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Tag: el-Rufai

  • Tribunal adjourns as el-Rufai opens defence, to bring more witnesses

    The Justice Ibrahim Bako-led Kaduna State Governorship Election Tribunal has adjourned sitting to next Tuesday, July 23, to enable the second respondent to bring more witnesses at the hearing of the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its gubernatorial candidate, Alhaji Isa Ashiru, challenging the March 9 election.

    The second respondent who opened his defence on Friday, was able to arraign just one witness before moving for adjournment.

    Earlier, Malam Hussaini Barmo who was a member of the Election Planning and Monitoring Directorate of Kaduna State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), adopted his deposition as evidence before the tribunal.

    Cross examining the witness, counsel of APC, the third respondent, Barrister Sharafa Yusuf, asked him to confirm the results from Kubau Local Government, which Barmo did.

    The witness also confirmed that the results were for voting points where the number of voters exceeded 750.

    Read Also: Langtang North: Plateau Election Appeal Tribunal declares PDP candidate winner

    Barmo also told the tribunal that results from each of such voting points were added to the mother polling units before the aggregate votes were recorded in the forms EC8E.

    Also cross examining the witness, counsel to the petitioner, Barrister Hassan El Yakub asked Barmo whether he was an agent of APC during the last election and he answered in the negative.

    The witness however said that APC had agents in every ward throughout the state “but I was not one of them.”

    Barmo further said that he got the information on pages 15 to 56 of his deposition “from party agents across polling units, wards and local governments of the state. “

    Barmo also said that he didn’t visit any polling unit, adding that “the only polling unit that I went to was the one where I voted at Sardauna Crescent in Kaduna North local Gsovernment.”

    Counsel to Governor Nasir El Rufai who was the second respondent, AbdulHakeem Mustapha (SAN), moved a motion for adjournment to enable him arraign more witnesses, which the tribunal granted.

  • El-Rufai names 11 commissioner-nominees

    Kaduna state Governor Malam Nasir El-Rufai has sent the names of 11 nominees for appointment as commissioners to the House of Assembly.

    The governor said he will subsequently forward three more nominees to make up the 14 commissioners that will constitute the state executive council.

    A statement signed by the governor’s spokesman, Samuel Aruwan, said upon confirmation by the legislature, the commissioners will run the 14 ministries created in the June 2019 Executive Order.

    The statement reads: “El-Rufai nominated 11 persons for appointment as commissioners. The names of this first batch of 11 nominees have been forwarded to the Kaduna State House of Assembly. The second batch of nominees will subsequently be forwarded for the consideration of the legislature.

    Read Also: Kaduna’s bold move to regulate preaching

    “All the 11 nominees served in various positions in the first-term of the government. Picking insiders is a deliberate decision to enable the nominees hit the ground running and assists the government to achieve its targets for the second term. Every appointee will be subjected to stronger monitoring based on clear terms of reference and key performance indicators.

    “The first batch of 11 nominees for and their proposed portfolios are as follows: Ja’afaru Ibrahim Sani, Ministry of Local Government Affairs; Idris Samaila Nyam, Ministry of Business, Innovation & Technology; Shehu Usman Makarfi, Ministry of Education; and Ibrahim Garba Hussaini, Ministry of Environment & Natural Resources.

    Others are Kabir Muhammad Mato, Ministry of Sports Development; Balaraba Aliyu-Inuwa, Ministry of Public Works & Infrastructure; Samuel Peter Aruwan, Ministry of Internal Security & Home Affairs; Fausat Adebola Ibikunle, Ministry of Housing & Urban Development; Mohammed Bashir Saidu, Ministry of Finance; Hafsat Mohammed Baba, Ministry of Human Services & Social Development; Aisha Dikko, Ministry of Justice.

    “Nominations for the commissioners of Agriculture, Health and Planning & Budget will be forwarded in the second batch.

  • El-Rufai seeks Navy’s support in battle against bandits

    As the Nigerian Navy commissioned its School of Armament Technology in Kachia, Kaduna State, Governor Nasir El-Rufai has appealed to the force to assist in battling bandits, kidnappers and other criminals terrorising the state, especially in South Kaduna.

    Nigerian Navy School of Armament Technology (NNSAT) is an institution responsible for providing support in desert warfare and redeployment training for the Nigerian Navy Special Boat Service Operatives.

    NNSAT, relocated to Kachia in 2009, has trained 46 OLC officers, 279 STC officers, 158 instructor refreshers course (IRC) ratings, 3 special duty post commissioning training (SDPCT) officers, 866 fire control grades I-III ratings and 911 quarter armourer grade I-III ratings.

    Speaking as the guest of honour at the commissioning ceremony, Governor El-Rufai noted that the efforts of the naval personnel and their synergy with other security agencies has contributed immensely to curbing insecurity in southern part of Kaduna and the state at large.

    The governor however challenged the Navy not to relent in its security duties, especially towards battling the menace of banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities in Kaduna State.

    The governor said: “The courage of your men and women and the synergy with other security agencies has significantly contributed to curbing insecurity in most parts of the state.

    “I also challenge you not to rest on your oars. I urge you to be relentless in your determination to decimate the menace of armed banditry and criminality from Kaduna and other states.

    “I assure you all that Kaduna State remains committed to providing you with any support needed for you to attain your constitutional mandate.”

    Earlier in his welcome address, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, said the school will spur the Nigerian Navy to be more proactive in the course of its duties, as it will enhance professionalism within the naval family.

    He disclosed that NNSAT would collaborate with similar institutions and relevant universities beyond the shore of the country to maximise the benefits of the facilities.

  • Godfatherism: Southwest group urges Buhari to call El-Rufai to order

    President Muhammadu Buhari has been urged to call Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai to order over his comments on how to end godfatherism in Lagos State.

    The Ogun State Chapter of Omoluwabi Movement, a socio-cultural group with Southwest focus, made the appeal yesterday in a statement issued in Abeokuta.

    The group described the  report credited to el-Rufai “as a mere idle talk of a frustrated political expansionist”.

    El-Rufai spoke at an event organised by the Bridge Club in Ikoyi, Lagos at the weekend.

    The governor said the issue of godfatherism can be defeated by connecting to the people and winning them over.

    He said there were about three or four of such persons in Kaduna whose help people needed to be politically relevant, but he was able to get what he wanted without their help.

    But, in the statement issued by the Publicity Secretary, Miss Ibukun Ogundola, the Omoluwabi Movement said the governor could not be taken seriously as he is a well-known “genuflecting opportunist, who will  do anything, especially his renowned genuflecting prowess, to achieve his ulterior motive and who will abandon his benefactor, immediately he achieves his pecuniary aim”.

    The statement read in parts: “Our attention has been drawn to the reported remarks of Kaduna State Governor on ‘ending godfatherism in Lagos’. We urge all well-meaning Omoluwabi to disregard the comment as a ‘circumstantial idle talk at a dinner by an evasive governor, who realising his inability to give good account of his crisis-ridden governance of his state, chose to launch an indirect, uncultured, and muckraking  attack on an iconic Omoluwabi and pillar of democracy and progressive politics in Africa…

    “It is on record that el-Rufai has moved from one god-father to the other; from Chief Olusegun Obasanjo to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and now,  President Buhari. As soon as he gets what he wants, he moves on to the next milk-shop. He succeeded in his renowned opportunism because only a stone-hearted man will not want to listen to a genuflecting-midget.

    “We wish to join in warning President Muhammadu Buhari to be wary of the man with a gargantuan ambition  and to call him to order. His outburst is understandable as his political expansionist  voyage of imposing his bookkeeper on the people of Ogun State was checkmated midstream by the members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the party’s governorship primary held last year.”

    The statement added: “It was not only embarrassing, but also insulting to a region that is the home of progressive politics  for Malam el-Rufai to come to Lagos to preach money politics, recommending  N2 billion for  a governorship candidate and even suggesting that the N2 billion should be sourced from a group of people.

    “This cash-for-vote recommendation of el-Rufai is not only against the position and stance of President Buhari against corruption, it is actually a criminal act of  vote buying under the Electoral  Act 2015. By his suggestion of raising N2 billion, in the minimum, from people for a governorship candidate to prosecute election, the double-speak that the Kaduna State governor is well known for  becomes more apparent.

    “It is on this note that we urge all Omoluabi to see the latest gaffe of the apostle of ‘body-bag treatment’ for election monitors as nothing but ‘circumstantial late night idle dinner talk’, which obviously emanated from a tipsy mind and on the spur of the moment.”

    Also yesterday, the National Coordinator, Coalition for a Better Nigeria, Comrade Awa Bamiji urged the Kaduna State governor to relocate to Lagos State now and “start implementing his laudable theory”.

    Bamiji said: “Nobody in Lagos State can get it right like him, the miracles’ proponent of the century. My Fulani Brother appears wiser than all of us, over 10,000,000 residents of Lagos State.

    “To be precise, in terms of population, civilisation, education, economy and every other facet of life, Kaduna State is far behind Lagos State. This is to tell my dear brother to consider his success story in Kaduna as elementary.

    “He should be thinking on how to graduate from that level to winning the Northwest Region with his intoxicating popularity. Thereafter, he could be thinking replicating the gesture in Nigeria as a whole, out of which Lagos is a consistent state.”

    He added: “It is only a man of the people that can dictate the direction of politics in Lagos and the entire Southwest Region, not a man of theory as he thinks.”

  • Banditry: Insecurity ‘ll be over soon – El-Rufai

    As part of measures to squarely contain all forms of insecurity in Birnin Gwari local government area and its environs, the Nigerian Air Force on Saturday commissioned the 271 Nigerian Air Force detachment in Birnin Gwari.

    The 271 NAF detachment is the brain child of the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadiq Baba Abubakar as part of the Air Force efforts at combacting the persistent insecurity occasioned by armed banditry in the area.

    Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai who commissioned the detachment commended the Emir of Birnin Gwari, Alhaji Jibril Zubairu Maigwari II for donating part of his land for the establishment, while assuring that the State Government will ensure that he his compensated accordingly.

    The governor appealed to the CAS to help in the deployment of NAF sepcial forces to help man the Kaduna- Abuja highway to help address the recurring kidnapping activities there, while appealing also for another NAF detachment to be established in Kajuru local government area of the state.

    He assured that President Muhammadu Buhari is committed to ensuring total defeat of all forms of terroriam, adding that, “All the insecurity menance will soon be over. The present All Progresive Congress (APC) is focused on ensuring that Nigerians are proud of their country.

    “The prevalence of terrorism, armed banditry and kidnapping, has
    increased in recent times. And we are grateful that the Armed Forces of Nigeria, particularly the NAF, is boosting security operations and
    developing even more effective strategies to end this menace.

    “The establishment of the 271 NAF Detachment Birnin Gwari is therefore timely, as it will further boost the ongoing Operation DIRAN MIKIYA, Operation SHARAN DAJI and play a very crucial role in restoring and maintaining the peace in all affected areas.

    “While we recognize the efforts of the Nigerian Air Force, we also want to appeal to the Chief of Air Staff to approve the deployment of NAF Special Forces for the Abuja-Kaduna road to participate in the new Joint security operations aimed at confronting the prevalence of armed banditry and kidnapping that has bedeviled the road for the last two years”.

    Earlier in his address, the CAS said, the NAF for some time now has been involved in various internal security operations in the country, either singly or in conjunction with sister Services. One of such operations is Operation DIRAN MIKIYA, which he said is intended to neutralise and flush out armed bandits and kidnappers as well as cattle rustlers operating in the North-West region.

    “Accordingly, the 271 NAF Detachment was established as a blocking force for troops involved in Operation DIRAN MIKIYA and SHARAN DAJI.

    “The NAF is committed to seeing that the territorial integrity of our dear country is preserved as this is the only country we can call our own.  It is our desire, therefore, to ensure that the menace of terrorism, kidnapping, cattle rustling and armed banditry are curtailed, if not completely eradicated.

    READ ALSO: El-Rufai sacks political appointees

    “The commissioning of 271 NAF Detachment Birnin Gwari is a testimony of the NAF commitment to the fight against insurgency and banditry in Nigeria.

    “Let me quickly add here that the establishment of 271 NAF Detachment Birnin Gwari, would not have been possible without the full support of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari. May I also recognise the immense contribution of the National Assembly, especially its committees on Defence and Air Force in both the Senate and House of Representatives.

    “The NAF is equally grateful to His Excellency Mallam Nasir El’Rufai, the Executive Governor of Kaduna State and the good people of Birnin Gwari for providing the land and their cooperation in achieving this feat. The NAF can only continue to say ‘Thank You’”.

    The CAS reassured Nigerians of the firm dedication of the NAF to the fight against terrorism and all forms of criminality in Nigeria, while commending all NAF personnel involved in various operations across the country for their relentless efforts in ensuring peace and calm in the country.

  • El-Rufai’s convoy foils kidnapping along Kaduna-Abuja road

    The Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai’s convoy foiled attempted kidnapping of motorists along Kaduna-Abuja road on Wednesday afternoon.

    The Governor who was on his way to Abuja got to the Akilubu village around 3:40pm, sighted dozens of vehicles parked by citizens alarmed that kidnappers were ahead.

    Security operatives in the governor’s convoy advanced and cleared the road of the criminals who fled into the forest.

    Read Also: I’ll lead with fear of God, says Nasarawa Governor-elect

    El-Rufai’s spokesman, Samuel Aruwan told newsmen that, after the clearing the road, Governor El-Rufai directed that travelers who had been wounded by the criminals be rushed to the nearest hospital.

    The Governor also directed security agencies to intensify patrols and permanently clear the road of the bandits.

  • INEC presents certificates of return to El-Rufai, 34 lawmakers

    As it presented certificates of return to Kaduna state Governor Nasir El-Rufai and 34 elected house of assembly members in Kaduna on Thursday, The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained why inconclusive elections has become the order of the day in Nigeria.

    The election management body, noted that though, inconclusive elections did not start with the present commission, it became rampant because elections have become highly competitive.

    National Commissioner supervising Plateau, Niger, Kaduna States and FCT, Professor Antonia Okoosi-Simbine stated while presenting certificate of return to the Governor and the lawmakers.

    According to Professor Okoosi-Simbine, “Our democracy is deepening incrementally having conducted the sixth successive election without an interregnum; there is improved integrity in the electoral system; the elections are becoming more and more competitive and the margin between winners and runners-up are decreasing to the extent that in many instances elections into the Executive and Legislatures are increasingly becoming inconclusive.

    “This explains why the phenomenon of inconclusive elections appears to have Increased. To be sure, it existed prior to the existence of the present commission. We cannot expect less when a few big parties are contesting for power at every level.” He said.

    She also noted that the election was marred by violence through, “a new trend, in which some parties and candidates engaged in violent behavior, including manhandling election duty officials and intimidation of voters, collation and Returning Officers.

    “The Commission views this trend with grave concerns and will continue to work on greater voter enlightenment for mandate protection as well as with the security agencies to curtail this ugly trend.”

    She however advised politicians who felt aggrieved in the just concluded general elections to seek judicial remedy in law court.

    “The commission advises disgruntled persons and parties to feel free to seek judicial remedy where they believe they have genuine case(s) to pursue.

    “Indeed, seeking judicial remedy is not only a part and parcel of the electoral process in Nigeria; it is consistent with the culture of democracy as opposed to resorting to self-help.

    However, the INEC boss called on governor El-Rufai to ensure the people of the state enjoy dividends of democracy.

    “I encourage you to deliver more materials benefits to the diversity of people in Kaduna in order to meet their governance expectations,” she told El-Rufai.

    Shortly after receiving the certificate, El-rufai said in a remark that he would carry everybody along in governance irrespective of political differences.

    He assured of security of lives and property, just as he expressed gratitude to the people for re-electing him to serve them for the second term.

  • Why inconclusive elections are rampant, by INEC

    As it presented certificates of return to Kaduna state Governor Nasir El-Rufai and 34 elected house of assembly members in Kaduna on Thursday, The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained why inconclusive elections have become the order of the day in Nigeria.

    The election management body noted that though, inconclusive elections did not start with the present commission, it became rampant because elections have become highly competitive.

    National Commissioner supervising Plateau, Niger, Kaduna States and FCT, Professor Antonia Okoosi-Simbine stated while presenting certificate of return to the Governor and the lawmakers.

    According to Professor Okoosi-Simbine, “Our democracy is deepening incrementally having conducted the sixth successive election without an interregnum; there is improved integrity in the electoral system; the elections are becoming more and more competitive and the margin between winners and runners-up are decreasing to the extent that in many instances elections into the Executive and Legislatures are increasingly becoming inconclusive.

    “This explains why the phenomenon of inconclusive elections appears to have
    increased. To be sure, it existed prior to the existence of the present commission. We cannot expect less when a few big parties are contesting for power at every level.” He said.

    She also noted that the election was marred by violence through, “a new trend in which some parties and candidates engaged in violent behaviour, including manhandling election duty officials and intimidation of voters, collation and Returning Officers.

    “The Commission views this trend with grave concerns and will continue to work on greater voter enlightenment for mandate protection as well as with the security agencies to curtail this ugly trend.”

    She, however, advised politicians who felt aggrieved in the just concluded general elections to seek judicial remedy in law court.

    “The commission advises disgruntled persons and parties to feel free to seek judicial remedy where they believe they have genuine case(s) to pursue.

    “Indeed, seeking judicial remedy is not only a part and parcel of the electoral process in Nigeria, it is consistent with the culture of democracy as opposed to resorting to self-help.

    However, the INEC boss called on governor El-Rufai to ensure the people of the state enjoy dividends of democracy.

    “I encourage you to deliver more materials benefits to the diversity of people in Kaduna in order to meet their governance expectations”. She told El-Rufai.

    Shortly after receiving the certificate, El-rufai said in a remark that he would carry everybody along in governance irrespective of political differences.

    He assured of security of lives and property, just as he expressed gratitude to the people for re-electing him to serve them for the second term.

  • I’m not cloned, says El-rufai

    Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai on Friday evening returned to the state after his rumoured accident involvement, saying that, he is not cloned from abroad.

    This was as the Governor tackled the former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar over his claim that, he defeated President Muhammadu Buhari in the February 23rd presidential election in Kaduna state.

    El-Rufai said, President Buhari had consistently won Kaduna since he started contesting elections in 2003, therefore, anyone claiming to have defeated him (Buhari) in 2019 needs psychiatric assistance.

    It would be recalled that, Atiku who is the Presidential candidate of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) had claimed he won the 2019 presidential election with 1.6 million votes above Buhari’s. He also claimed to have won he states including Kaduna.

    The Governor who spoke at a welcome reception organised for him at Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House on Friday night dismissed his rumoured accident, saying that, “I was never involved in any accident and no driver died. I was also not in coma.”

    According to the Governor, “Let me start by thanking you all for coming to welcome me. One of the objectives is, as explained by my wife, I am still alive, or I have resurrected, I don’t know which one.

    “My wife went on to say that, as my wife for 34 years, although, we have known each other for 43 years, she can confirm that this is really me, it is not a clone. Although, that will not stop the rumour in the social media, but that is that.

    “So, I want to thank you all for coming here. But, I want to confirm that, no accident took place, no one was in coma, no driver died. I have already put that out in social media, but I want to repeat it for the sake of clarity.

    “The second reason I am grateful for your presence is to thank people of Kaduna State for their votes. For their votes in support of President Muhammadu Buhari and coming out in even larger numbers to vote for me and members of the state house of assembly.

    “I am happy to say that, we already have two third majority in the state house of assembly. And I have already appealed to members of the assembly to keep the leadership that has served the state so diligently in the last for years to continue. This is my appeal.

    “Kaduna State has consistently voted for President Muhammadu Buhari since he first contested in 2003. He has never lost Kaduna State, so it is not a shock that he won this time. Anyone that says he has defeated President Buhari in Kaduna is either dreaming or needs psychiatric assistance,” he said.

    The Governor also reiterated his appeal to the people of the state to live peacefully among themselves, saying that, his government saddened by the security challenges in Birnin Gwari, Kajuru, parts of Chikun and lately Sanga local government area, has appealed to the President for security reinforcement in the affected areas.

    He also appealed to all the people of Kaduna state to join hands with his government to move the state forward, promising that, the government will be fair to all and work for all, irrespective of their political and other affiliations.

    Governor El-Rufai also promised to continue with his government’s reforms, especially in education and correct its mistakes where it had gone wrong.

    All top government functionaries, including the Deputy Governor-elect, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, Speaker of the state assembly, Hon. Aminu Abdullahi Shagali, SSG, Balarabe Abbas Lawal and wife of the Governor, Architect Hadiza El-Rufai were in attendance at the reception.

  • El-Rufai debunks accident rumour, says I’m alive

    Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has declared he was never involved in any accident as widely reported a few days ago.

    The governor also disclosed he was hunting for the peddlers of the news that he was involved in a fatal accident.

    According to him, criminal charges would be brought against those behind the fake news.

    He spoke with State House correspondents shortly after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He said: “I came to see Mr. President after my re-election as governor because immediately after the election I took a break.

    “I came back to report to him that I was not involved in an accident. I’m alive, I am not in coma and also to discuss other issues related to my state.”

    On his alleged involvement in an accident, he said: “My advice to everyone in Nigeria is to avoid forwarding stories that have not been verified.

    “Social media provides platform for disseminating information but it is also a platform for dissemination of lies and hatred.

    “We should be very careful that we don’t use this platform to advance the cause of the enemies of this country.

    “I was never involved in any accident. I was not near any accident. In fact at a time I was supposed to be involved in an accident, I was in an aircraft going to another country.

    “But somebody sat and concocted this story and we are trying to trace who started it. This is because criminal proceedings can be initiated against the person.

    “Sometimes it is very difficult to know who started it but we are on it. My advice is that we should rely on reliable news medium, not just any platform or any blog.

    “Unless we hear something from a very reliable news medium, we should be reluctant to begin sharing it as if it is true,” he stated