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Tag: Aminu Waziri Tambuwal

  • Kano in good hands with Ganduje – Tambuwal

    Kano in good hands with Ganduje – Tambuwal

    The Governor of Sokoto state , Aminu Waziri Tambuwal on Thursday said Kano state remains in good hands with Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje as Governor.
    He described ‎Ganduje as a visionary and people-oriented leader with the committed mind for the development of the state as north’s commercial nerve.

    The former Speaker, House of Representatives made the remark in Sokoto when Ganduje paid him a courtesy call.

    According to Tambuwal: ”Ganduje is not my friend, but a Senior brother and a colleague.

    ”He is an experienced public servant and a very mature  politician.

    ”I must, therefore, commend him for giant developmental strides in Kano State.”

    The governor also commended Ganduje for  choosing Sokoto to hold their retreat on the operations of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Tambuwal further noted that the retreat would allow for stock taking and fashioning out more people-oriented programmes and policies.

    In his short speech, Ganduje told Tambuwal that, they were in Sokoto for a three-day Retreat on the activities of the APC.

    ”APC is the greatest party in Africa and will brainstorm on the achievements, problems and ways forward.

    ”We will also look at the constitution of the party, its philosophy, as well as understand the basic issues.

    ”We will discuss issues relating to internal democracy and other sundry issues,” Ganduje added.

  • Buhari is capable of fixing Nigeria- Tambuwal

    Sokoto state Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has said that he is confident President Muhammadu Buhari has the ability to fix Nigeria in the right direction for optimum economic growth.

    He noted that the steps being taken by the Buhari led government were desirable to transform the system from a mono economy to a dynamic system economy.

    Accordingly, the governor maintained that, Nigeria would soon exit the current recession.

    Tambuwal who spoke to newsmen in Sokoto Friday shortly after the conduct of two prayer sessions to mark Nigeria’s 56th Independence Anniversary celebrations said‎ Nigerians have unshaken confidence in Buhari to salvage the country.

    ”We should continue to cooperate and support the President’s efforts to realise his vision of taking Nigeria to greater heights”, he called.

    The prayer which was conducted in two sessions with the first ‎ at the 1 Brigade Central Mosque, Sokoto,led by Cpl Abdullahi Yunusa and Sheikh Buhari Sirriddawa while the second led by the Rural Development Commissioner, Alhaji Abdullahi Maigwandu was held at the Presidential Lodge, Sokoto.
    ‎However, the governor implored Nigerians to continue to support leaders, at all levels.

    Similarly, Tambuwal urged Nigerians to sustain their fervent prayers, for sustainable peace, unity and socioeconomic prosperity.

    ”There is no country in Nigeria in the whole of the world in terms of human and material resources.

    ” Nigerians can excel in all endeavours and anywhere they find themselves,globally.

    ” Nigeria will also continue to provide leadership to Africa, as well as blossom as an indissoluble country.

    ” Nigeria is currently just passing through a developmental phase, just like many other nations like USA had done,” the governor pointed out.

    The two sessions were attended by Tambuwal and his deputy, Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu and other officials.

    The Sultan of Sokoto, Akhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, was represented by the Galadiman Gari, Alhaji Aliyu Attahiru.

  • Tambuwal to Bill Gates: Come partner with us

    Tambuwal to Bill Gates: Come partner with us

    Sokoto state government has sought for a partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for the development of agriculture and related sectors in the state.

    “We appreciate your efforts in improving healthcare delivery in Sokoto state in particular in Nigeria as a whole. I want to inform that the potential agricultural sector holds in Sokoto is enormous. We seek partnership with you to modernise the sector and improve the earnings of our farmers,” the state Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal said during a video conference with Mr. Gates to assess the progress of Routine Immunisation in Sokoto.

    The immunisation programme is funded by the Gates, Dangote Foundation and the United Stated Agency for International Development (USAID).

    According to Tambuwal, with more than 85 percent of Sokoto’s population engaged in one form of agricultural activity or another, the partnership will create value for all parties and ensure rapid development of local farmers in the state.

    Agricultural development is one of the largest initiatives of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. To date, the Foundation has committed more than US$2 billion to agric development efforts in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

    In June this year, Gates launched a campaign to help extremely poor families in sub-Saharan Africa by giving them 100,000 chickens.

    According to him, raising and selling the birds can be efficient to tackle extreme poverty.

    Speaking on efforts to boost immunisation in Sokoto, Tambuwal assured the development partners that Sokoto government will meet its funding obligation, while a new data centre will be opened in the state ministry of health to ease collection and processing of data for proper planning.

     

     

     

  • Malaria: Nigeria accounts for 40 percent global deaths -Tambuwal

    Malaria: Nigeria accounts for 40 percent global deaths -Tambuwal

    Sokoto state Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal on Monday said Nigeria alone accounts for over 40 percent of the estimated total malaria deaths globally.

    The governor, who frowned at the statistical revelation, also described the situation as not only alarming, but must be tackled for any meaningful development to occur.

    Speaking in Sokoto while marking this year’s World Malaria Day, Tambuwal said his administration was not oblivious of the negative consequences of malaria and other neglected tropical diseases on both human and economic growth of the country hitherto.

    He said the government will continue to provide free medical care to pregnant mothers and children under the age of five who are vulnerable to malaria and other tropical diseases.

    He stressed that similar passion would be embarked upon so as to provide care to people living in remote areas of the state.

    The governor also disclosed that drugs worth billions of Naira have been distributed to all parts of the state, while so far, government has received donations from the federal government and development partners to tackle the issues.

    “The fight against these diseases requires collective efforts. Drugs worth billions of Naira from the inception of the programs were provided through the joint efforts of Federal Ministry of Health, Partners and State Government. Recently, the State Government received a donation of Trachoma drugs worth N3.1 Billion which will be distributed in 12 LGAs of Isa, Sabon Birni, Goronyo, Rabah, Bodinga, Binji, Tangaza, Kware, Silame, Wamakko, Illela and Gada,” Tambuwal added.

    Also, the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole Folorunsho stated that the Federal Government was working towards ensuring that no Nigerian died from malaria or malaria-related illness from the year 2020.

    According to Folorunsho, the 2020 projection was realistic against the killer disease, adding that the government would strive to ensure that malaria was completely exterminated from the country from the year 2025, ahead of the global target of the year 2030.

     

  • Tambuwal’s replacement stalls primaries in Kebbe

    Tambuwal’s replacement stalls primaries in Kebbe

    The primaries in Sokoto state did not hold in Kebbe Local Government due to the disagreement on who succeeds House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal from the Tambuwal/Kebbe federal constituency.

    The battle was stiff between immediate past Chairman of Kebbe Local Government, Bala Kokane and current member and brother to the National Security Adviser, Abdulsamad Ibrahim Dasuki.

    Kokane, it was gathered after his resignation for the House of Representatives seat was resolved based on consensus to replace Speaker Tambawal while Dasuki should retain his membership in the state assembly.

    But Dasuki did not honour the consensus reached, insisting that he was gunning for the House of Representatives.

    It was further gathered that Dasuki skimmed to influence some stalwarts who turned against Kokane whose supporters vowed not to compromise.

    A source who refused to be mentioned said: “We are behind Kokane come rains come sunshine. It is the turn of Kebbe people. For the past 12 years, Tambawal has been producing both Senate and Representatives from the federal constituency. Now that Speaker Tambawal is vying for governorship in the state, we deem it right to replace him with somebody from Kebbe which has not produced a representative more than once since 1999,” he explained.

    A former Principal at the Federal Government College Sokoto now retired, Garba Bello Yabo was unanimously voted to fill in the only seat for Yabo.

    Speaking to reporters on field to monitor the exercise, chairman of Yabo local government, Alhaji Abubakar Shehu Shamaki said: “we are most fortunate that the aspirant is a popular person who is desired by delegates to emerge unopposed.”

    In Bodinga North, the contest was unopposed for Abubakar Magaji. Aminu Bala slugged it out with Tukur Bala to emerge victorious in Bodinga South..

    However, with the exception of few local governments where consensus could not be reached, other aspirants had smooth sail.

    At Shinhiri ward in Tambuwal Local Government, Sule Hantsin Romo picked one of the two seats by consensus.

     

  • Tambuwal opposes shift in 2015 polls

    Tambuwal opposes shift in 2015 polls

    •Speaker, Yari scale APC governorship screening

    House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal yesterday scaled through the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship screening.

    The Speaker said he opposed any plan to postpone the 2015 elections because of insecurity.

    Tambuwal, who addressed reporters after he was screened and cleared for the governorship election by APC officials for Northwest screening committee, noted that even in war-torn countries, elections were held.

    The Speaker said Nigeria should not be an exception.

    He said: “Elections are being held in Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and several countries where there are security challenges. What we should do is to address and make up our minds on the fact that there should be elections in February, 2015. The government should work hard towards addressing the insecurity. I am opposed to the postponement of the elections.

    “What we should hope and pray for is that before February elections, the insurgency should be addressed by the government. There are people whose responsibility it is, either as No 1 citizen in the country or Chief of Army of Staff or the National Security Adviser (NSA) or those charged with the responsibility of guaranteeing safety and security of the citizens, as established by the constitution.“

     

     

    “They should do their work and ensure that we are all secured and safe. And then, let us hope and pray that by February, we shall be able to come out en masse to cast our votes. We should pray that the insecurity should not go beyond February. We should be positive.”

    Tambuwal is contesting the Sokoto State governorship seat, having dropped the ambition to run for the Presidency.

    Also cleared is Zamfara State Governor Abdulazeez Abubakar Yari.

    The governor said his performance would give him victory at the poll.

    Yari said he had performed well, adding that his people were happy with him to get another mandate to consolidate on his performances.

    Others who were cleared include the Director-General of the Progressives’ Governors’ Forum Salihu Mohammed Lukman; Haruna Saeed from Kaduna State; Senator Kanti Bello from Katsina; Mallam Bello Barau Gusua from Zamfara; Senator Abubakar Sadiq Yar’Adua from Katsina and Alhaji Usman Alhaji from Kano.

    Similarly, governorship aspirant in Kaduna State, Salihu Mohammed Lukman, said he is poised to re-unite the entire Kaduna people if elected governor in 2015.

    “Given the deep seated distrust and wide gap in relationships between the different social groups in the state occasioned by several years of frequent religious and ethnic clashes with very little done to address the causes, our government, on assumption of office on May 29, 2015, will immediately institute reconciliation committees with the main objective of facilitating inter-ethnic and inter-religious dialogue across the state “Lukman said.

    At the time of filing this report last night, other aspirants, who were waiting to be screened includes Isah Ashiru and Mallam Nasir El-Rufai from Kaduna State and Senator Usman Dahiru from Sokoto State.

     

  • Police, Tambuwal and the rest of us

    Police, Tambuwal and the rest of us

    SIR: The Nigerian police have taken a lot of flak for their humiliation of House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal. A consensus of outrage has formed around that National Assembly siege. The spread of angst was caused by the real time transmission of that violation, with all the horrendous details. Absent the transparency, the particulars of that vandalism would have suffered the doomed fate of controversy. That incident would have been reconstructed, in conjecture and fiction, and the kernel of its veracity would have gone extinct with conflicted telling and remembering.

    So we participated as a live audience. But the excitation of our common temper had less to do with our reading of the section of the constitution that pertains to cross carpeting. Also, it had little bearing with love for the victim. Instead, the widespread solidarity arose largely from narcissism.

    Tambuwal’s humiliation reflected our own vulnerability to police aggression. That instance of brutality projected the similitude of our everyday experience. It effectively tallied all the episodes of our vexed police encounters and flung them onto a vast attention-grabbing canvas.

    The police treated Speaker Tambuwal like us. Except that this turned into a scandal because the police dared to use the (yard)stick meant for us on Tambuwal, the number four citizen. We picked offence because what was tolerable for us could not be good for him.

    The policemen stationed at the gate were indifferent to Speaker Tambuwal. They did not answer him when he called out to them. When he introduced himself, they ignored him; just like they are wont to ignore nobodies. They tear-gassed Speaker Tambuwal the selfsame way they make responsible football fans choke each time they have to access the stadium to watch the Super Eagles play.  The police lied that Tambuwal had tried to invade the National Assembly with a band of miscreants; the same way they casually hatch frame-ups and make scapegoats.

    The police was persuaded that Tambuwal, by the virtue of his defection, had forfeited his number four position in the gratuitous citizen ranking. They believed that the switch had automatically downgraded him. He had slumped to the pool of anonymous folk, unworthy of courtesy because they have yet to earn the state’s elitist citizen number.

    Obviously, the policemen who attacked him had a clear brief: to update the blissfully ignorant Tambuwal, in the most practical terms, that his entitlement to politeness and dignity had expired. It was some sort of baptism into the humdrum susceptibility of the low caste.

    In a manner of speaking, the police were on a Red Cross charity-grade mission to give the butterfly who fancied himself a bird a beneficial reality check. Tambuwal missed sighting this barely concealed good intention. It could well be that smelling teargas made him less discerning.

    To be clear, the Nigerian police gave Tambuwal the normal treatment. The only real surprise in this case is that we permitted ourselves the leisure of pretending that that harassment was alien to their character. But we know better. Very few of us can boast of having accumulated a preponderance of positive romance with the Nigerian police. If you venture to check, you will harvest an overwhelming population scarred by a police that they have now come to dread.

    The average Nigerian policeman tends to be perennially angry and belligerent. It is often suggested that most of them labour under very poor job conditions. But that is no justification for taking out your frustration on your countrymen, many of who are in no better station in life. The fact that the policeman and the average citizen are actively negotiating survival with the same harsh environment should transform into a kindred bond. The policeman who discovers that the condition under which he is compelled to function prohibits decency need not progress as a bitter officer. He may opt for another legitimate means of livelihood instead of pushing a career in vengefulness and extortion.

    We could go on swimming in the partisan politics that created the ugly Tambuwal scenario. But that would cost us a wonderful opportunity to interrogate the relationship between the Nigerian police and the Nigerian citizen. Instead of establishing discriminatory standards, we should rather pivot to demanding a police that respects every citizen; a well resourced police that knows its place; a professional police that is not amenable to the abuse of a vendetta errand.

    • Emmanuel Uchenna Ugwu,

    emmanuelugwu2002@yahoo.com.

     

  • Only God can unseat me as Speaker -Tambuwal

    Only God can unseat me as Speaker -Tambuwal

    • With free, fair poll, APC ‘ll record landslide victory -Buhari

    The embattled House of Representatives Speaker,  Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, yesterday stormed the North-West Zonal Executive Committee meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna, saying only God can remove him as Speaker of the lower chamber of the National Assembly.

    This is as Former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari, described the defection of Tambuwal to APC as a sign of good things to come, adding that, with free and fair election, landslide victory in 2015 general elections would be the APC’s portion.

    Tambuwal, who attended the meeting of the APC for the first time, since he defected to the opposition party was in Kaduna without his security aides.

    Speaking to newsmen shortly after the meeting which was held behind closed doors, with General Muhammadu Buhari, Deputy Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, APC National Vice Chairman (North-West), Inuwa Abdulkadir and others in attendance, Tambuwal said, PDP cannot remove him as Speaker.

    The Speaker added that the majority of the House members were behind him and people can go and verify it. He, however, told Nigerians to discard wrong information being circulated around by agents of distraction.

    Speaking on his defection which is already before the Federal High Court, Tambuwal, who is a lawyer himself, said his counsel, Lateef  Fagebemi (SAN), has explained everything when he said the status quo referred to period before his security details were withdrawn.

    According to him, “Yes, I am here for the first time to attend the zonal meeting of the North-West of APC, my political party.

    “As for my fate in the National Assembly and Speaker of House of Representative, it is in the hand of God and members of the house,” Tambuwal said.

    He, however, declined comment over his rumoured Sokoto State governorship aspiration.

    Meanwhile, former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari, said APC would record a landslide victory in 2015 general elections if free and fair election is allowed.

    Earlier in his welcome remarks, the National Vice Chairman (North-West), Inuwa Abdulkadir, said the purpose of the meeting was to address topical issues that are of concern to the party in particular and the nation in general.

    “Issues that would bring about national harmony and promote national development are what we are here to discuss, among others.”

    Abdulkadir who said his party is waxing stronger by the day and this is evident by the calibre of people joining the party among who is the Speaker House of Representatives, which is a sign that the party is the only political platform that can bring about the change Nigerians desire.

    He further advised Nigerians to ensure they are armed with their voter cards, cast their votes and ensure their votes count.

     

  • Tambuwal to UAE: find killers of Aisha’s son

    Tambuwal to UAE: find killers of Aisha’s son

    •Envoy: I haven’t received official complaint

    HOuse of Representatives Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has urged the United Arab Emirates (UAE) authorities to find the killers of Toba, son of Nigerian sports presenter, Mrs Aisha Folade.

    The Nigerian youngster was allegedly murdered in the UAE recently.

    The Speaker spoke yesterday in Abuja when he hosted the outgoing UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Rasheed Aldhaheri, at the National Assembly.

    Tambuwal urged the outgoing ambassador to ensure that justice is done in the case to deter others, who may be planning another inhuman act in the future.

    Mrs Falode, in a 10-page petition, titled: Petition on my son Oloruntoba Falode’s Death in Dubai, presented at plenary by the Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Publicity, Zakari Mohammed, last Wednesday, demanded an unbiased investigation into her son’s death, among others.

    She said: “I am writing to formally petition for the active support of the Federal Government of Nigeria in my efforts to seek justice from the Government of Dubai following the death of my son, Mr Oluwadamilola Oloruntoba (‘Toba’) Falode, who died unexpectedly (mysteriously) on February 15, 2014.”

    Tambuwal called for more investments and participation of businessmen from the UAE in Nigeria.

    The Speaker noted that this would ensure that the relationship between both nations yield mutual benefits.

    According to him, Nigeria and UAE have a long standing relationship which they must strengthen.

    Aldhaheri said he had not received any official communication from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the alleged murder at the time he was with the Speaker.

    The envoy said he could only take action on a formal complaint from Nigerian authorities.

    He was, however, confident that a bilateral agreement will soon take place between the two countries to open a new window of opportunities.

     

     

  • Jonathan seeks extension of emergency in Borno, others

    Jonathan seeks extension of emergency in Borno, others

    President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday asked the National Assembly to approve another six months extension of the emergency rule in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.

    Jonathan’s letter which was read at plenary by Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, is the third in the series of such requests.

    The two previous ones were approved by the Senate.

    In a letter to Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, and dated May 5, Jonathan said that despite heavy presence of security forces in the affected areas through the imposition of emergency rule, the situation remains “daunting.”

    However, the Secretary of the Northern Senators Forum, Senator Ahmed Lawan (Yobe North), opposed the request.

    He said even though the military needs more hi-tech equipment to fight the Boko Haram insurgents, it would be wrong to extend the emergency rule.

    Jonathan, in the letter entitled: “Re: Extension of the period for the proclamation of a state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States” noted that the security situation in the three states remains daunting.

    The letter reads in part: “May I respectfully draw your attention to the State of Emergency Proclamation 2013, in respect of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States, which was approved by the National Assembly.

    “By virtues of the provisions of section 305(6)(c) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, the Proclamation aforementioned would have elapsed after six months from the date of approval of the National Assembly.

    “However, after due consideration of the representations made of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to that effect, while substantial progress had been made to contain situation that necessitated the proclamation of a state of emergency was yet to abate.

    “It would be recalled that the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria had upon consideration of the realities of the security situation in the affected States that had been placed before it graciously approved by resolution, the extension of the State of Emergency for a further term of six months from the date of expiration of the subsisting period.

    “The security situation in the three states remains daunting, albeit to varying degrees, in the face of persistent attacks by members of the Boko Haram sect on civilian and military targets with alarming casualty rates.

    “In view of the foregoing, I most respectfully request Distinguished Senators to consider and approve by resolution, the extension of the Proclamation of the State of Emergency in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe States by a further term of six months from the date of expiration of the current term.”

    However, Chairman Senate Committee on Public Account and Secretary of the Northern Senators Forum, Senator Ahmad Lawan, kicked against a further extension of the state of the emergency in the three states.

    The Senator, representing Yobe North in the Upper Chamber, said he can only support more armament and funding for the troops already deployed to the states.

    Lawan, while responding to a question on the request for further extension of the emergency rule, said: “The state of emergency had been operated for 12 months now and will end on the 19th of this month. I think that should be the end.

    “The Senate President, David Mark, who spoke on our behalf last week, told President Goodluck Jonathan that the Senate was prepared to approve supplementary budget to further equip the military and boost the morale of the soldiers.

    “Therefore, I am completely opposed to the extension of the state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States, but I support further funding for the military operation in the area.”

    A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aliyu Sani Madaki (APC, Kano) while speaking under with Rule 47 of the House ( personal explanation), opposed the President’s request.

    But, the Speaker interjected that he should put his explanation in writing.

    Another member from Kano, Hon. Aminu Suleiman (APC, Kano) spoke with reporters on the issue after plenary.

    According to him, the state of emergency has so far achieved nothing.

    His words: “One year after, has the situation changed? What have they done with the huge sums budgeted for? These are a million Naira questions they need to answer. They need to justify the amount spent so far. They may have to explain to us why it should be extended,”

    But, a member, Hon. Kaka Kyari Gujbawu (PDP, Borno) said the President’s request is in order.

    “If not for the state of emergency, only God knows the state we would have been in now. It would have heightened and gone out of hand, so I support the extension and sustenance of emergency,” he said.