Tag: Ganduje

  • I’ll win Kano gov rerun, Ganduje boasts

    Kano state Governor Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje has expressed optimism of winning the March 23 gubernatorial rerun election in the state.

    Ganduje stated this while addressing a crowd of his supporters who gathered to welcome him upon his return from a one-day official visit to Abuja.

    He expressed delight over the peaceful conduct of last Saturday gubernatorial election in the state which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared inconclusive.

    He assured Kano people of his unshaken belief he would win in the 23rd March, 2019 rerun elections across some identified polling units as announced by INEC.

    Read Also: Ganduje: PDP’ll be shocked

    He hailed the electorate for turning out en mass during the election, “especially for your decision to vote for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    ‘’ We saw their unflinching support for joining the long queues at their various polling units.

    “As you are all aware, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed the 23rd of this Month (March) for rerun election in some identified polling units in the state.

    “I am therefore using this medium to call on the electorate to come out en mass and vote for the ruling APC in an orderly manner,” he stated.

    Ganduje assured “By the grace of Allah, The Almighty, APC will emerge victorious after the rerun election. We are grateful to all. May we have peaceful conduct of this election”.

  • Kano guber polls: I am optimistic of victory, says Ganduje,

    Kano State governor and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Kano gubernatorial election, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, yesterday expressed optimism that he would emerge victorious at the end of the election.

    Ganduje, however, described the exercise as peaceful, violent-free and orderly.

    Ganduje who voted at exactly 10:30 a.m. at Ganduje Chikin Gari Polling Unit 008 in Ganduje town, Dawakin Tofa local government area, described turnout as impressive.

    Speaking to reporters shortly after casting his vote, he stated that “I am sure of victory. I am sure of getting more votes than what President Buhari got during the presidential election.”

    The Nation reports that there was large turnout of women, especially those under purdah in yesterday’s gubernatorial and state house of assembly elections in Kano State.

    The polling units such as Filling Chiranchi, in Gwale local government area, Library Polling Unit in Municipal local government area, and Rimin Gata Polling Unit in Ungogo local government area, all witnessed large turnout of women and youths who were eager to exercise their franchise.

    Speaking to our reporter, a seventy-year old Hajiya Maimuna said, “women are open minded and we are voting for our choice.”

    In most areas visited, it was observed that the card readers were functioning properly and the voting process were normal against the slow process experienced in the presidential election.

    Staff of the INEC were on ground to ensure that the voters perform their civic responsibilities.

    Voting materials were also available as voters were being accredited, before casting their votes for candidates of their choice in orderly and peaceful manner.

    Meanwhile, the PDP gubernatorial candidate in Kano, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has defeated the incumbent governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of All Progressives Congress (APC), at the Magwan polling unit where the deputy governor, Nasiru Gawuna, cast his vote.

    PDP defeated APC with 210 to 197 votes in the three polling units 056, 057 and 058 located at the Magwan Primary School, Nasarawa GRA polling station.

    The deputy governor’s polling unit result with code 056 recorded 76 to 73 in favour of PDP.

    The breakdown of the votes cast were 76 to 73, 63 to 48 and 71 to 76 for PDP and APC respectively.

  • Ganduje congratulates Buhari on re-election

    Kano state Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has joined well-meaning Nigerians in congratulating President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) for overwhelmingly winning the presidential election.

    Ganduje attributed Buhari’s victory to the successes recorded in his administration which he described as one of the most successful in Nigeria’s democratic governance.

    The congratulatory message signed by the Governor indicated that “the re-election of President Buhari is the will of the people who are supporting his administration’s change agenda that has brought about transformation in all facets development in the country.”

    He said the victory of the APC should also be seen as victory for Nigerian democracy and collective progress of the nation.

    The Governor assured that “Kano, which produced the highest number of votes in the presidential election in the country will continue to support the lofty ideals for which the Buhari administration stand for.”

    Ganduje also said he looked forward to successful conduct of the forthcoming Governorship and state Assembly elections on March 9 and therefore called on the people of Kano to exercise their franchise by voting for the APC so that the state government can consolidate on achievements it has recorded so far.

  • Ganduje condemns Bebeji clash, calls for investigation

    Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, has described as unfortunate the attack on APC supporters in Bebeji Local Government, allegedly by members of Kwankwasiyya group of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    The clash was said to have left scores injured while no fewer than 15 vehicles were destroyed.

    A statement signed by the state Commissioner of Information, Malam Mohammed Garba, issued to newsmen in Kano, alleged that supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were attacked on Thursday while holding a special prayer session for peaceful conduct of the general election.

    It alleged that the attack was the latest in series of such incidents by the Kwankwasiyya group in their alleged attempt to breach the peace in the state.

    The statement further said that the governor condoled with the bereaved families and prayed for quick recovery for those injured while calling on security agents to fish out the perpetrators and prosecute them.

    Reacting to the allegations, spokesperson to the PDP governorship candidate in the state, Sanusi Dawakin-Tofa, accused the State Government of sponsoring the attack on the APC supporters.

    “They are aware that PDP governorship candidate, Abba Kabir-Yusuf and Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso, as well as other party supporters, were going to the two areas for their final rally.

    “But they (APC supporters) decided to hold similar programme in order to cause trouble,” he claimed.

  • Ganduje blames Kwankwaso for Kano killings

    Kano state Governor Abdullahi Ganduje has described as unfortunate the attack on a group of All Progressive Congress (APC) supporters by members of the Kwankwasiyya group of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) while on campaign in Bebeji/Kiru Local Government Area on Thursday.

    He called on security agents to fish out perpetrators of the attack, which left at least five persons dead and other seriously wounded.

    According to him: “The Kwankwassiyya group has continued to brazenly attack members and supporters of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

    “The latest just happened on Thursday when they attacked our members while on a special prayer session in Bebeji local government area which was organised for peaceful conduct of the forthcoming general elections in the country, leaving some party members dead and others with injuries.”

    In a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Youth and Culture, Malam Muhammad Garba, Ganduje accused the Kwankwasiyya PDP thugs of being behind the attack.

    Read Also: Kwankwaso presents staff of office to emir of Kano

    According to him: “They attacked our peaceful supporters under the watchful eyes of their leader, Rabi’u Kwankwaso, who was on a campaign rally in the area, brandishing all sorts of deadly weapons, attacked the prayer session, which is being organised by member representing Kiru/Bebeji constituency, Hon. Abdulmumini Jibrin Kofa for meanness free polls.”

    The attack, the statement, he lamented: “is the latest in series by the Kwankwasiyya ruffians in an apparent attempt to put a clog in the wheel of progress toward ensuring free and peaceful election in the state.”

    The Governor lamented: “The group is superficially venting its anger on members and supporters of the APC, having gotten a sign of defeat at the polls, as part of a calculated attempt to scamper peaceful 2019 elections.”

    He prayed for the departed souls and condoled with the bereaved families, just as he also prayed for the quick recovery of those injured during the heinous attack.

    Ganduje also directed security agencies “to fish out perpetrators of the monstrous blitzkrieg with a view to ensuring that they are dealt with accordingly.”

  • Ganduje promises to welcome back Kwankwaso to APC if…

    Kano state Governor Abdullahi Ganduje on Friday promised to gladly welcome back his predecessor and political rival, Senator Rab’u Musa Kwankwaso should he decides to return to the All Progressive Congress (APC) after the elections.

    He spoke on Friday while receiving Alhaji Ibrahim Na-Kaduna, chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Yalwa Ward in Dala Local Government where Ali Sani Madakin Gini, PDP’s Kano Central Senatorial candidate hails from.

    The governor said: “In APC, we take all as human beings. We treat them with all manner of dignity and respect.

    “That is why we are doing our best to woo new entrants into our fold. Even him (Kwankwaso) we wanted him to come and rejoin our party.

    “When he was planning to come back, he came with a condition that we must support his candidate for the presidency.

    “We told him point-blank that as far as we are concerned there is no vacancy in the Villa.

    “We made him understand vividly clear that we could not support any other candidature apart from that of President Muhammadu Buhari.”

    Read also: Atiku promises to revive Calabar deep sea port

    Ganduje added: “Kwankwaso was only busy doing what he thought were ways to get to President Muhammadu Buhari to tell him that he wanted to stage a comeback.

    “But when he saw the handwriting on the wall clearly, he retreated. This is so because we told our President not to take any serious action and not to even entertain him, until after the general elections.

    “If we accept him before elections, he could beat his chest at the end of it and boast that he made the victory possible.

    “We now said let him rejoin when election is over. That is after the victory come calling.”

    Ganduje explained: “This effort of rescuing Kwankwasiyya followers, which is tagged ‘Operation Tsamar Nama’ is designed to, specifically, help those followers understand the true picture of the predicament they are in. So we are welcoming you for this giant step you have just taken.”

    Na-Kaduna, who was presented to Ganduje by member of Kano representing Dala local Government Area in the House of Assembly, Babangida Yakudima, lamented how Kwankwaso has been insensitive to the plight of his followers.

    According to him: “Kwankwaso is only interested in putting his followers to many troubles and political crises.

    “When such things happen, before you know it, he takes to his heel. How can such a person be a leader?”

    He added: “At a point in time, the North Central Senatorial candidate in PDP, Madakin Gini, had wanted to run away from the Kwankwasiyya group.

    “Plans were on top gear, but all of a sudden, we just heard that he made a U-turn. That he is still with Kwankwaso.”

  • Buhari prevaricates on Ganduje

    GIVEN his fanatical posture on corruption, Nigerians had widely expected President Muhammadu Buhari to be unsparing of Kano State governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, who was recently accused of bribery and corruption that became evident through a sting operation mounted by a concerned citizen. Either privately or during election campaign, the president has, however, waffled over the allegations against the Kano governor. The president’s timid attitude towards the governor is partly explained by Mr Ganduje’s fanatical support for the president’s re-election ambition.

    First the president cast doubt on the efficacy of the technology deployed to expose the governor’s alleged bribe-taking deals, in other words suggesting that the evidence was doctored. Then, during a campaign in Kano last Thursday, the president performed the role of an advocate for Mr Ganduje, a role he is generally loth to play for anyone else, especially his foes. He argued during the campaign that Mr Ganduje had immunity and must be presumed innocent until a court properly convicts him. Going by the provisions of the constitution, the president is partially right. Admittedly, the Kano governor could not be presumed guilty until a court so declares.

    But how many others, including the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen, has the president not already condemned and even virtually sentenced? Who can forget how he pronounced former national security adviser, Sambo Dasuki, and Shiite leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, guilty of crimes against the state even before their trial began? It is true that presumption of innocence is part of Nigerian jurisprudence, but the president sets no store by that presumption, and worse, selectively applies it only when it suits him. But of course there is no changing the president on this delicate matter. He often makes up his mind, regardless of whether there is rhyme or reason to it.

  • Kwankwaso’s dad endorses Ganduje for re-election

    The District Head of Madobi and father of former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwanso, Alhaji Musa Saleh Kwankwaso, has endorsed the re-election bid of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

    He assured the people that he would work with his village heads and community leaders for the governor’s electoral victory.

    During his campaign tour, Ganduje was in Madobi Local Government Area where he visited the district head alongside other village chief and Imams on Tuesday.

    Kwankwaso’s father promised total support to the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidature.

    He said: “When you came in after your inauguration on May 29, 2015, we were absolutely sure that you would bring development to all nooks and crannies of the state. And Alhamdulillah (glory be to Allah), this is what you are doing. So, we need more of this development.

  • Ganduje: Open letter to President Buhari

    Following your recent appearance on Kadaria Ahmed’s widely-televised programme, The Candidates, I write to raise some issues regarding your response to several questions on the viral video clips allegedly showing Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State receiving bribe from contractors.

    What stood out to me in your answers are that you “can’t understand” the extent of the “technology” used in the clips and that you are counting on Kano State Assembly (KSHA) and the Kano State High Court (KSHC) to provide you with the answers you and every Nigerian want before you go to Kano for your election campaign.

    With profound respect, Your Excellency, these statements left me with only one conclusion: that you have been utterly misled by those people you appointed and trusted to guide you. Contrary to what you have been made to believe, the issue of investigating the clips is not in court and it is not before the KSHA. The whole world is now waiting for you to act. I will explain my assertion below.

    There is currently no ongoing investigation on the said clips at the KSHA and there no pending suit on the investigation. Immediately after the videos went viral, the KSHA instituted an ad hoc committee to investigate the allegations. The committee held public sittings to which it invited Jaafar Jaafar – the journalist who first released the videos – and he honoured the invitation, testified before the committee and made copies of the clips available to it. I was specially moved by the fact that Jaafar arrived the venue with a copy of the Noble Qur’an and he testified while hanging it.

    Next, the committee invited Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. But Ganduje failed, refused or neglected to appear before it. Instead, he sent his Commissioner of Information to represent him. Predictably, the representative could not offer any convincing explanation not least because he was not there when the alleged facts took place. He merely denied the content of the video and cast aspersions on the personality of Jaafar Jaafar. To recap this point, Jaafar has honoured the committee’s invitation and testified, but Ganduje failed to appear. Doesn’t that tell you anything sir?

    But the worst for Ganduje was still to come. Few days after he refused to appear before the committee, the whistle-blower who shot the video and who was initially hesitant to testify volunteered to appear before the committee if his security and safety could be guaranteed. Furthermore, the committee started making moves to appoint experts to analyse the videos. These developments chilled Ganduje and his team to the marrow. The next thing we heard was that a group of self-styled, unregistered lawyers had instituted an action asking the court to stop the KSHA from investigating the videos. The court first restrained the committee and later pronounced that the KSHA has no power to investigate the videos as they contain criminal allegations. It further declared that it is the function of such agencies as the police, the EFCC and the ICPC to investigate the allegations and that the videos should be submitted to them. Thus, the court has already ruled that the KSHA lacks power to proceed, and then threw to ball to the court of these agencies, all of which are under your watch. So, the matter is not in the court. It is not in the KSHA. Consequently, you unfortunately cannot find the answers you are looking for from the KSHA or from the court. Surprisingly, the EFCC, ICPC, NPF and the DSS have refused to act and they are all under you. Thus, the ball is now in your court, Mr. President.

    Your Excellency, permit me to now turn to your statement that you don’t know “the extent of [the] technology used” in the clips and you “can’t understand it”. I believe you a 110 percent that you don’t know the extent of the technology used, but I state, with profound respect, that you can understand it if you wish to. Qur’an 16:43 teaches you to “ask the people of the message if you do not know”. The only thing needed for you to understand the video is for a forensic investigation to be carried out on them. This investigation would reveal whether the clips are genuine, doctored or fake. Today, Allah has put at your disposal every investigative agency in Nigeria: the DSS, the NPF, the EFCC, ICPC; name them. You simply need to ask them to investigate and brief you so that you may understand “the extent of [the] technology used.”

    But you do not even have to ask and wait for forensic investigation to be conducted because the EFCC has already done one. This is according its acting chairman, Ibrahim Magu and all you need to do is to simply direct the EFCC chairman to brief you on their findings. On November 23, 2018, Magu told this writer in public at Queen Mary University of London that his team was in London to, among other things, conduct forensics into the clips. But upon completion and return to Nigeria, he kept mute on the issue. I suspect that what he found is against Ganduje. Otherwise, he would have publicised the result and the police would have arrested and prosecuted the journalist and the whistle-blower.

    I do not need to remind you that in 2015 you campaigned on the back of three key promises – fighting corruption, unemployment and Boko Haram – and I understand that you are riding on the same promises today. The millions of Nigerians and me who not only voted for you in 2015 but also voluntarily worked for your election to the last atom of our strength did so because we believed that “if we don’t kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria.” On May 29, 2015, you swore on the Glorious Qur’an saying I “will to the best of my ability preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”. Section 15 (5) of the constitution mandates you to “abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power” in Nigeria.

    Mr President, the duo of Jaafar Jaafar and the whistle-blower who did their best to complement your efforts in the fight against corruption, are bearing the brunt of your administration’s undoing. While Jaafar is facing a N3billion “defamation” suit, the business interest of the contractor who filmed the videos is on a knife edge. The ongoing contracts being executed by his company have recently been revoked by the state government. It goes without saying that this is counter-productive to your whistle-blowing policy as people will rather remain silent in the future.

    Finally, Mr. President, as you rightly stated in your response to Kadaria Ahmed, this issue, to borrow your words, has “received a lot of publicity” and “the world is [now] watching us”. You are the president whose duty is to lead. If you keep complaining that you can’t understand, what do you expect ordinary Nigerians to do? This will only continue to erode public confidence in your government as you are telling the world that you are not in charge.

    Your Excellency, your actions or inactions on fighting corruption in Nigeria will surely be written in history books and taught in history classes and this case is a litmus test. I pray that you wouldn’t let, nay make, history judge you harshly.

    The long and short of what I have said is that the whistle-blower has fulfilled his obligation as a good citizen, Jaafar Jaafar has paid his dues as a progressive journalist, the KSHA has played its own role and the court has ruled.

    And now I have done my part. The ball is now in your court, Mr. President.

     

    • Bukarti, a Ph.D. candidate at SOAS, University of London, is human rights and anti-corruption lawyer.
  • 2019: Ganduje campaigns for Buhari’s re-election

    Overwhelmed by the feats achieved by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano state moves his campaign train for Buhari re-election bid, in the forthcoming general election, to the 44 local government areas of the state, revealing to the electorate that Buhari would continue with the good projects and policies he started when given the mandate for the second time.

    Starting from Tudunwada/Doguwa federal constituency, Ganduje, while at the palace of the District Head of Doguwa, where all other village heads including Imams were converged, informed them about the many projects cutting across all the six geo-political zones, executed by the federal government.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari is a leader whose love for Nigeria Superceded any other presidential candidate from all the opposition parties contesting against him in the forthcoming presidential election, ”

    Ganduje urged them to continue praying for the peaceful conduct of the general elections, emphasising that, “It is with your prayers that this government is able to achieve what we are witnessing now. While at the same time we have a leader who is focused and has the political will to deliver.”

    Read Also: Principals laud Ganduje on members’ promotion

    Ganduje continued that, “We are here today to convey the message of His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, that, Nigeria is the only place we have on earth. So we must remain resolute to see to the genuine and sustainable development of our fatherland. This can only be possible when we come together and elect those that have the country at heart.”

    As Ganduje’s tour entered its sixth day, he has covered 13 local governments areas, campaigning for Buhari with incessant urge, for the strong reason that Buhari loves Nigeria more than any other presidential candidates.

    Governor’s unprecedented confidence in President Buhari, makes him to take more than half of the time he spends talking to the traditional leaders, when he visits them at their palaces, canvassing for unflinching support for Buhari.

    Even on the podium, he urges people, to first see the reason why Buhari deserves second term, as he speaks with all sense of responsibility and commitment, governor Ganduje repeats the same message in all the local governments that,

    “Our dear President Muhammadu Buhari has directed me to come and convey his message to you that, APC government at all levels brings succour to Nigerians. Our party will continue with the good work it started when given another chance.”

    The tour is designed in such a way that, governor with his campaign train move around local governments under federal constituency arrangements, daily. So far he toured Doguwa/Tudunwada, Kunchi/Tsanyawa, Takai/Sumaila, Rano/Bunkure/Kibiya, Dambatta/Makoda and Karaye/Rogo federal constituencies.

    In all the places he touches he says “Kano state promised to give President Muhammadu Buhari 5 million votes. We should strive and make sure that we give him what we promised when the election comes.”

    “We should also make sure that we elect APC candidates as legislators, that will help him to continue with his developmental projects and programmes. He needs good legislators that will put heads together with him for the overall development of our dear nation,” Ganduje says.

    He challenged that whoever is interested in a peaceful Nigeria with good leadership, that is focused and committed, should vote Buhari for the second term, into office, insisting that, “This people-oriented President is a leader we can all trust.”

    While at the palace of the District Head of Dambatta, who is also the Sarkin Bai of Kano, and the Kingmaker of the Emirate, Alhaji Mukhtari Adnan, after urging all the District Heads and Imams to continue praying for Buhari’s victory in the coming election, Ganduje urged them to work hard and inform all their subjects to go and collect their permanent voters card.

    In his remarks, the Sarkin Bai, commended the governor for developing the state and for the achievements recorded in all the sectors of the society, “We are also aware that, you are doing well in the area of human development. We appreciate what you are doing in the state.”

    For this reason, he added “You deserve another term of four years. We are solidly behind your candidature. And we shall tell people to support you.”

    He added that, people like Ganduje who respects people of all ages and social status “…need to be encouraged in their public responsibilities. Because supporting Governor Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje for second term is a project that all should accept.”

    All chairmen of the visiting local governments believe that governor Ganduje is a performing governor, whose vision and interest in the development of the state, takes him to higher level both politically and in governance.

    Projects executed by his administration, ranging from road construction to renovation or upgrading of health facilities, among other things, are some of the many reasons why many people believe that, his (Ganduje) achievements are enough reasons for him to get re-elected even without him going round for campaigns.

    No local government, that he goes without either commissioning completed projects or inspecting ongoing projects. In Makoda local government, the governor commissioned two health facilities. One in Makoda town and the other one in Chidari, that was renovated and fully equipped with modern health care equipment, at over N400 Million.

    In Sumaila local government, it was not only the chairman of the local government, who attested to what the administration of Ganduje was able to do, the Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives) Abdurrahman Kawu Sumaila, commended the governor for an all-important Gani Bridge, hospital in Rimi town and other projects executed.

    .In all places the governor visited, he urged people to make sure that they collect their permanent voters’ cards (PVCs) for their support to be realistic and meaningful. He then calls electorate to make sure that they vote for the APC at all levels of elective position.