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Tag: el-Rufai

  • We’ll retrieve stolen money from PDP‎ govt – El-Rufai

    We’ll retrieve stolen money from PDP‎ govt – El-Rufai

    The Kaduna State Governor-elect, Malam Nasir El-Rufa’I, on Tuesday alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party government has stolen so much from the national treasury, saying the new government will politely ask those involved to return all the money taken from the nation’s coffers.

    He said politicians both at the state and national levels, who have soiled their hands with public money, should be ready to make refund as soon as the All Progressive Congress (APC) led government takes over power on May 29.

    El-Rufa’i spoke when executive members of the National Union of Textile Garments and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) paid him a courtesy visit on Tuesday.

    He said the recovery of the money has become necessary because the incoming government will inherit a bad debt situation, adding that the APC government will ask politicians who stole government money to return such funds.

    The Governor-elect said, “We will politely ask those who stole government money to return the funds.

    ‎ “This is because those in government now are there to work for themselves, but the APC government is made up of people who are ready to work for the masses and betterment of the country.

    “We will work with the textile union to ensure that lives of average Nigerians get better.”

     

  • El-Rufai inaugurates transition committee

    El-Rufai inaugurates transition committee

    Kaduna State Governor-elect Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai has inaugurated the All Progressives Congress (APC) transition committee ahead of his 29 May assumption of office.

    A statement yesterday in Kaduna by the spokesman to the governor-elect, Samuel Aruwan, said the committee consists of experienced technocrats, politicians and other professionals.

    The committee is chaired by Malam Balarabe Abbas Lawal, a seasoned public servant and El-Rufai’s Chief of Staff when he was the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister from 2003 to 2007.

    The statement said El-Rufai had officially replied to Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero’s congratulatory letter and met the governor.

    In his reply to Yero, the governor-elect said: “Permit me to most warmly acknowledge your congratulatory message on the occasion of our victory in the gubernatorial election. I appreciate the grace of your letter and the kind words it contains. I must also put on record that we welcome the spirit behind your phone call that preceded the letter.

    “Given the short window that exists between now and the handover date, it is our intention to swiftly focus on matters of transition. The APC has established its transition committee, chaired by our own Balarabe Abbas Lawal.”

    Also, Bauchi State Governor-elect Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar has set up a 41-member transition committee ahead of next month’s takeover by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The governor-elect urged the committee to produce comprehensive notes on the revenue and expenditure of the state government from June 1, 2007 till May 29, 2015.

    The committee, which is also to take a full inventory of the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) in the state, is to relate the 2007 to 2015 revenue to the budgetary provisions within the period.

    Abubakar, who was represented by Deputy Governor-elect Nuhu Gidado, advised the committee to produce details of the loans and advances and sundry facilities from various sources, indicating types of loans, the dates they were obtained, maturity dates, purposes, repayments and the balance made so far.

    The committee is headed by Alhaji Mohammed A. Mohammed with Dr. Aliyu Usman Tilde as its member/Secretary.

  • Shun religious manipulation, El-Rufai urges Kaduna citizens

    Shun religious manipulation, El-Rufai urges Kaduna citizens

    Kaduna State Governor-elect Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai yesterday thanked the people for voting for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

     He appealed to them to shun all forms of manipulations of religion and ethnicity.

    He said what the state needs is good governance and genuine development.

    El-Rufai, in a statement by his spokesman, Samuel Aruwan, said he is determined to work with residents to restore the state’s glory.

    According to him, “Our good people of Kaduna State, we are again grateful for the mandate you gave us on April 11.

    “I am begging you in the name of Almighty God to live in peace and work together for a new Kaduna State.

    “Let’s all strategise for a better state where peace, unity and development would abound by sowing positive seeds in the minds of our children, create a better state for them and the coming generation by building for them a stronger Kaduna State.”

    Insisting that manipulators of religion don’t mean good, El-Rufai added that, “I will continue to say it, those deceiving our citizens using religion and ethnicity don’t mean well; they are dangerous and they retard our progress as a people bound together by God.

    “We must mobilise our people to stand up for the common good. I will reiterate again, that the APC led government in Kaduna state will be a responsible and responsive government.

    “We will treat our citizens with dignity and the fear of God. We will treat people equally without any recourse to religion, or ethnic and political inclinations.

    “We are conscious of the burden God gave us and we will not let you down. We ask for your prayers, support and cooperation for a better Kaduna State.”

  • El-Rufai receives Certificate of Return

    El-Rufai receives Certificate of Return

    Kaduna State Governor-elect, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai Wednesday received Certificate of ‎Return from INEC, saying he has to work twice hard to make Kaduna recover the last eight years of stagnation and enable it meet up with it neighbours.

    He said, ‎he has no time to exult in his victory, as there is much to do to make Kaduna great again; therefore he has to swing into action immediately.

    El-Rufai in ‎his acceptance speech to Kaduna people after receiving the certificate amidst huge crowd at INEC headquarters reaffirmed his commitment to do his best to restore Kaduna to a state that works for its people.

    According to him, “We shall be doing so under serious constraints. Our state is heavily indebted at a time when oil prices are low. Our state has not seen significant development in the last eight years. We must work twice as hard with half the resources of the last eight years just to catch up with our neighbors. We must be disciplined, focused and prudent to do so.

    “In accepting my election as governor of Kaduna state, I pledge to do all that is humanly possible to move our dear state forward, beginning from today. As soon I am sworn into office and constitute a state executive council, we shall begin work to meet your expectations of positive change.” he said.

    While noting that he is aware of the people high expectation, which he described as justifiable, the Governor-elect solicited for patience, sacrifice and support to enable his government reform the state’s institutions to instill a culture of probity that insists on value for money, that ensures that government procurement occurs at the most cost effective level and encourages personal responsibility.

    “We will do whatever is humanly possible to fulfill the promises in our manifesto, the Kaduna Restoration Programme that we have published, circulated and discussed with diverse constituencies of the state. Our commitment to transparency will be manifest as we reform the public sector to be an efficient deliverer of services.

    “The APC takes seriously its responsibility to build a harmonious society in Kaduna State. We are committed to fostering a secure, peaceful environment that gives the confidence to all the residents of the state to make the most of their talents. We will uphold the rule of law and the equality of concern for all citizens. We intend to work with all communities in Kaduna state without fear or favor. We are all equal partners and stakeholders in this state. There will be no discrimination in Kaduna State on the basis of gender, ethnicity or religion. Appointments and nominations into the incoming cabinet and government will be primarily on the basis of integrity and determined strictly by competence, capacity and capability.

    “We shall be a listening government, and we shall be decisive in implementing our agreed agenda for change. We shall lose no time in reforming education and healthcare, local government, the public service and leading the processes that will create jobs and economic opportunities for our people.” he promised.

    While taking his time to express appreciation to the entire Kaduna State people for electing General Muhammadu Buhari as their President and him as Kaduna State Governor, El-Rufai particularly commended incumbent Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero who called to congratulate him even before the official declaration of the election result.

  • Sambo, Aremu, others congratulate El-Rufai

    Sambo, Aremu, others congratulate El-Rufai

    Vice President Namadi Sambo has on Monday afternoon called Kaduna State Governor – elect, Malam Nasir El-Rufai to congratulate him for emerging victorious in last Saturday’s governorship election.

    El-Rufai’s spokesperson, Samuel Aruwan disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Kaduna Monday, adding that, Governor Yero has also written an official congratulatory message to Malam El-Rufai, even after he had called on telephone Sunday afternoon to concede victory to the APC candidate.

    In the same vein, Secretary-General of the National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN), Comrade Issa Aremu has congratulated El-Rufai over the victory at the Governorship poll.

    Sambo, according to Aruwan, wished El-Rufai a successful tenure in office and urged him to use his wealth of experience for the peace and development of Kaduna state and Nigeria at large.

    Sambo further appealed to the citizens of the state to give maximum support and cooperation to Malam El-Rufai.

    In his own message, Aremu said, “On behalf of the National Executive members of the National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) we congratulate the new Governor elect of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai on his victory at the Kaduna State Governorship elections held on Saturday April 11, 2015.

    “We commend His Excellency the Executive Governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan Yero for conceding defeat and accepting the outcome of the State governorship elections.

    “Given his antecedent in governing a cosmopolitan FCT, we have no doubt that the Governor-elect, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai will deepen the peace process in Kaduna traumatized through avoidable blood-letting in recent times. Peace process must go hand in hand with sustainable development which must start with urgent re-industrialization of kaduna state and mass employment of the army of the youths.

    “We will partner with the incoming administration to take necessary steps to revive the ailing industries in Kaduna State especially the textile industries with a view of creating jobs for the mass of unemployed youths in the state.

    “As a private sector union and affiliate of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and a critical stakeholder in the development of the state and the country in general, we wish to pledge our support, and cooperation in the great task of moving Kaduna State and indeed Nigeria to a greater height.”

    Meanwhile, celebration continued at the campaign office of the governor-elect with crowds of party members and supporters dancing and singing into the second day.

  • Yero, Ribadu concede defeat to El-Rufai, Bindow

    Yero, Ribadu concede defeat to El-Rufai, Bindow

    Kaduna State Governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) standard-bearer Ramalan Yero has conceded defeat to his rival, Nasir El-Rufai of the All Progressives Congress (APC), spokesman for APC Campaign Council Samuel Aruwan said yesterday in a statement.

    According to him, Yero called El-Rufai about 3pm to congratulate him on his victory.

    “He congratulated El-Rufai and wished him success,” Aruwan said.

    His words: “He prayed for the peace and development of Kaduna State and Nigeria at large. El-Rufai thanked Yero and wished him the best.”

    The APC candidate led with over 500,000 votes in 16 of the 20 local governments announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), with the results of three local governments yet to be announced at press time (4:05 pm).

    The governorship candidate of the PDP in Adamawa State, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, yesterday conceded defeat to Senator Jibrilla Bindow of the APC.

    He said he took his loss in good faith because leadership was a product of God’s anointment.

    Ribadu made his position known in a concession address to the indigenes.

    He said: “My dear people of Adamawa State, I greet you in the best form of greetings. I had dreamt of coming back home to lead our dear state to greater height after years of underdevelopment.

    “I started this journey in August last year and got the mandate of the PDP to fly its flag in the April 11 governorship election. I came into this race knowing  that political contests are two-way traffic – one either wins or loses.

    “As a man of faith, I was aware that leadership responsibility is a product of God’s anointment.

    “In the course of this journey, I have seen support and encouragement from the people of Adamawa State.

    “Individuals from Adamawa and beyond contributed to keeping the campaign going and others devoted their time, energy and intellect to see to the success of this project. I sincerely appreciate this belief in my person and my ambition.

    “The support I got from my party’s leadership and members from President Goodluck Jonathan to the party agents in our polling units was overwhelming.

    “The party leader, Bala James Nggilari and Chairman, Chief Joel Madaki, led their lieutenants in making this journey memorable.”

    Ribadu said he had no choice but to accept the preference of the majority for Bindow.

    He added: “I came into this race with lofty dreams and clear vision for our dear state, but the voice of the majority has not given me this chance. I take this in good faith.

    “I want to take this opportunity to congratulate the winner and pray that at the end of it all, our dear state will witness the needed progress and development it so much desires. God bless Adamawa State, God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

  • My victory, for democracy -El-Rufai

    My victory, for democracy -El-Rufai

    Kaduna State Governor-elect, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that his landslide victory in the Saturday gubernatorial elections was a victory for democracy.

    He assured people the state of decent governance centred on equity, fairness and justice under his administration.

    El-Rufai stated this at his Isa Kaita Road Campaign office in Kaduna Saturday night while addressing journalists, shortly after he addressed large crowd of supporters who stormed the office in celebration of his victory.
    ‎
    He said much confidence has been reposed on him by the good people of Kaduna State and he cannot afford to let them down.

    According to him, “God helping me, I will govern the state with equity, fairness and justice, I will equally use the resources of the state to develop her and better the lives of the people of the state.

    “In our government, there will be no discrimination of any kind on the basis of religion, ethnicity, settler or indigine, everybody resident in the state will be given equal treatment.‎”

    He further assured that change has come to stay and that he will equally give priority to security of lives and property in the state and provision of basic amenities.‎

    Meanwhile, the Senator-elect for Kaduna Central Senatorial District on the platform of the APC, Comrade Shehu Sani has described the victory ‎of the APC as liberation from PDP’s‎ 16 years of mis-governance.

    He said, the PDP government has over the years subjected Nigerians to abject poverty and impunity, stressing that the fundamental change which equals to a democratic revolution will restore hope and better the aspiration of the masses.

  • El-Rufai declared Kaduna Governor-elect

    El-Rufai declared Kaduna Governor-elect

    All Progressives Congress (APC)’s Mallam Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai has been declared winner of Saturday’s gubernatorial election in Kaduna State.

    He polled 1,117,635 votes to defeat the incumbent Governor Ramalan Yero of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who scored a total of 485,833 votes in the 23 local government areas of the state.

    APC won in 17 local government areas, while PDP won in six local government areas.

    However, the Returning Officer in charge of Kaduna State, Prof. Ja’afaru Makau Kaura, declared El-Rufai as Governor-elect having met the 25 per cent requirement in 2/3 of the 23 local government areas and scored the highest number of the total vote cast.

  • Again, Card reader rejects Jang’s fingers, as El-Rufai lauds INEC

    Again, Card reader rejects Jang’s fingers, as El-Rufai lauds INEC

    Gov. Jonah Jang of Plateau has restated his opposition to the use of the card reader machines as the device, again, failed to capture his finger prints as it did during the presidential elections.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the governor was later cleared manually, after six trials that yielded no positive result.

    The visibly disappointed Governor repeated his advice to INEC to halt the use of the machine, to “minimize the disenfranchisement of voters over no fault of theirs.

    “You can see that the card reader again failed to capture my fingers.

    “My suggestion to INEC is to drop the use of the card reader and return to the old style of voting since these machines are not working well.”

    Jang also alleged that some names had been removed from the voter’s register, claiming that people who voted two weeks ago did not find their names on the register.

    He however, expressed optimism that his party, the PDP, would “do very well’’ in the elections, and urged the people to turn out en mass to vote.

    Jang rejected suggestions that there was voter apathy in the state, pointing out that people were still being accredited in many polling units.

    Meanwhile, Malam Nasiru El-Rufai, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship candidate in Kaduna State has applauded INEC for early arrival of election materials and officials to polling units.

    El-Rufai gave the commendation in an interview with journalists after he was accredited at Polling Unit 024, Ungwan Sarki, Kaduna.

    “I am impressed with the turn out this time around, particularly with election materials, I must commend INEC, there is an improvement over the Presidential election.”

    He attributed reports of low turn-out of people in some parts of the state to the alleged threat by a political party to use thugs to disrupt the election.

    El-Rufai urged all registered voters in the state to come out en mass and exercise their civic duties.

    The APC governorship candidate prayed that the polls would be conducted peacefully and successfully nationwide.

     

  • Kaduna: PDP’s threat caused low voters’ turnout – El Rufai

    Kaduna: PDP’s threat caused low voters’ turnout – El Rufai

    The All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has blamed the low turnout of voters in the state on alleged threat by the Peoples Democratic Party to cause chaos in the state.

    However, the state’s Governor, Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, has told his supporters and entire people of the state to accept whatever is the outcome of the election.

    He made the call after he was accredited for the election in Zaria.

    In areas like Gonin Gora, Barnawa and Narayi in Southern metropolis of the state, electorates were in relaxed mood and not bothered about the accreditation exercise.

    In other parts of the state, specifically in places like, Sabon Gari and Tudun Wada, voters turned out in large number for the polls.

    Speaking to journalists after casting his vote at polling unit 024, Angwan Sarki, El-Rufai blamed the low turnout on the threat by the PDP led government to unleash terror on the electorates.

    The former FCT minister said the electorates were afraid of showing up at their polling units because of the PDP threat.

    The opposition candidate, who arrived the polling unit at about 9:55am and was accredited without taking much time, praised the exercise, saying, “accreditation commenced on time compare to what happened during the presidential elections.”

    He expressed satisfaction with the use of card readers, which he described as effective.