The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kaduna

  • No automatic ticket for  Shehu Sani -APC NWC  

    The National Working Committee of All Progressives Congress (APC) has said it has not handed automatic ticket to any Kaduna Senator.

    Senator Sani is the only APC Senator from Kaduna state following the recent defection of his colleague from Kaduna North, Senator Suleiman Othman Hunkuyi.

    The party in a statement signed by its Deputy National Organizing Secretary, Mohammed Sani Ibrahim said, the rumour that automatic ticket has been given to a Senator should be disregarded.

    According to Ibrahim, “the National Working Committee of the APC has not handed over an automatic ticket to any senator in Kaduna State.”

    He added that, automatic ticket does not apply in the party’s constitution and that whoever is interested in contesting has to slug it out at the primaries.

    According to him, “As a compatriot, I feel deeply disturbed by the recent developments in our great party, especially the unfounded rumours regarding candidates for the various offices, as we approach the 2019 general elections.

    “More disturbing is the story of the so-called endorsement or automatic tickets that people have been spreading on social media, especially as it relates to Kaduna central and many parts of the Northwest Senatorial District.

    “For the records and in the interest of our great party’s constitution and its public image, I wish to declare that the party’s constitution is supreme and decisions at the National level is not a one-man show as some people wrongly assumed,” he said.

    Ibrahim said the issue of automatic tickets can only happen after decisions are reached collectively by the National Working Committee in conjunction with the NEC which is vested with such powers.

    Read also: 2019: APC raises alarm over fake registration website

    “It follows logically therefore, that the stories being branded on social media are misleading, in the sense that our party is governed by its constitution and not individual wishes. And that is why we have the National Working Committee and the National Executive Committee.

    “Let me make it categorically and abundantly clear that the APC will not and could not have given automatic ticket or endorsed any single candidate without recourse to guideline on nomination as stipulated in our party’s constitution.

    “And right now, no such meeting has taken place yet and no publicity to that effect. The Senate of any senatorial district is not the exclusive preserve for any special favour,” he stated.

  • The type of leader Kaduna needs as governor

    When I first heard that there is a man in Kaduna State aspiring to become governor of the state, I paused for a while to ask if it is just another case of a visionless advocacy for an unprepared personality to take charge of the mantle of leadership in this our beloved state. I tried to see if I can provide answer to the above question. My desire to answer this question compelled me to raise questions like; who is he? What are his antecedents? What has he achieved so far? How tall does he stand academically? How much does he know of the real need of his people? What practical blueprint does he have to turn their fortunes around, economically, socially, educationally and politically, among others?

    Dr. Muhammad Sani Bello (Mainan Zazzau) was the past Financial Controller of ECOWAS. He had been a Commissioner in the Kaduna State Ministry of Science & Technology between 2007 and 2010. By that appointment, he was Chief Executive of the Ministry and Member, Kaduna State Executive Council. He was also a lecturer at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, from 2001 to 2007.

    With his adventure in active politics, he was entrusted with the post of the Director General, Shekarau for Nigeria, from December 2010 to December 2011 and also became Manager, 2011 ANPP Presidential Candidate Campaign Organisation.

    In his university days, Bello participated actively in several campus activities and societies including: Nigerian Universities Accounting Students’ Association (NUASA) and the Muslim Students Society (MSS). He is also a member of such groups as the Abuja Business Club – Nigeria | West Africa; TAKAFUL; ABU ALUMNI; Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics (SCCE); Harvard Business Review, among many others.

    So, does he need an introduction? By law, he has, like any other politician, met the requisite constitutional demand in terms of age, educational qualification and where he comes from, among others, to be the governor of Kaduna State. Until he appeared on the starting block of the race, Dr. Muhammad Sani Bello maintained a very quiet life.

    Knowledge and education are two basic requisites, among others, for an effective and successful leadership. Clarence B. Randall in his book Making Good in Management wrote: “a leader must know, must know that he knows and must be able to make it abundantly clear to those around him that he knows.” He went further to say, if a leader does not know, he cannot guide his followers. On this, Dr. Muhammad Sani Bello is eminently qualified as he is a graduate of BSc Accounting, with Masters in International Relations (Msc) and  he became a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Accounting and Finance in 1998.

    He is smart, brilliant with a photographic memory. He was once described by many as “precise, incisive and well-articulated. What is more promising and interesting in the heart of Dr. Muhammad Sani Bello is his nationalism and the belief in made-in-Nigerian products. He believes that as Nigerians we all have a duty and obligation to patronise anything positive about Nigeria. This has been demonstrated in his belief in the Nigerian educational system.

    Dr. Muhammad Sani Bello’s hand is always reaching into his pocket to give, donate and assist people generously. His priority in life is to always help the helpless, voice the feelings of the voiceless and above all defend the defenceless citizens. He believes that God has blessed him in order to help others. To this effect, Mainan Zzzau gives out to both young and old, men and women, healthy and sick, able and disable, families and schools, prisons and hospitals etc.

    This is just the tip of the ice berg, not talking of giving out to the cause of humanity and sustainer i.e construction and renovation of schools within the rural area which he considers as the most vital essence of his existence in this world. It is my humble belief that if an individual can use his own resources to give so much as these to his people and community, without holding any public office, then what about when he is in the position as a governor?

    • Jamilu Bello Dogarawa

     jbdogarawa@gmail.com   

     

  • NBC workshop extends to Kaduna

    In furtherance of its commitment to empower over 15,000 youths by 2019, the management of non-alcoholic beverage giant, Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Ltd, has recently concluded its 3-day workshop in Kaduna where it engaged no less than eight hundred youths in a bid to empower them to improve their fortunes and create viable opportunities for economic growth.

    The workshop which ran between August 14 -16 was witnessed by large number of youths, scores of government officials, notable mentors, non-governmental organisations and a host of other dignitaries.

    Speaking during the programme, Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, who was represented by his deputy, Mr. Bala Bantex, commended NBC for bringing the initiative to Kaduna, noting that the youth empowered programme complements the government’s effort in empowering the youths of the state.

    He said: “We welcome this initiative as a further contribution and necessary effort to support our youth with vital skills. Kaduna is a young state with 89% of the population being young men and women. This demography has the potential to become the engine of growth if it is well trained and given the necessary opportunity. On our part, we are responding to these needs in a variety of ways. For instance, we have less than 100,000 people working for the Kaduna State government, only 30,000 of them are youths. To support them, the state government has created the Kaduna Start-up Entrepreneurship Programme to equip young graduates with requisite business and entrepreneurial skills.”

    He further stated that the state government was ready to partner with NBC on any initiative to support the youths. “I want to use this opportunity to congratulate all the beneficiaries and advise them to see these opportunities provided by this workshop as a chance to pull from the wealth of knowledge of the facilitators. Once again, I want to thank NBC for this initiative,” said the governor.

    Speaking during the workshop, Country CSR Manager, Nigerian Bottling Company Ltd, Mr. Ekuma Eze, explained that the company is committed to supporting the Nigerian youths by making them employable and self-reliant, hence the reason for ensuring the youth empowered initiative is extended to every part of the country.

    “We know this is the beginning of a positive engagement with the state government in terms of empowering the young people. We are always willing and ready to partner with the government to support the youth in releasing their potential,” he said.

    Eze revealed that the programme will climax with a business idea and vision where participants will be allowed to pitch their business ideas to panel of entrepreneurs who will select the best business idea. “Our commitment as a business is that we are going to incorporate a company for the winning group after which we would source for funding to enable them actualise their ideas.”

    The youth empowered workshop is part of the Coca-Cola Hellenic global initiative designed to support over 500,000 young unemployed people globally between the ages of 18-30 by 2020, to build life and business skills and long-lasting networks that would translate to meaningful employment and self-sufficiency.

  • Flood ravages three Kaduna LGAs

    Houses in three Local Government Areas of Kaduna State were on Friday ravaged by flood after a heavy downpour.

    Mr Ben Kure, the Executive Secretary, Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency, said during an assessment of the affected areas that no life was lost to the flood.

    He attributed the flooding to blocked drainages with refuse and construction of structures along water channels.
    According to him, the agency has being mandated to visit areas affected to ascertain the level of damage.

    He listed the affected areas as Abubakar Kigo road in Kaduna North; Barnawa in Kaduna South; Karatudu, Narayi and Sabon Tasha in Chikun Local Government Areas, among others.

    He said that no fewer than 30 persons were displaced by the flood at Romi and are now taking shelter at the community primary school.

    “We will ensure that the IDPs are taken care of in collaboration with other stakeholders for their wellbeing,” he said.
    Kure therefore called on residents to be more vigilant as the raining season was not yet over.

    The flooding occurred after a downpour on Thursday evening which lasted till Friday morning.

    Read Also: Kaduna 2019: What is Sani-Sidi up to?

    The incident came days after NEMA and the Kaduna State Environmental Protection Authority (KEPA) had issued an alert that some local government areas in the state were likely to experience flash flooding.

    KEPA had warned residents on Tuesday of the affected areas to be on the alert and vacate to safer places.
    NAN also reports that the official number of houses affected by the flood were to be announced.

  • Man docked for allegedly beating friend

    A 30-year-old man, Michael James, was on Friday arraigned in a Kaduna Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly causing grievous hurt to his friend.

    James, who resides at Barnawa High Cost Housing Estate in Kaduna, is standing trial on a count charge of causing grievous hurt, an offence he pleaded not guilty to.

    The Prosecutor, Insp. Chidi Leo, told the court that the matter was reported at the Barnawa Police Station in Kaduna by one David Ezekiel of Barnawa on Aug. 20.

    Leo said that the complainant and defendant, who were friends had an undisclosed misunderstanding.

    Read Also: FRSC tasks drivers on regular eye checks

    “The complainant was sitting in his room when the defendant came back with two others who are at large and beat up the complainant.”

    The prosecutor said that the complainant sustained injuries in his left eye and body as a result of the beating.

    He said that the offence contravened the provisions of Section 246 of the Penal Code.

    The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    The Magistrate, Mr John Dauda, granted James bail in the sum of N50, 000 with one surety in like sum.

    He said the surety must reside within the jurisdiction of the court and adjourned the case until Sept. 5, for hearing.

  • AFCON qualifiers: Rohr inspects Ahmadu Bello Stadium

    Super Eagles’ Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, on Wednesday inspected the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna as part of preparations for the team’s qualifiers for the 2019 AFCON, an official has said.

    Ademola Olajire, the Director of Communications at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), said in a statement on Wednesday the inspection was an indication preparations have begun in earnest.

    The senior men’s national football team have five matches remaining in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying series.

    Nigeria play away to Seychelles in Victoria on Match Day 2 on Sept. 7 and then host Libya’s Mediterranean Knights in Nigeria on Match Day 3 on Oct. 10.

    “The Technical Adviser checked out the facilities at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in company of NFF’s Second Vice President Shehu Dikko and Super Eagles’ Team Administrator Dayo Achor,’’ Olajire said in the statement.

    Read Also: Rohr to inspect Stephen Keshi Stadium

    He added that the former Germany defender Rohr would on Friday release his list of invited players for the away clash with Seychelles.

    After hosting Libya, the Super Eagles will visit the Knights three days later, before heading to South Africa for the return tie against the Bafana Bafana on Nov. 17.

    The last match of the series will see the three-time African champions hosting Seychelles on March 22.

    The Eagles had, in their opening game of the qualifying series in June 2017, lost 0-2 to the Bafana Bafana in Uyo.

    The finals of the 2019 AFCON, which is the 32nd edition, are scheduled to be staged in Cameroon in June.

  • Police nabbed two robbers in hotel

    Men of the Edo State Police command have arrested two suspected armed robbers who were invited from Kaduna and Abuja to carry out special operations.

    The two suspects identified as Dúnia Damboa and Sam Joshua were nabbed at a hotel in Uzebba, Owan West local government area.

    They were preparing to go out for the operation when they were rounded up.

    Dúnia who spoke to newsmen while being paraded at the police headquarters said they were invited to break into shops in the area.

    He said the person that invited escaped before policemen swooped on them.

    Read Also: State police , only remedy to secure lives, property – Lawmaker

    According to him, “We came tô one village at Uzebba from Abuja. The people lodged us in a hotel. Police raided the place and arrested us.

    “We were invited to break some shops. We have not executed the job when we were arrested. The person that invited us was not around when we were arrested.

    His accomplice, Joshua said, “I was just invited from Kaduna to rob in Edo. We did not know what he called us for. We didn’t want to do kidnapping but to do some stealing.“

  • NIMC registers 1.7 m in Kaduna

    The National Identity Management Commission ( NIMC ) has so far registered 1.7 million people in Kaduna State, the commission’s coordinator in the state, Abubakar Hassan, has said.

    Hassan who made this known in an interview our reporter on Friday in Kaduna said the figure was however far below the eight million residents eligible for registration.

    According to him, the commission has 62 enrollment centres across the state for the registration of all residents for the issuance of the National Identity Number (NIN).

    The coordinator attributed the low figure to poor turnout of eligible residents for the registration.

    He however disclosed that the commission had partnered the National orientation Agency (NOA) to sensitize the public on the importance of obtaining the National Identification Number, as part of measures to address the problem of low turnout.

    Read Also: NIMC Sokoto Govt. to enlighten indigenes on NIN

    ” With the recent collaboration we have with NOA in sensitizing people on the importance of enrolling into the National Identity Management System, we hope to see an increased turnout of people in our enrollment centres.

    “More centres are coming to ensure that all citizens and legal residents are registered,” he stated.

    Hassan who explained that the NIN was mandatory for all citizens and legal residents of the country, and implored those who have not registered to do so as soon as possible.

    He added that the slip given to those who were enrolled contains an Identification number which would enable the user to make any legal transaction.

  • APC nullifies Shehu Sani’s suspension

    The National secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Sunday declared the suspension Senator representing Kaduna Central senatorial district of Kaduna state, Senator Shehu Sani as null and void and lifted the suspension.
    The party direct the Kaduna state chairman of of the party to convey the decision to the Tudun Wada Ward of the party and ensure compliance inline with the peace initiatives of President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.
    The senator who was expected to defect from the APC along with his aggrieved colleagues in the National Assembly opted to remain in the APC following the intervention of President Muhammadu Buhari and the party chairman, as well as former Kaduna state Governor, Abdulkadir Baralabe Musa.
    In a statement on Sunday signed by the Acting National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Yekini Nabena, the APC said: “The National Secretariat has received the news of the suspension of Senator Shehu Sani by the Tudun Wada ward Chairman and wish to clarify that the purported suspension of Distinguished Senator Shehu Sani representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District is hereby lifted and is confirmed as a bonafide Member and leader of our party.
    “The Chairman Kaduna State Chapter has been directed to inform the relevant Ward and Local Government chapters appropriately, and also  put the necessary mechanism towards complementing the efforts of the National leadership towards ensuring lasting peace and unity in the party”.
    The Nation gathered that the Presidency is not happy with the decision to suspend the Senator few days after displaying his loyalty to the President and the party by staying back in the party.
    A senior member of the party said the leadership was shocked to receive the news of Senator Sani’s suspension and felt that those behind it cannot truly be working foe the interest of the party and the President.
    The party official who would not want to be names “because I do t have the mandate to speak for the party said “we feel that considering what is going on in the party, this is not the right time for anybody who has the interest of the President and the party at heart to think of suspending anyone, definitely not a Senator who is supporting the President
    It will be recalled that Senator Sani had shunned the idea of defecting to the PDP like other APC National Assembly members following the peace moves initiated by the National chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

  • Gunmen abduct preacher, two others in Kaduna

    Gunmen have abducted an Islamic preacher and two others believed to be either his sons or students at Maguzawa village, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, the state police command said on Friday.

    Malam Ahmad Garko popularly called Al-Garkawy and the other two were allegedly abducted while working on his farm.

    The spokesman for the command, DSP Murkhtar Aliyu said in a statement that the police at about 1.40pm on Thursday received a distress call that Malam Ahmad Garko and the other victims were “intercepted by unknown armed men on motor bikes.”

    He added:“on receipt of the call, teams of policemen immediately mobilised to the area but the hoodlums escaped with the victims.

    “Tactical Units have been deployed; two persons were so far arrested in connection with the incident and rescue mission remains the utmost priority.”

    He said investigation had commenced in effort to rescue the preacher and the two other victims.