement, at the time of this report, has been issued concerning the meetings.

    The current Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who is facing Senate Standing rules forgery trial along with is deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, had recently declared that there was cabal in the Presidency.

  • APC NWC endorses Obaseki’s candidacy

    APC NWC endorses Obaseki’s candidacy

    …Oyegun calls for unity ahead of September election

    The National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday put to rest the controversy surrounding last month’s governorship primary in Edo state when it endorsed the candidacy of Godwin Obaseki as the party’s flag bearer in the September 10 governorship election in the state.

    The party said the declared that even though there were issues raised by some of the aspirants after the conduct of the primary, they were not compelling enough to warrant a cancellation of the primary and called for greater unity within the party to ensure a landslide victory in the election.

    Congratulating Obaseki for his emergence as the party candidate, National chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun called on Party stakeholders to close ranks and support the candidature of Mr. Godwin Obaseki in the lead-up to the forthcoming Edo State Governorship elections.

    He also congratulated the Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari-led seven-member Election Committee for successfully conducting a very transparent, free, fair and credible governorship primaries in Edo State, while thanking the Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele-led three-member Edo State governorship Election Appeal Committee for successfully carrying out its assignment and submitting a report.

    He said “As the Party prepares for the September 10, 2016 governorship election in Edo State, I call on all aspirants, party leaders, stakeholders and teeming members of our great Party to close ranks and unite as a strong political fighting force behind the candidature of Mr. Godwin Obaseki for a landslide victory at the forthcoming Edo State governorship election.

    “The request by the aspirants was that the Edo State APC governorship election primaries should be transparent, free, fair and credible. This, the Party achieved creditably during the primaries. Going forward, we should avoid triumphalist actions and avoid creating new stresses within the Party. We should all seek to reunify the Party to face the September 10, 2016 governorship election.”

    In its report to the National Working Committee, the Appeals Committee said the Edo State 2016 APC Governorship primaries were valid pointing out that while not dismissing the seriousness of the allegations and claims of the Petitioners, the issues raised were not compelling as to warrant the cancellation of the Primary Election.

    The report called on all APC stakeholders in Edo State to put the Party’s interest over and above personal interests in ensuring a speedy and amicable reconciliation and recommended that the leadership of the party should step up diplomacy in trying to reconcile stakeholders in Edo State.

    The Committee also recommended that a high-powered committee be set up by the Party to reach out and mediate between the Edo State Governor, His Excellency, Adams Oshiomhole and all aspirants who participated in the Primary election.

  • APC faults accusation of religious bias

    APC faults accusation of religious bias

    THE Interim National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Lai Mohammed, has faulted the accusation of religious bias in the composition of the party’s Interim Executive Committee.

    Mohammed’s comments followed accusation of religious bias raised in a statement circulated in Abuja yesterday by a former Ambassador to Spain, Mallam Yusuf Mamman and a group, under the aegis of Religious Equity Promotion Council (REPC).

    Mamman and the REPC accused the APC of having Muslim members in the party’s Interim Executive Committee, a situation which they said typified the Muslim Brotherhood Party in Egypt.

    REPC Secretary-General Rev Tanko Garbaand the former ambassador also said the APC was projecting Muslims as its presidential aspirants, saying the party wants to Islamise Nigeria.

    The statement said: “It is not out of the ordinary that members of the Interim Executive Committee of the APC are Muslims. Does it mean that the APC would be the Nigerian version of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood Party?

    “Check this out: the APC leader for the North is General Muhammadu Buhari who is a Muslim; the party leader for the South is Senator Bola Tinubu, a Muslim.

    “The National Chairman, Abdulkareem Bisi Akande, is a Muslim; Deputy National Chairman Aminu Bello Masari is a Muslim; National Secretary Tijani Musa Tumsah; Deputy National Secretary Nasir el-Rufai; and the National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed are Muslims.

    “The National Treasurer, Sadiya Umar Faruq; National Financial Secretary Shuaibu Musa; National Youth Leader Abubakar Lado; National Legal Adviser Muiz Banire; Deputy National Auditor Bala Jubrin and National Woman Leader Sharia Ikeazor (Muslim Convert) are Muslims.

    “Also, the party’s ex-officio members, Muiru Muse and Yemi Sanusi, are Muslims.

    “Does it mean that there are no Christians worthy enough to occupy these executive positions? Where is their sense of religious balancing, if not to deliberately cause religious disharmony in Nigeria.”

    But APC’s spokesman countered that the party, which has its members across the country, cannot afford to imagine any singular religious affiliation.

    Speaking in a telephone chat with The Nation, yesterday, Mohammed explained that of the 25 Interim National Executive Committee membership, 18 are Muslims; 17 are Christians.

    He warned religious bigots and their official sponsors against setting the country on fire through sponsored religious disharmony.

    The APC spokesman said no party in Nigeria can survive on religion, adding that it is stupid to tar the APC with a religious paint when the party has not conducted its national convention.

    “The APC is just six months old after the merger. Our party is a broad-based party from all religions,” Mohammed said.

    He accused the Presidency of sponsoring Yusuf Mamman to denigrate the APC, stressing that “anybody that knows Yusuf Mamman’s history will not be surprised at whatever he says.”

    Cautioning President Goodluck Jonathan not to set Nigeria on fire with religion, Mohammed noted that his (Jonathan’s) association with Mamman was an evidence of the President’s desperation.

    Mohammed said the APC would reflect the nation’s religious diversity during its national convention.

    He promised that during its convention, APC would reflect religious tolerance.