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Tag: Gaya

  • APC youths accuse Gaya of anti-party activities

    A pro-Muhammadu Buhari group in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Next Level Youths for Buhari, has accused the senator representing Kano South, Kabiru Gaya, of aligning with some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) elements to canvass for the adoption of the open secret ballot to elect the Senate President for the Ninth National Assembly.

    In a statement at the weekend by the its Convener and former House of Representatives member, Durosinmi Meseko, the group said it had compelling reasons to believe that Gaya might be one of the 13 APC senators reported in a national daily to have been lured to support the scheme by the PDP as well as the opposition’s proposed candidate for the position.

    “When we read the report in some national dailies about how 13 senators-elect from the APC had been approached with mouth-watering promises to jettison the position of the party on Senator Ahmed Lawan and the adoption of open balloting system, we never believed it until Senator Kabiru Gaya recently granted OAK TV Hausa version an interview where he openly canvassed for secret balloting in the election of the Ninth Senate President.

    “What is Senator Gaya hiding from his constituents, the party that sponsored him and the public that he wants to do secretly? He has indirectly opposed the position of the party without minding the consequences of anti-party activities.

    “We hereby call on the leadership of the APC to call Senator Kabiru Gaya to order to retrace his steps immediately or face recall by his constituents.

    “We all know that the ground norm of parliamentary practices all over the world in electing principal officers and other voting processes is to vote openly, because in most climes, your voting record in the chambers or within the parliament determines your re-election or otherwise.

    “That was what the Senate Rule, officially adopted in the Seventh Assembly until another one was forged in the Eighth Assembly. And to further his anti-party actions, Senator Gaya defended the indefensible by supporting those who forged the Eighth Senate Rule Book, saying it was legitimately adopted!

    “The party should be very firm this time with perfidy within its fold. Party discipline should no longer be taken for granted, as in the case of Senator Gaya.”

    The statement wondered “why Senator Gaya would show such open disregard for the leader of our party, President Muhammadu Buhari, by openly opposing him”.

    It urged Kano South electorate to brace up for a recall action against Senator Gaya if he does not retrace his steps forthwith”.

     

  • Supplementary polls: Attacks on media, observers, INEC mar polls – CDD

    The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) on Saturday condemned attacks on ad hoc staff, media, observers and other electoral  participants during the supplementary polls.

    It said the attacks marred the polls.

    The CDD Director, MS Idayat Hassan who was represented by an analyst of CDD, Dr  Jideofor Adibe  in Abuja, said that the group’s observers noted incidents of violence and disruption of voting process.

    Hassan said the cases were reported in Kano, Sokoto, Benue and Bauchi states where supplementary governorship and state houses of assembly elections held.

    “In Kano State, violence and disruption of polling were widespread as an army of thugs reportedly took over polling activities in several local government areas, including Nasarawa, Dala, Karaye and Gaya.

    “It is distressing that political thugs took over the elections, forcing voters to vote along a party line, stoning voters and violently disrupting the elections.  ‘’

    Hassan said that this was because Gama ward in Nasarawa LGA in Kano State was strategic to winning the supplementary elections by either of the two leading candidates.

    She said that in Sokoto, particularly in Bodinga LGA, Bodinga ward (PU11), a dispute which eventually disrupted the election, erupted between the agents of the two leading parties.

    She said it was disrupted over attempts by a party agent to assist voters in voting.

    She said that evidence suggested that the deliberate deployment of political thuggery during elections seemed to have become the norm in Nigeria.

    She said that the trend was extremely disturbing, and it was imperative to safeguard Nigeria’s  democracy by holding the perpetrators accountable.

    Hassan said that the way thuggery was instrumentalised in the elections queried the essence of the massive deployment of security agents to guard the polls, especially when brigandage ruled.

    She said in  several instances, the security agents were reported to have turned a blind eye to the act of brigandage perpetrated by the political thugs.

    She said that the electoral cycle witnessed so much intimidation, harassment and attack on voters, journalists, observers and INEC officials.

    “This unfortunate development, however, took an unprecedented turn in the Kano supplementary elections where party agents and thugs intimidated and attacked voters and observers in the course of exercising their franchise or monitoring the process.’’

    Hassan said there was a clear case of where party agents and thugs coerced and intimidated voters to vote for their candidates.

    She said that the high level of intolerance against poll monitors was not limited to observers.

    She said that in spite of several attempts to entrench peacefully electoral democracy in Nigeria, elections have been marred by upsurge of violence.

    She said that the level of impunity at which this gruesome act was being prosecuted by hoodlums at the ballot box and the inability of security agents to respond adequately and hold perpetrators accountable were sources of concern.

    Hassan said that incidences of underage voting and vote buying were also recorded where votes were sold for N10,000 and N15,000.

    She said there was need to emphasise that the act of vote buying was an offence punishable under the laws and those involved in the act should be arrested and prosecuted according to law.

    This, she said, would discourage the increasing rate of the practice (NAN)

  • Senator eyes Ekweremadu’s seat

    More Senators are indicating their intentions to battle for leadership positions ahead of the inauguration of the ninth Senate in June.

    One such new entrant in the race for leadership position in the upper chamber is the Senator representing Kano South, Kabiru Gaye.

    The APC Kano South Senator yesterday told reporters of his intention to gun for the position of Deputy Senate President of the ninth Senate.

    Gaya, a sitting Senator and Chairman Senate Committee on Works, wants to take over from incumbent DSP, Senator Ike Ekweremadu.

    The former governor of Kano State declared his intention to go for the Senate top job shortly after collecting his certificate of return as Senator-elect for Kano South.

    He told reporters at the International Conference Center, Abuja venue of the issuance of the Certificate of Return to Senators-elect that his aspiration is driven by mass appeal for him to go for the job by his colleagues.

    He also expressed a burning desire to serve in the leadership position of the ninth Senate having returned to the upper chamber for the fourth time unbroken.

    Gaya said, “I thank the Almighty Allah who granted me the grace of being elected into the Senate for the fourth time.

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    “As regards the leadership composition of the 9th Senate, majority of my colleagues are mounting pressure on me to run for the position of Deputy Senate President. I want to use this opportunity to announce that I’m running for the position being one of the most ranking Senators in the 9th Senate.”

    He however gave a caveat that his ambition for the exalted position will be subject to the determination and approval of the All Progressives Congress and the presidency.

    The aspiration of Gaya who hails from the North West geo-political zone may alter the permutations being made for the Senate leadership positions.

    If Gaya emerges Deputy Senate President, it may be difficult to also retain the Senate Presidency in the North.

    Front runners for the position of Senate Presidency of the ninth Senate include Senators Ahmed Lawan (APC Yobe North), Mohammed Ali Ndume (APC Borno South) and Mohammed Danjuma Goje (APC Gombe Central) and Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa West).

    Out of the four front liners, Lawan looks good to get the Senate top most position going by his track records and standing in the APC.

    The Senate leadership race is however very much open as other Senators are said to be warming up to take a shot at the position.

    Some other Senators and Senators-elect spoken to at the Certificate of Return collection venue were of the view that the APC leadership and the Presidency will give direction on the contentious issue.

    Senator-elect Adedayo Adeyeye (APC Ekiti South) noted that to avoid the leadership crisis that overwhelmed the 8th Senate, the APC national leadership should do the needful by providing the required direction for the majority party in the Senate to follow.

    Another Senator-elect, Bamidele Opeyemi (APC Ekiti Central) was sure that the APC leadership will effectively manage the process for effective leadership of the ninth Senate.

    He said, “The calibre and character of personalities elected for the 9th Senate are very solid and promising for the country but leadership is key. This very reason why the leadership of the ruling party must manage well, whatever process, it’s going to use for the emergence of leadership at both chambers this time around.

    “Once this is done, the party and in particular, the National Assembly and the presidency will be on the same page on development-driven bills sponsorship, policy formulations and approvals.”

    Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (APC Niger North) on his own, said that the necessary lessons to be learnt from the leadership tussle in the 8th Senate had been learnt.

    Abdullahi was optimistic that the loose ends in the leadership selection process of the ninth Senate would be tightened by the APC leadership.

    He said, “I was a key player in the leadership configuration of the 8th Senate and the attendant crises that followed. As one of the 43 returnees, the lessons learnt will be used to prevent the mistakes of the past from happening.”

  • Kano: Gaya, Jibrin retain senatorial seats

    Two incumbent Senators from Kano state have retained their seats following their victory in the Saturday’s National Assembly elections.

    The two Senators are: Sen. Barau Jibril-Maliya representing Kano North Senatorial district and Sen. Kabiru Gaya, who is representing Kano South Senatorial district.

    Announcing the results of National Assembly elections, the returning officer for Kano North Senatorial district, Prof. Ali Tijjani-Abdullahi said on Monday that the APC senatorial candidate, Barau Jibril-Maliya scored 286,419 votes to defeat the PDP candidate, Alhaji Ahmed Garba-Bichi, who polled 155, 638 votes.

    Read Also: Senators who won’t be in the 9th assembly

    Similarly, the returning officer for Kano South Senatorial district, Prof. Ibrahim Barde of the Bayero University Kano declared the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Kabiru Gaya as the winner of the election in the Kano South Senatorial seat.

    Barde said Gaya secured 319,004 votes to defeat the PDP candidate, Alhaji Abdullahi Sani-Rogo who got 217,520 votes.

    Meanwhile, the collation of results for the Kano Central Senatorial zone is ongoing at the collation Centre.

  • Ganduje supports pregnant women with N150m delivery Kits

    Over 450 expectant Mothers from Gaya, Albasu, and Ajingi Local Government Areas have received Safe Delivery Kits estimated at N150m, aimed at reducing the high rate of maternal Mortality among Women in the rural areas of the state.

    The delivery kits which were donated by the Kano state government to 450 Pregnant Women was done in line with Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje’s led government policy to reduce the number of sufferings encountered by Expectant Mothers during delivery in the rural areas.

    Similarly, a member House of Representatives representing Gaya, Albasu and Ajingi Federal Constituency, Honourable Abdullahi Mahmud Gaya also empowered over 1, 500 Women with N10, 000 each amounting to N15m to enable them boost their various trades.

    In his remarks, the state Commissioner of Health Dr Kabiru Ibrahim Getso, said that this is an intervention by the Kano State government to the pregnant women, “as you are aware the state had given priority to health sector because based on the data at hand we have recorded a lot of Maternal Mortality and morbidity in Northern part of the Country.”

    Getso explained further that in order to curtail the high rate of this trend, the state government has trained 1, 936 birth attendant to cater for pregnant women especially in the rural areas.

    According to Getso, the state government has spent over N150m to make the Safe Delivery kits available for onward distribution to the beneficiaries.

    In her remarks, wife of the state Governor Dr Hafsat Abdullahi Umar Ganduje who made the distribution of the kits to the Women advised the beneficiaries to make good use of the kits so as to aid them deliver their babies safely.

    To this end, the House Representatives Member Honourable Mahmud called on the beneficiaries of the empowerment program to make judicious use of the amount so as to stand on their feet. And ensure that they come out en masse to vote for APC in the State.

  • Fire service rescues woman from pit latrine in Kano

    Fire service rescues woman from pit latrine in Kano

    The Kano State Fire Service on Monday said it successfully rescued a 48-year-old woman, Aisha Usman, after she accidentally fell into a collapsed pit latrine at her residence on Sunday.

    The Public Relations Officer of the service, Alhaji Saidu Mohammed, said in Kano on Monday that the incident occurred while the woman was trying to use the rest room at her residence in Sharifawa in Gaya Local Government Area of the state.

    He said that the service received a distress call from a relative shortly after the incident around 6.45 p.m. on Sunday after which it swung into action.

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    He added that “upon receiving the information, we quickly dispatched our rescue team and a vehicle to the scene at about 7 p.m.”

    He expressed joy that the woman was rescued without sustaining injuries.

    He added that “we rescued the woman and handed her over to the husband.”

    Mohammed advised residents to be cautious in using pit latrines to avoid future accidents.

    NAN

  • Gov. Tambuwal advises FG to handover roads to states

    Gov. Tambuwal advises FG to handover roads to states

    Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State on Tuesday advised the Federal Government to handover Federal roads to states governments for effective management of the roads.

    Tambuwal gave the advice when he received the Senate Committee on Works led by its Chairman, Sen. Kabiru Gaya, in Sokoto.

    He said: “There is the need for the federal government handover the roads to states, because states governments are closer to the people and we have more efficient methods of supervision.

    “If this is done, it will go a long way in ensuring that the vast majority of major roads and highways in the country are well maintained.’’

    The governor pledged to work with all stakeholders to ensure proper management and development of infrastructure in the state.

    He solicited the support of the National Assembly to facilitate the reimbursement of fund spent by the state government spent on the repairs of some federal roads.

    Earlier, Gaya said they were in the state as part of the committee’s oversight functions and lauded Tambuwal’s administration for providing basic infrastructure that would enhance the wellbeing of people in the state.

    Gaya assured that his committee would facilitate the reimbursement of the funds used by the state government in developing federal roads.

    He thanked the governor for his commitment towards the completion of the Sokoto-Jega-Yauri -Kontagora road, which is currently under construction.

    The roads to be inspected by the committee included Sokoto-Illela and Sokoto-Tambuwal-Jega-Yauri-Kontagora roads.

    NAN

  • Gaya and Senate leadership question

    It is beyond accident that the recent change in power in Nigeria was so resounding. It came as a reflection of the wishes of the people as expected in a thriving democracy. Nigerians in their multitudes clamoured for change and change they got, effectively resting the reign of the People’s Democratic Party and in its place the All Progressives Congress (APC) to be inaugurated on May 29. But beyond the ritual of handing over power is the critical issue of delivering on its manifesto. So much have been promised and Nigerians are eagerly waiting to see the manifestation of the lofty promises made to them which we must acknowledge were clear premises for the election of the APC. And this is the challenge confronting the party: Is APC ready to deliver on its campaign promises or will the party go down as a huge flop? God forbid!

    The wave of support and enormous goodwill which brought it to power are just too important to be so deemed and with the leadership integrity and reputation of the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) and other accomplished leaders, we should have a paradigm shift that could realistically birth a new dawn in our nation.

    What will count so much here is the sense of purpose by the APC leadership to see to it that it runs an efficient administration that can deliver on its manifesto as early as possible. The honeymoon won’t be that long! One major factor that will help the president and the party is the choice of men and women in critical leadership positions like the National Assembly and the executive arms of government. The prime position of the National Assembly in galvanising the needed support for the president not only in the passage of vital bills but also in the strategic mobilisation of its members and those in the opposition to support the executive is key.

    Still a crux: the filling of the principal officers of the National Assembly which must be done in a manner that can help the party to make its change mantra a possibility. For if caution is thrown to the wind in electing principal officers of the National Assembly for the 8th Senate and House of Representatives, that could send a wrong signal. It is a clarion call to all concerned that the jostling for positions of the principal officers in the National Assembly should be done to serve this onerous purpose above.

    Chapter 2 of the Senate standing rule states that “a senator re-elected into the chamber has preference over a member who is newly elected into the chamber.”

    Chapter II (2) of the same rule specifically remove any uncertainty about the status of senators in the chamber. The rule 2, sufficiently said, “the following order shall apply: (i) senators returning based on number of times re-elected; (ii) senators who had been members of the House of Representatives; (iii) senators elected as senators for the first time.” It is therefore not in contention as the rule states that only senators who have been returned based on number of times re-elected should form the nucleus of the leadership of the red chamber. The outgoing majority party held sacrosanct to this rule and was able to withstand the storm at its time of trials. It is therefore vital that the APC put its house in order so that it does present the nation with a senate that can really make a difference.

    Arguably, there is wisdom in the zoning formula for offices of principal officers in the forthcoming National Assembly but the struggle for the offices by some elected politicians debuting at the hallow chambers should be checked by the party.  The fear that engulfed the land when the party conducted its primaries but ended smoothly indicates that the party is mature in handling its internal issues. Thus as the office of Majority Leader of the APC is zoned to the North-West, the Senate standing order should be strictly applied.

    The Majority Leader characteristically sets the floor agenda and oversees the committee chairmen. It is obvious that it is not an office for new comers in the Senate. Much as debutant senators should be dissuaded, officers who have been in the house without record of major contributions in the past should also hands off their ambition for the office of the Majority leader. The effectiveness of the office now that the APC is taking over needs tested and experienced hands.

    In as much as I’m not holding brief for any senator, an argument I read in one of the dailies in favour of former governor of old Kano State, Senator Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya (Kano South) presented by Alhaji Ibrahim Sabon-Birnin, a leader of an NGO, League of Concerned Patriots (LCP), caught my fancy.

    Sabon-Birnin had argued: “As the senator representing Kano South, Senator Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya is aspiring for the office, the APC will only be justified for supporting him for his loyalty to the party and untiring effort to see that the party came into being. Affording him, the office of Majority Leader will enable him to give Nigerians their wish with specific regard to his ability, experience and his cherished workaholic nature.”

    As chief spokesman of the APC in the National Assembly, Senator Gaya would come to the job with the right moral upbringing, fine personality imbued with good character as a bridge builder, holding firmly both the Senate and the House of Representatives to ensure President Buhari can successfully navigate difficult courses and accomplish his agenda. This is very important. Senator Gaya has the pedigree without question. He was never an absentee senator but one devoted to duty.  His invaluable experience as a third term ranking senator should ordinarily be litmus test among the pack of possible  contenders because a fresher in the senate without the right experience in the upper legislature will be a misnomer with consequences for the president’s legislative agenda and many more. No other experience can ever be a substitute to this criterion. He has the attribute of being so shrewd in party discipline, collective responsibility, always there at the low and high moments for party and leaders. He has earned his trust and reliability spanning the last 30 years of political participation and due relevance.

    For those who are familiar with him and his antecedents, to say that Senator Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya is a perfect match for the next Senate Majority Leader is to hit the nail on the head. Sabon-Birnin’s close look at the wise man is true. He has the wherewithal to provide effective leadership. A third term ranking senator, he has the calmness of thought, maturity and clear depth to be so considered not only in the pursuit of reason but also that of our national interest.

    • Olutomiwa writes from Lagos.
  • Gaya, Yusuf pick APC senatorial tickets in Kano

    Gaya, Yusuf pick APC senatorial tickets in Kano

    Senator Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya yesterday retained the Kano South senatorial ticket of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) in a keenly contested primary held in Rano town,   Rano Local Government Area.

    Senator Gaya, currently the Chairman Senate Committee on State and Local Government Administration, floored his opponent, Yahaya Isa Zarewa in a landslide victory by polling 4,121 against Zarewa’s 723.

    The former Kano Gtate governor is bidding for the Senate chamber for the third time.

    In his acceptance speech, he said it was another opportunity for him to serve the people of his senatorial district consisting of 16 local government areas. He appealed to whoever might have been offended during the primary election to bury their hatchet.

    He also appealed to those who lost the primaries to joint hands with him in building Kano South Senatorial District.

    In the party’s primaries conducted in Kano Central Senatorial District, the present Kano State Commissioner for Works and Housing, Abba Kabir Yusuf, emerged winner of the primary election, polling 2,690 votes to beat Usman Halilu who got 280.

  • Gaya, Yusuf pick APC senatorial tickets in Kano

    Gaya, Yusuf pick APC senatorial tickets in Kano

    Senator Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya yesterday retained the Kano South senatorial ticket of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) in a keenly contested primary held in Rano town,   Rano Local Government Area.

    Senator Gaya, currently the Chairman Senate Committee on State and Local Government Administration, floored his opponent, Yahaya Isa Zarewa in a landslide victory by polling 4,121 against Zarewa’s 723.

    The former Kano Gtate governor is bidding for the Senate chamber for the third time.

    In his acceptance speech, he said it was another opportunity for him to serve the people of his senatorial district consisting of 16 local government areas. He appealed to whoever might have been offended during the primary election to bury their hatchet.

    He also appealed to those who lost the primaries to joint hands with him in building Kano South Senatorial District.

    In the party’s primaries conducted in Kano Central Senatorial District, the present Kano State Commissioner for Works and Housing, Abba Kabir Yusuf, emerged winner of the primary election, polling 2,690 votes to beat Usman Halilu who got 280.