The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kano State Governor

  • Ganduje: PDP’ll be shocked

    Kano State Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Abdullahi Umar Ganduje said his PDP challenger and his supporters would receive the shocker of their lives in the scheduled election.

    The Commissioner for Information, Youth & Culture, Malam Muhammad Garba, said the incumbent remained unruffled by the development.

    ”Ganduje is unperturbed by the wishful thinking and slapdash deportment of the PDP candidate considering what happened in the inconclusive election widely characterized by alleged vote buying and voter intimidation by the party,” Garba, who doubles as the Chairman, Publicity of the 2019 Election Committee for the APC, said in a statement.

    He said the ruling party and its candidate remain upbeat and sure of victory as Kano remained an APC state.

    Garba said: “Ganduje remain committed to the conduct of free and fair election, all loopholes that gave them chance of rigging, vote buying and intimidation of voters have been blocked.

    “APC as a party has also re-strategised and very confident of victory because the local government areas where the rerun will take place remain the APC stronghold  and the electorate in these areas have made up their mind to vote massively for the Governor they trust.”

    The statement said the APC has nothing to do with a campaign of calumny but on issues that pertain to the development of the state which it noted, endeared Ganduje to the minds of the people.

    “The modest achievements recorded so far by the Ganduje administration have touched the lives of the people in all sectors of development and also remain determined to continue if returned,” the statement said.

     

  • Ganduje promises PDP shocker during rerun

    Kano State Governor Dr Abdullahi Ganduje has vowed to give the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) a shocker during the rerun of governorship election.

    He also declared his victory is guaranteed.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the Kano governorship election inconclusive following allegation of irregularities in Nasarawa local government area.

    A statement by the Commissioner for Information, Youth and Culture and Chairman, Publicity 2019 Election, Malam Muhammad Garba said: “Ganduje is unperturbed by the wishful thinking and slapdash deportment of the PDP candidate considering what happened in the inconclusive election widely characterized by alleged vote buying and voter intimidation by the party”.

    He said the All Progressives Congress and its candidate remain upbeat and sure of victory as Kano remained an APC state.

    The governor assured he remained committed to the conduct of free and fair election, stating all loopholes that led to rigging, vote buying and intimidation of voters have been blocked.

    ‘’APC as a party has also re-strategised and very confident of victory because the local government areas where the rerun will take place remain the APC stronghold and the electorate in these areas have made up their mind to vote massively for the Governor they trust.

    ‘’The modest achievements recorded so far by the Ganduje Administration have touched the lives of the people in all sectors of development and also remain determined to continue if returned,’’ the statement added.

  • 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 urges APC supporters to consolidate party’s gains

    Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has urged members and supporters of the All Progressive Congress (APC) to use the time between now and when the rescheduled general elections will be conducted to consolidate on the gains of the party.

    A statement by the Commissioner for Information, Youth and Culture, Malam Muhammad Garba, advised party members to work for its interest, ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    The governor, according to the statement, assured the people that the APC administration would continue to work hard to fulfil its campaign promises to Nigerians.

    Read also: Social Media accounts bearing my names are fake, says IBB

    He urged members to support the party’s leadership and be good ambassadors of the ideals the party represents.

    Ganduje also appealed to APC members to be law-abiding, to be orderly and to resist the temptations to resort to violence before, during and after the general elections.

    The statement urged security agencies to brace up to stop any attempt to cause a breach of peace in the state.

  • Ganduje orders shutdown of Sani Abacha stadium

    Kano state governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has ordered the closure of the Sani Abacha stadium Kofar Mata for two weeks.

    The State government said that the closure is to pave way for general renovation works.

    The closure is coming five days to the campaign rally of Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    According to the directives issued by the office of the state governor, Umar Ganduje, said the proposed general renovation works would last for two weeks.

    Read also: We will drag Buhari to court if he refuse to seek reelection – Ganduge

    A reliable source, confirmed the issuance of the directive to shut down the facility, adding that the proposed general renovation works have inclusive, the installation of a new scoreboard, the running track and provision of sources for steady water supply to all parts of the stadium facility.

    However, a source said that the closure was to ensure that the PDP Presidential Campaign team does not have access to the stadium to seek for votes

  • Ganduje to establish anti drug abuse agency

    Determined to rid Kano of drug abuse and trafficking, Kano state Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has announced his intention to set up a state-owned anti-drug agency that will work hand-in-hand with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to fight drug abuse in the state.
    Ganduje who stated this on Wednesday, regretted that Kano has become vulnerable to drug abuse.
    According to him, following statistics,  “Kano is vulnerable to drug abuse. As part of our efforts to combat the menace, Kano is to establish an agency that will collaborate with NDLEA to fight drug abuse.”
    Ganduje who received newly posted Commander of NDLEA, Dr. Ibrahim Abdul; Sector Commander of Federal Road Safety Commission, Corps Commander Yusuf Garba; and Brigade Commander, 3 Brigade, Nigeria Army, Brigadier-General Bamidele Alabi, who jointly paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, said his administration has continued to take adequate measures to fight drug abuse in the state.
    He, however, appreciated the efforts of the out going security heads in the state, while urging the newly posted ones to maintain the pace, adding that Kano state has remained one of the most peaceful states in the country.
    According to him, “Kano has remained one of the most peaceful states in the country since the inception of this administration, considering what is happening in neighbouring states. Peace in Kano is made possible through the grace of God and the efforts of security agencies.
    “So, I urge you to sustain the tempo. Here in Kano, there is well coordination and connection among security agencies. They connect and interact at all times, and this is why we are recording success in terms of maintenance of peace and order. Very soon, we will have our security meeting where all of you will be present and make your contributions.”
    Speaking to journalists shortly after the courtesy visit, Brigadier-General Alabi said the Army is well positioned to counter-terrorism and menace of miscreants through the newly launched Operation Python Dance in the North-West.
    He urged residents to remain law-abiding and provide security agencies with useful information that can lead to the arrest of terrosists and miscreants.

  • Kano Assembly has no right to investigate Ganduje – Court

    A Kano High Court presided over by Justice  A.T. Badamasi on Thursday granted an Order of Injunction restraining Kano state House of Assembly Investigative Committee from further investigating the alleged $5 million kickbacks involving Kano state Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

    The Court which earlier ordered the state House of Assembly to maintain the status quo ante, pending the determination of the originating summon, filed by the National Coordinator of Lawyers for Sustainable Democracy in Nigeria, Bar. Mohammed Zubair, ruled in favour of the plaintiff.

    The Nation recalled that Bar. Zubair on behalf of himself and the Lawyers for Sustainable  Democracy in Nigeria, sued Kano State House of Assembly, chairman of the Investigative Committee on the bribery allegation against Governor Ganduje (Baffa Babba Danagundi) and the state Attorney-General, challenging the constitutionality of the House investigating the bribery allegation, which is a criminal case.

    In the last sitting before the judgement, Counsel to the plaintiff, Bar. Nuraini Jimoh, argued that Kano state House of Assembly has no powers to investigate the criminal allegations against Governor Ganduje.

    According to him, the state House of Assembly only has the powers to make laws, establishing an anti-graft agency which, by law, can investigate such matter.

    In his submission, the state Attorney-General, Ibrahim Muktar, who is also the Third Defendant to the case, aligned himself with the position of the Counsel to the plaintiff.

    According to him, “by virtue of my office, my own is to follow the law. I have perused the application, I stand with the plaintiff and I adopt all the processes by the plaintiff, including his argument.”

    The Attorney-General also urged the Court to disregard the counter affidavit filed by the First and Second defendants, arguing that, “it is not safe for the Court to rely on the entire affidavit,” because the identity of the witness was not disclosed.

    Citing section 115 of the Evidence Act (2011), he insisted that the affidavit lacked credibility.

    The Attorney-General further stated that, “coming back to the main issue whether the state House of Assembly has the powers to investigate criminal allegations, no power under section 128 (1) is given to the House of Assembly to investigate the case.”

    According to him, “section 128 (2) of the constitution gave the House of Assembly the powers to expose corruption, and not the powers to engage in criminal investigation which was being conducted by the House of Assembly.”

    He cited Exhibit one of the case (letter of invitation by the Assembly to the Governor) where the phrase “bribery allegation” was used, insisting that “bribery” can only be attributed to a crime.

    According to him, section 128 (1) of the constitution gave the House of Assembly the powers to make laws establishing anti-corruption agencies, and not the powers to investigate criminal cases.

    He insisted that, “it was a criminal trial or investigation that was being conducted by the House of Assembly. This is wrong because it is the statutory responsibility of the police to investigate crime.

    “Members of the state House of Assembly are not experts in criminal investigation. They are not trained investigators. I submit that the House of Assembly has no capacity, whatsoever, to conduct criminal investigation because section 36 (5) and section 208 of the constitution gave the police the powers to investigate crime. So, section 128 of the constitution should not be in isolation on the issue before the Court.”

    He argued further that the proceedings by the House Investigative Committee was not a fact-finding exercise as claimed by the defendants, but a criminal investigation, adding that, “in the interest of justice law says that House of Assembly has no right to conduct criminal investigation.

    “The Kano state House of Assembly or any other state Assembly, including the National Assembly has no powers to engage in investigation of criminal allegation because it will lead to injustice against the person accused.”

    He urged the Court to grant the applications filed by the plaintiff in the interest of justice.

    In his argument, Counsel to the defendants, Barr. Mohammed Waziri told the Court that the Kano state House of Assembly Investigative Panel engaged in a fact-finding mission, and not investigation of criminal allegation.

    According to him, “I want to emphasize that there is no doubt that what the State House of Assembly is investigating is allegations of crime against the Governor, by doing so, they are exercising their power to expose crime—it is now for the judge to differentiate between crime and corruption.”

    Delivering his judgment on Thursday, Justice Badamasi ruled in favour of the plaintiff, stating that the power of investigation by the state House of Assembly as contained in Section 128 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, “is not absolute, nor at large. It is restricted by sub-section two of the same Section,”

    According to the Judge, the content of Exhibit one which is the Invitation Letter to Governor Ganduje to appear before the seven-man investigative committee indicated that it was not set up to gather facts, but to investigate the criminal allegations against Ganduje, which the House has no power to do so.

    The Judge noted that the powers of the House as contained in Section 128 is restricted to make laws setting up a panel that can investigate criminal allegation.

    The Judge also noted that investigation of crime or criminal allegations is the responsibility of the executive arm through the police or any other anti-graft agency, as the House can only invite members of the public on matters that has to do with making laws.

    Counsels to both the plaintiff and the defendants congratulated the Judge for his deep sense of judgement and agreed to abide by it.

     

  • EFCC denies receiving N10 million donation from Ganduje

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has denied receiving N10 million donation from Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje.

    The EFCC Acting Head, Media and Publicity, Mr Tony Orilade, said in Abuja on Tuesday that the story was false and a deliberate attempt to malign the efforts of the Commission in the fight against corruption.

    “The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has been drawn to a trending story in the social media.

    “This is concerning a purported statement credited to the media aide of the Kano State governor to the effect that the Commission got a N10 Million donation from the state government.

    “For the records, it is a tradition that the EFCC does not receive donations from state governors or government or any individual at that.

    “The EFCC, as a reputable anti-graft agency is sponsored by the Federal Government through budgetary allocation and in some cases, foreign organisations in terms of capacity building.

    “It is true that the Commission in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Crimes (ICPC) and the Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and other stakeholders is organising the first National Anti-Corruption Marathon.

    “Mr Jacob Onu, leader of the National Anti-Corruption Marathon had fortnight ago visited the Commission.“He informed the Acting Chairman and his management about the marathon which he said is being planned in tandem with the International Anti-Corruption Day which usually comes up on Dec. 9 every year.

    “He said it was aimed at raising national consciousness on the scourge and danger of corruption to the country and the need for all and sundry to join hands to eradicate it.
    “It is therefore very shocking to read of a purported donation of N10 million to the Commission.

    “The story is not only unfounded but very mischievous.“For the avoidance of doubt, no state governor or some other individual or group has donated any amount of money to the EFCC to carry out the Anti-corruption Marathon project or any other project for that matter,” Orilade said. (NAN)

  • Ganduje: Maintain status quo ante, Court tells Kano Assembly

    …Adjourns case to November 21

     

     

    A Kano High Court on Monday again ordered the Kano state House of Assembly Investigative Committee and all parties involved in the investigation of alleged $5 million bribery saga involving Kano state Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, to maintain status quo ante, pending the determination of the originating summon, filed by the National Coordinator of Lawyers for Sustainable Democracy in Nigeria, Bar. Mohammed Zubair.

    When the case came up for hearing, Bar. Kalid Abdullatif who stood in for Bar. Nuraini Jimoh, lead counsel to the plaintiff, stated that going by Order 29, Rule 1 and Order 28, Rule 1 and 4 of the Rules of the Court, 2014, the application filed on behalf of the plaintiff on November 5, 2018, restraining the defendants, Kano state House of Assembly, Hon. Baffa Babba Dan Agundi and the state Attorney-General from further investigation of the bribery allegation, still subsist.

    According to him, “the application still remains an Order of interlocutory injunction, restraining the defendants, either by themselves, agents, privies, or officials, or other persons, whosoever, from further inviting anybody, questioning, examining, making any further Press Releases, releasing or playing any further video tapes, investigation or further proceedings, with the, or any bribery allegation against  His Excellency, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, or anybody, whatsoever, therewith, pending the determination of the substantive  suit before this Honourable Court.”

    Bar. Abdullatif further argued that the act of the defendants to have constituted a Committee to investigate the bribery allegation against Governor Ganduje remains, “unconstitutional.”

    However, counsel to the Kano state House of Assembly (first defendant) and Investigative Committee Chairman, Hon. Baffa Babba Dan Agundi (second defendant), Bar. Mohammed Sa’ad Waziri, described his clients as law-abiding citizens who would not breach the law in any way.

    According to him, “before I proceed, I wish to state that the First and Second defendants are law-makers and law-abiding citizens. The Order came a day to the date slated to listen to witnesses at the Investigative Panel.

    “Since then, no step has been taken by the state House of Assembly or the Investigative Committee to breach the law. This is to tell you that Kano state House of Assembly is law-abiding. The Assembly has no intention whatsoever to take any further steps until the subsisting matter is decided upon because constitutional issues are being raised.”

    The Third Defendant who is also the state Attorney-General, Bar. Ibrahim Muktar did not object to the prayers of counsel to the plaintiff.

    In his ruling, the presiding Judge, Justice A.T. Badamasi, ordered all the parties involved in the case to maintain the status quo ante, pending the determination of the Originating Summon.

    He commended counsel to the defendants for advising his clients wisely and adjourned the case to November 21 for further hearing.

     

  • Oshiomhole in Kano as Shekarau joins APC

    The National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Mr. Adams Oshiomhole on Friday paid a special visit to former Governor of Kano state, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, describing him as one of the progressives that is much needed in the All Progressive Congress (APC).

    Oshiomhole who was accompanied by Kano state Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and some members of APC National Working Committee (NWC), visited Shekarau at his Kano residence, insisting that his coming back to APC remains a reunion that have been long awaited.

    Read Also:APC shift sale of nomination form by 24 hours

    According to him, “for me, it is a rare opportunity to be in your home and reunite with you. I know from your lifestyle, your background, from what you did as the Governor of Kano state, nobody can claim to be more progressive than you.

    “I am also fully aware that you are one of the founding fathers of the APC. You may not have expected the amount of efforts you invested in the formation of the All Progressive Congress which you did not enjoy.

    “I have always said that we should be going forward, in progressive we unite, with conservative, we move our ways. This meeting has offered us the opportunity to reunite once again as progressives.

    “I have come to pay my respect to His Excellency (Shekarau). I have spoken to my brother, the Executive Governor of Kano state, for the need for all of us to work together for the development of Kano state and the development of our nation, Nigeria.

    “I want to believe that this is a happy reunion and we shall continue to play progressive politics for the good of the Nigerian people.”

    Governor Ganduje in his remarks thanked Oshiomhole for sparring time to reunite him and Shekarau who he described as, “a brother and friend,” adding that, “we are very grateful for this honour that you (Oshiomhole) have done to us in order to concretize the relationship between Malam Ibrahim Shekarau and our great party; and to also acknowledge and ensure that this relationship has come to stay.”

    He pointed out that, “I and Malam Ibrahim Shekarau belong to the same constituency even though we were never in the same political party. The reason why I said we are from the same constituency is that Malam Ibrahim Shekarau is a bureaucrat and I am a bureaucrat. When I was Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport, some 20 years ago, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau was Permanent Secretary.

    “When we came in 1999, myself as the Deputy Governor, the former Governor of Kano state, Kwankwaso was the Governor and Malam Ibrahim Shekarau was a Permanent Secretary in the Cabinet Office.

    “I could recall because of a statement by sycophants of former Governor Kwankwaso, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau was given a query. He came to my house at 7 a.m. to tell me that he was given a query, I said go and make photocopy of that query. He made a photocopy and brought to me.

    “I met with Governor Kwankwaso and asked him what is happening? The Permanent Secretary in the Cabinet Office said he was given a query, what is the problem? He (Kwankwaso) said he learnt Malam Shekarau was holding meetings with some Ulamas in order to contest election.

    “I said what is wrong for him to hold meetings with Ulamas? Even myself through my Ganduje Foundation, I hold meeting with Ulamas. What is the problem, please withdraw that query, but the Governor refused to withdraw that query, and he had the right to do that.

    “What later happened was that Malam Shekarau was posted out to the Ministry of Education. I called the Commissioner of Education at that time and said Malam Ibrahim Shekarau has been posted to your ministry, I asked him to discuss with Malam Shekarau what type of job he would want to do in the Ministry of Education.

    “Then, the Honourable Commissioner asked Malam Shekarau what he would want to be, and Malam Shekarau said he wanted to be a classroom teacher, and Malam Ibrahim Shekarau was posted out as a classroom teacher.

    “As God would have it, in less than two months, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau became the Governor of Kano state. He defeated the incumbent Governor, he defeated Kwankwaso and myself. He sent us out of Government House.

    “One important thing is that, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau and myself have always been good associates, we have always been good friends, in fact, we are like minds; and for him to be in APC, I am the happiest person in this state today.

    “Before, a friend, a brother in different political party, now our dreams have come true; now, we are together in the same political party, we understand ourselves, we believe in the same ideology, we believe in commitment—the development of our people, the development of our state.

    “I think there is no better time to have a brother, to come together and serve the people of Kano state. I tell you today that all other things would be sorted out between Malam Ibrahim Shekarau and I, between Malam Ibrahim Shekarau and our government, between the followers of Malam Ibrahim Shekarau and our government, everything will be sorted out peacefully.

    “So, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, we welcome you to this very important party, the APC. You are one of the founding fathers of APC. The same Hyena that drove you out of APC is the same Hyena that drove you out of PDP. We are happy that you will soon make your pronouncement. Let us come together and fight that Lion.”

    Malam Shekarau who said his position for membership of APC would be made known in few hours said that: “I am happy today for you (Oshiomhole) and His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kano state to pay me this special visit. I feel highly honoured, I feel highly respected.

    “I am not totally surprised because the National Chairman has been a long-standing friend, a long-standing colleague and a long-standing comrade.

    “I am not surprised also when he emerged the chairman of the APC. I want to assure you that those of us here in Kano are aware of all that has been happening because history is repeating itself.

    “All along, I have been beating my chest with pride that anybody writing the history of APC and the name of Ibrahim Shekarau is not there, that history is incomplete. I had the singular honour of being the Chief mid-wife of APC.

    “For me and Governor Ganduje, regardless of any political party we find ourselves, our mission is always one sincerity of purpose to move Kano and Nigeria forward. Our consultations are in full gear, in the next couple of hours, we will make it known to the world our stand as far as membership of APC is concerned.”

    Other dignitaries in Ganduje’s entourage include Senator Ibrahim Kabiru Gaya (Kano South), Senator Barau Jubrin (Kano North), Speaker of Kano state House of Assembly, Kabiru Alhassan Rurum, Chief Whip of Kano state House of Assembly, Bappa Babba Dan Agundi, Senator Mohammed Bello, Senior Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on National Assembly Matters, Abdulraman Kawu Sumaila, Private Secretary to Ganduje, Ibrahim Kankorofi, members of Kano state executive council, among others.

    However, plans have been concluded to officially receive Shekarau to APC in a grand rally to be held today.