The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kano State Governor

  • Eid-el-Kabir: Ganduje caution politicians against incitement

    Kano state Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has urged Muslims to imbibe the values of sacrifice, love and keep fostering unity as they join their counterparts globally to celebrate this years Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.

    Ganduje also cautioned religious and political leaders against hate campaigns, incitement or fanning embers of disunity in this period of heightened political activity in the country.

    In his Sallah message signed by the commissioner for Information, Youth and Culture, Malam Muhammad Garba, Governor Ganduje said the period of the celebration was a clarion call for Nigerians to imbibe the lessons of the season such as selfless service to God and humanity, sacrifice and sincere commitment to righteous conducts in their private and public life.

    Read Also: Eid-el Kabir: Gaidam urges unity between Muslims and other religions

    He explained that the significance of the season should be beyond the festivities, adding that the real essence was not in the meat or the blood of the animal but to encourage piety, self-discipline and sacrifice.

    The governor called on all Nigerians to exhibit these values for the good of the country, emphasizing the need for constructive criticisms for improved governance, which he said, must be separated from incitements in order to move forward.

    While congratulating the Muslims for the opportunity by Allah to enable us witness yet another celebration, Ganduje urged the faithful to use the period to pray for peace and unity in the country and for safe return of pilgrims from the Holy Land.

  • No prior knowledge of Speakers’ removal – Ganduje 

    Kano state governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje  said on Monday that he had no knowledge of what happened at the state’s assembly not until he was informed via telephone calls by top members of his party that the speaker of the house, Rt Honorable Ata has been removed by members of the house.

    Ganduje who described the episode as an internal democracy said that, such development is good for any progressive democracy.

    Read Also:Kwankwaso has lost political relevance – Ganduje

    The Governor made the assertion at the kano state government House when the new speaker, Honorable Kabiru Alhassan Rurum and his principal officers paid a courtesy visit during which they pledged their loyalty to him.

    They further reaffirmed their unflinching support for his administration and reelection bid.

    According Ganduje, “I was not aware of what was going on at the state assembly; I was informed by top members of our great party that the speaker of the house has been impeached by the members of the house.

    “As you know, there has been, and they would be different interpretations to what has happened, but one thing is certain, that is, we in Kano believe in internal democracy”

    “I urge you to embrace all those whom have lost their seats and ensure that there are no factions within the assembly members.

    “I welcome you to the state government House, your house, and I want to reassure you that there shall be synergy between the state government and the assembly for the greater development of the state”

    “For eight years I was the deputy governor, and we have been together with virtually all of you for the past sixteen years, so am familiar with the antics of the assembly and issues of internal democracy”

    “I’m happy to hear that you are solidly behind the party in the state, National level and the president particularly at this moment of trial”

    In his remarks, the Speaker, Kabiru Alhassan Rurum expressed their loyalty to the Ganduje’s administration and reaffirmed that, the assembly members would continue to work with the Governor for the peace and progress of the state.

    Rurum assures the Governor that, there shall be no defection by members of the house as efforts are been made to win over the six Kwankwansiyya loyalists to their fold.

    He further reiterated their loyalty and support for the Ganduje’s second term ambition as well as that of the president Muhammadu Buhari and also pledge their loyalty to APC and its National Chairman, Adam Oshiomhole.

  • APC LG CONGRESS : Ganduje  affirms APC Waxing Stronger

     Kano State Governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, yesterday, expressed delight, over the peaceful and massive turnout of All Progressive Party (APC) members at the Local Government congresses,  an indication that the party is waxing stronger in the State.

    Ganduje made the assertion at  his Dawakin Tofa Local Government party secretariat, shortly after casting his vote for the election of local government executives of the party, as well as delegates for the forthcoming state congress

    “I am sure that those, who would be elected today would be competent people, with integrity and capacity to take the party to victory in all the forthcoming general elections in the state, and the country in general,”. 

    The congress was supervised by a team from the national Secretariat of the party, led by Chief John Agoda, who expressed satisfaction over the conduct of the Congress. 

    He reassured that Kano would garner 3 million votes for President Muhammadu Buhari in the forthcoming 2019 General election stressing that Nigerians were satisfied with the President’s style of leadership.

    Agoda added that, it was because of the satisfaction Nigerians derive from President Buhari’s democratic governance that more people were decamping to the party in droves, adding that: “Our dear President is doing well in both human and infrastructural development,”.

    While calling on party faithfuls to conduct themselves peacefully at the Congress, he tasked the new leadership elected to make sure that they discharge their responsibilities diligently during their four-year tenure in office.

  • Why we killed tenure elongation for Oyegun, others – Ganduje

    Ahead of another emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) which is expected to put an end to the ongoing controversy about tenure elongation for party leaders at all levels, Kano state Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje said they were against the idea because it will affect the fortunes of the party and portray it as an undemocratic party.

    The Governor said he was not part of the tenure elongation idea and said those of them who were not in support of the idea had managed to convince the governors in favour to jettison the idea and embrace an elective convention where new leaders will emerge.

    Speaking at an interactive session with a selected group of journalists in Abuja, Ganduje also declared his intention to seek reelection as Kano State governor in 2019, adding that the State has concluded plans to drag President Muhammadu Buhari to court if he fails to seek reelection for a second term.

    The governor said the contentious tenure elongation for the party executive will be reversed at the party NEC meeting scheduled for Monday, April 9, 2018 and a committee put in place to conduct congresses to elect leaders at all levels.

    He said that the few APC governors who were campaigning for the tenure elongation which he described as “illegal” have been convinced to see reasons why such should not be.

    Ganduje also revealed that Monday NEC meeting is expected to decide on date and time table for Congresses and convention of the party which will brings in new set of leaders at all levels.

    “Yes, there was controversy on this even though yesterday we  were able to put it at rest. But let me tell you the issues involved, those who are advocating for tenure elongation, they are advocating on the premise that when we hold congresses and convention according to their own perception, there will be a lot of problems and that problem will linger into election period. Well that is a perception, it could be that way and it could be that some people wanted to retain power. Therefore that reason biased.

    “However, I don’t belong to that school of thought. The constitution of our party has made a provision for four years and at the end of it we have to hold congresses and convention. The constitution of Nigeria has also provided for that, so we have no reason whatsoever.

    “If you are saying that there would be some problems, problems are part of ingredients of politics, there is no way you can practice democracy in a developing country without having some problems. There must be problems; there must be divergent views and disagreements. There will never be a time that things will be 100% normal. So even if there is problem, that is part of democracy and we will be able to move forward.

    “So for those who thought they would be able to continue, we said no and so I think Mr. President finally hit the nail on the head, by saying that he is not in favour of any tenure elongation.

    “Tenure elongation is undemocratic, it may lead us to litigation which will not be good for the party and we are happy that we have convinced the few governors that were for the elongation and on Monday we hope to have our NEC meeting where the previous decision will be reversed and by then timetable will be out for congresses at the ward level, congress at local government level, congress at the state level and finally convention at the national level.

    “I think that is the situation and I am happy to say that the chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum issued a statement, the chairman of the APC governors Forum also issued a statement and the national chairman of the party Chief John Oyegun made a statement as well to say that all is well.”

    Speaking on his decision to seek second term in office, Ganduje said: “In Kano, people are saying four plus four, that is they are urging me to contest again but I too feel that in order to continue with the good development that we have started, development require some time and the constitution has given four years and another four years in order to consolidate what one has started.

    “I am convinced that I too will seek for second term and people are also urging me to do so. Eventually it will be left to the people to decide whether I am will qualified or not.”

    On why President Buhari must re-contest in 2019, the governor said: “APC governors want Mr. President to continue. I am happy that it is not the president that said he wants to continue, it is the people that are saying continue but Mr. President has not made up his mind yet.

    “When he came to Kano, I told him that any time he decides not to contest we will take him to court, Kano state government will take him to court any time he decides not to contest. So we are waiting for him.

    “In this country we saw presidents who spent billions of Naira for third term, so what is the ruse about a constitutional second term. Some people who spent billions of Naira in order to go for third term, I think it should not be news or something like that.”

    Read Also: Tenure Elongation: APC NWC divided over technical committee

  • I’ll turn Kano to China of Nigeria – Ganduje

    I’ll turn Kano to China of Nigeria – Ganduje

    Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has said his administration is determined to turn Kano into China of Nigeria through its policy of training youths in specialised skills.

    This was as he said that, his government was reviewing the current Nigerian education curriculum with a view to adjusting it to cater for specific areas of manpower needs in the country.

    Ganduje who stated these on Tuesday at the graduation of 150 trainees from Kano State at the Peugeot Automobile Nigeria (PAN) Learning Center in Kaduna, said the high unemployment rate in the country was because youths were not made to acquire the required skills needed.

    Speaking to the trainees who acquired special training in different aspects of Automotive Engineering, the Governor told them that, the aim of their training was not only to get them employed but, turn Kano to China of Nigeria through their productivity.

    According to him, “we are training you, not only for you to become self-employed and employers of labour. We are training you not to remain in Kano alone. We want to be like China is to the world that is what we want Kano to be to Nigeria. Chinese are all over the world, we want Kano to be all over Nigeria.

    “This is can only be possible if you have some vital skills, skills that are not common, unless you have something to sell, something to offer, irrespective of your location. Wherever you go, your skill is something you can offer to the people.

    “We want to remove ourselves from tribalism and useless sentiment. We want to build our economy, we want to build manpower. Because there are countries that don’t have a single drop of oil and yet they are one of the biggest economies in the world. How did they achieve that? It is their brain and skills.” He said.

    Ganduje said his administration is identifying the needed skills so that youths can be trained for sustainable employment and it is building a N5 billion skills acquisition center in Kano to train the youths.

    He said Kano as the most populous state in Nigeria must tap its vast human potential otherwise the human asset would become a liability. He said the current training in various forms of automobile engineering the youths from Kano are undergoing is one the ways the government is tackling the issue of unemployment in the state.

    Earlier, the Managing Director of PAN, Alhaji Ibrahim Boyi said the youth empowerment initiative of the company is an extension of what the Kano state government is doing for youths as it is providing a platform for them to be productive.

    He said it is the hope of the center that in five years from now, it would be offering degree program in auto engineering.

    President of the trainees, Mohammed Saleh, who spoke at the occasion, thanked the governor for the opportunity given him and his mates to acquire skills saying they would put them to good use to develop the state and help their people.

    He called on the governor to build a similar facility in Kano for the training of the youths so that the teeming number of youths in the state can equally benefit.

    Read Also: Ganduje Appoints Kano Emir Chair Investment Advisory Committee

  • Kano invests N2.2b UBEC funds in classrooms

    Kano State Governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje on Tuesday laid the foundation stone for the construction of class room blocks across the 44 Local Government Area of the state which is to be financed with the N2.2 billion Kano state government/Universal Basic Education (UBE) matching grant for 2017 fiscal year.

    Ganduje, who performed the foundation laying at Darmanawa Special Primary School in Tarauni local government area, said: “Under the scheme, 61 two-storey blocks consisting six classrooms per block, including offices, would be constructed and furnished.  The project will accommodate an estimated 21, 960 pupils, as each classroom will contain 60 pupils.

    “Each block will have six classrooms. Each classroom will accommodate 60 pupils, so more opportunity will be provided for our teeming children to attend public schools enjoy our free education policy.”

    According to him, 20 out of the 60 new blocks to be constructed would be sited in Kano metropolis, while the remaining 41 would be spread across the rural areas of the state, in view of disparity in pupils’ density.

    “Presently, we have over three million children in public primary school, which is more than the population of some states. Classes, furniture and educational materials are not enough so it is our responsibility to do our best to address this challenge,” he stated.

    While revealing that arrangement was in top gear to access N2.4 billion UBE counterpart fund for the 2017 fiscal year, within the next two weeks, the governor assured that his administration would not relent in expanding access to education for all children in the state.

    He appealed to communities, wealthy individuals and corporate bodies to support the government’s stride in the education sector, by providing infrastructure and teaching/learning materials in public schools.

     

  • Ganduje spends N1billion on PHC delivery

    Ganduje spends N1billion on PHC delivery

    Kano state Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje Monday said  his administration has expended over N1 billion for the procurement and distribution of drugs, medical equipment to secondary and primary health care facilities to improve their diagnostic and management capacity.

    Speaking during convention of over 3,880 Kano state Volunteer Community Mobilizers (VCMS) and distribution /launching of Anti-malarial Commodities and other Health Intervention held in Government House, Ganduje said his administration has keyed into the Federal Government agenda of revitalizing the primary health care in Nigeria.

    According to him, “Kano state government with the support of our partners has upgraded, renovated and equipped more than 120 primary health facilities across the 44 Local Government Areas of Kano state to make basic health care available to our people.

    “In our determination to further deliver on our campaign promises and to ensure that Kano people benefit maximally from the health care service delivery, the present administration has embarked on many beneficial and far-reaching health interventions ranging from infrastructure and equipment upgrade, health care financing to manpower development.”

    He mentioned some of the interventions to include, “upgrade and renovation of Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital in collaboration with Dangote Foundation–the work is estimated to cost billions of Naira and when completed, the hospital will be of international standard.

    “Procurement and distribution of drugs, medical equipment worth over N1 billion, secondary and primary health care facilities to improve the diagnostic and management capacity; establishment of state Contributory Health care Management Agency; and signing into law of the Health Trust Fund and also signing into law the Private Health Institution Management Law which will govern private hospitals.”

    Ganduje recalled before his administration, the state government was faced with a number of challenges in the health sector, such as high incidence of Malaria and other communicable diseases; high prevalence of malnutrition among children under five years.

    He further mentioned other challenges to include dilapidated health infrastructure, especially, at the primary health care level; inadequate qualitative        specialized health care; human resource gaps at secondary and primary health care levels and lack of sustainability in health care financing.

    He added that, “to tackle this and many more of health system challenges, the state government has been expending colossal resources both human and material to revamp the health system.

    “It is on record that between January to August, 2017 alone, Kano state government and its partners has spent over N700 million on the procurement and distribution of drugs, insecticides, treated bed nets, Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) for malaria, among other things for the prevention and control of malaria in Kano state.

    “It is also worthy to note that this administration within this year alone spent over N300 million as a matching grant with UNICEF for the procurement of ready-to-use therapeutic food items and highly nutritious food for the treatment of severely malnourished children in Kano state.”

    Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi 11 who was given a merit award of excellence for his effort in eradicating polio in Kano, commended Governor Ganduje for his huge investment in the health sector.

    The Royal Father called for more enlightenment on immunization of polio and other communicable diseases and urged Kano residence to apply personal hygiene.

    Also speaking during the event, Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Katsina and Kano, Mrs. Padmavathi Yadla, said Kano recorded 39 month free polio status and urged the state government and other partners to strengthen the routine immunization.

    Read Also: Ganduje sues for peace, understanding among Nigerians

  • Ganduje seeks access to idle UBEC funds

    Ganduje seeks access to idle UBEC funds

    Kano State Governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has appealed to the Federal Government to allow the state access Universal Basic Education (UBEC) funds of those states that have failed to access their share.

    He said Kano had been up to date in accessing its UBEC funds for numerous projects, but needed more in view of its enormous challenges in the sector to meet the needs of its teeming pupils.

    Unlike others states that were years behind, Ganduje said Kano had accessed UBEC funds up till 2016 and would soon provide matching grant for 2017.

    “At the moment, we have about three million children in school and about the same number out of school. So, obtaining the funds will help us revitalise the basic education sector, especially in view of the prevailing challenges facing us”, the governor said.

    The governor, who said this while receiving members of the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education led by Dr Istifanus Dung Gyang at the Government House, said Kano being the most populous state in the country required more money to provide infrastructure, teaching aids and personnel in the basic education sub sector.

    He said that Kano was grappling with the challenge of millions of out- of-school children, pointing out however, that recent figures available to the government, have shown that two thirds of them are from neighbouring states and even some West African countries, brought to Kano for Qur’anic education.

    Ganduje told the visiting committee members that his administration had deployed enormous resources to boost the capacity of teachers, saying nearly 30, 000 primary teachers have so far been sponsored by the government for professional programmes in several tertiary institutions in Kano and Kaduna state.

    In his remarks, the leader of the team, Gyang acknowledged the state’s infrastructural deficit in the basic education sub-sector, stressing the need for increased budgetary intervention in the sector.

    He however, commended the state for accessing its UBEC grant up till 2016, urging it to make judicious use of the funds for the good of its citizens

     

  • Quit Notice: Igbos must remain in the north – Ganduje

    Quit Notice: Igbos must remain in the north – Ganduje

    Kano state Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje Saturday affirmed that not even the Igbos or any other ethnic nationality resident in Kano will leave the state as a result of the recent quit notice order by Arewa Youths.

    The Governor who stated this during a meeting with the Igbo Delegates Assembly (IDA)  and Igbo Traditional rulers in the 19 northern states, led by IDA President- General, Chief Chi Nwogu, at the Government House in Kano.

    He added that as leaders in Northern Nigeria, all governors in the region are solidly against ethnic prejudice, as promoted by certain group of youth, declaring categorically that Igbos in the region will stay forever.

    According to him, “even if you want to go on your own, we will not allow you to leave. There is a difference between I will not go and there is no where I can go. You don’t have anywhere to go, this place is your home.”

    According to him, even foreigners are residing comfortably in Kano and other parts of Northern Nigeria and are engaged in legitimate ventures, adding that there is no basis to threaten other Nigerians, who collectively fought for the nation’s independence.

    “Those advocating ethnic agitation from the East are not speaking for all Igbos. Those of us, who as youth witnessed the Civil war, will never advocate secession,” he stated.

    Governor Ganduje said the Northern youth who issued quit notice to Igbos in the region have also been called to order by elders, civic and political leaders, including governors and the Sultan of Sokoto, because all well-meaning people believe in one Nigeria.

    “When you have youths who have no elders, they are similar to riding a horse without a bridle. It can behave anyhow and anything can happening. This is what is happening,” he maintained.

    He, therefore, described the meeting reconciliatory between the IDA leadership and Coalition of Northern youths as timely, asserting that all ethnic groups in the country have advantages which if collectively harnessed would make the country greater.

    “What is happening in Sudan is a lesson for all of us. The breakup of that country has not taken them anywhere. We cannot afford to make that class of mistake,” he said.

    In his remarks, the President- General, Igbo Delegates Assembly, Chief Chi Nwogu, said there were in Kano to meet the Coalition of Northern Youth Groups, in respect of the quit notice issued Igbos in the North by the youths.

    “Both of us have agreed to set up a committee to sort out things and ensure that there is peace”, he stressed.

    Meanwhile, Governor Ganduje also met with members of the Coalition of Northern Youth Groups, where he expressed happiness that they have listened to the voices of elders and accepted to stride the path of peace.

     

  • ACF warns those behind Ganduje, Emir Sanusi rift to desist

    ACF warns those behind Ganduje, Emir Sanusi rift to desist

    ..as Anthony Sani becomes ACF Sec Gen

     

    Mouthpiece of Northern Nigeria, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has warned those fanning the ember of crisis between Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II to desist.

    ACF while commending the efforts of Northern States Governors Forum for the peace it brokered between the duo, urged that the agreement reached should be respected in the interest of peace and stability of Northern Nigeria.

    The forum in a communique issued at the end of its joint meeting of the Board of Trustees and the National Executive Council said, “the attention of the leadership of Arewa Consultative Forum has been drawn to the simmering crisis between the Kano State Government and the Kano Emirate Council.

    “However, ACF is aware of the peace initiative brokered by the Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) in Kaduna and hope that the decisions taken would continue to be respected in the interest of peace and stability of the North and Nigeria in general.

    “ACF urges all outside interest groups to desist from fanning the embers of discord”, it said.

    The communiqué signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim Biu also revealed that the forum, now has a new Secretary General, Mr. Anthony N. Z Sani.

    Anthony Sani who is a one time National Publicity Secretary of ACF is taking over from Col. John I. P Ubah, who resigned the position.

    Meanwhile, Alhaji Ibrahim Ahmadu Coomassie, IGP rtd, has been reelected as the Chairman National Executive Committee of the forum.

    According to the communiqué, “The Joint Meeting of the Board of Trustees and the National Executive Council of Arewa Consultative Forum under the Chairmanship of Alhaji Adamu M. Fika (Wazirin Fika), Chairman BOT, was held on the 10th of May, 2017,at the ACF Headquarters, No. 11A Sokoto Road, Kaduna.

    “In attendance were the Chairman NEC, Alhaji Ibrahim A. Coomassie, IGP rtd, GCON, mni, Sardauna Katsina, Deputy Chairman BOT, AVM Mukhtar Mohammed Wazirin Dutse, Lt. Gen MI Wushishi rtd),and other members of both the BOT and NEC from the 19 Northern States and Abuja.

    “The meeting received and adopted the report of the 2017 Leadership Selection Committee for officials of the National Working Committee of NEC. The recommendations of the Committee were discussed and accepted as follows;

    “The re-election of the Chairman NEC, IGP Ibrahim A. Coomassie and all other members of the National Working Committee for another tenure of three 3 years. The acceptance of resignation letter of Col JIP Ubah, rtd, as the Secretary General of the Forum. The election of Mr. Anthony N. Z. Sani as the new Secretary General of the Forum.

    “Others are: the election of Brig. Gen Sen. John Shagaya as Vice-Chairman of the BOT. That henceforth the practice of restricting recruitment of leaders to specific geo-political zones be discontinued in respect of the Chairman of BOT, Chairman of NEC and Secretary General. It shall now be opened to all interested persons from the North. However, for the lower level leadership positions of both the BOT and the NWC, they should continue to be distributed to the geo-political zones on rotational basis.

    “The tenure of all officials in the NEC shall run for only one single term of three (3) years. The tenure of the leadership of the BOT shall run for only one single term of four (4) years. The meeting reaffirmed its belief in the unity of the North and the peaceful coexistence of its people.

    “Towards this end, the forum appeals to all Nigerians to come to terms with the reality that the current socio-economic challenges the nation is passing through are not beyond redemption and can become history under purposeful leadership”, the communiqué read.