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Tag: kano state

  • Alleged $5m bribe: Kano Assembly probe panel to appear before court

    THE committee probing Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje for alleged bribery is to appear in court.

    Baffa Babba Dan Agundi is the Chairman of House of Assembly Investigative Committee on the allegation by publisher of an online news platform, Daily Nigerian, Mr. Jaafar Jaafar.

    Agundi and the committee members will appear before  the High Court on November 12 on a suit filed against them.

    A pro-democracy group, Lawyers for Sustainable Democracy in Nigeria, last Monday, sued the committee and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

    It prayed the court to prevail on them to stop the investigation.

    Addressing reporters at the Assembly complex, Agundi said: “We are here today to give the position of the Kano State House of Assembly and the committee investigating alleged bribe taking by the governor of Kano State.

    “One, we have received a court process filed by some lawyers, who named themselves Lawyers for Sustainable Democracy in Nigeria.

    “Secondly, we are going to put in our appearance before the court on Monday to respect the rule of law, to respect the Kano State High Court of Justice and, particularly, the court that gave this order to Kano State House of Assembly.

    “It is important to note that the court did not stop the committee from doing its work. The court only pronounced that the status quo be maintained.

    “You can translate it to your own understanding. There is no order that specifically said ‘stop work.’ So, I think the committee can continue with its work and we are putting our appearance by Monday, as I said earlier.

    “It is also important to understand that the Constitution is very clear. Sections 128 and 129 empower Kano State House of Assembly to embark on any kind of investigation that it deems appropriate when something like this arises.

    “So, I think we are working within the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and we are working within the rules of Kano State House of Assembly.

    “So, we will respect the court by putting our appearance on Monday and the committee will continue with its work.”

     

     

  • Federal pensioners protest over non-payment of 36 pension arrears

    Over One thousand Pensioners under the auspices of All Federal Pensioners in Kano state Tuesday, staged a peaceful protest at the old campus of Bayero University Kano (BUK) over non-payment of 36-month, 33 per cent pension arrears which has led to the death of 300 pensioners within three years in the North west region of the country.

    According to their spokesman, Malam Muhammad Isa who is the chairman, Federal University Pensioners Association (FUPA), BUK chapter, the pensioners include retired workers from BUK, Federal College of Education, Kano, Dala Orthopedic Hospital, Federal College of Education, Bichi, Katsina, Gusau, Panshin as well as Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) Kano.

    The protesters passed a vote of no confidence on Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), describing the activities of the body as fraudulent and unpatriotic.

    According to their spokesman, “We have no confidence in PTAD, especially the executive secretary who has adopted a selective manner of payment in favour Customs, Immigrations, Police and Prison services as well as paying the university of Lagos teaching hospital pensioners 12 months arrears last August.

    Read Also: Pensioners salute Obaseki’s drive to clear inherited arrears

    In an open letter addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari titled Mr. President Save our Soul, the federal pensioners lamented that, “we pensioners have served this country diligently, and we are aged and most of us are on medical drugs.

    “We are no longer employed and we don’t have any regular means of income. We can no longer pay our children school fees, we can no longer provide for our families. We massively voted for President Buhari in 2015 and we appeal to him to use his good office to ensure the release of funds for the payment of our arrears.”

    They added that, “Mr. President, we would like to express our lack of confidence on the executive secretary of PTAD and call on Mr. President to constitute a panel to investigate PTAD since its inception, what it took over, all other allocation made to it, its disbursement, the mode of the disbursement and also ascertain the claim of the executive secretary on the sources of the payments to those favoured sectors.

    The entire pensioners, who have been struggling in the last nine years for PTAD to settle our 33 per cent pensions arrears  want Mr. President to use his authority to prevail on PTAD to pay our outstanding 33 per cent pension arrears before the year runs out.”

    Some of the placards they carried with inscription: “Mr. President pay us our 33 per cent pension arrears of 36 months, General Buharia Save our soul, Federal pensioners are dying, our children are out of school because we have no money to pay their school fees,” “Mr. President, pensioners are hungry; no proper feeding,”

     

  • Flood: Kano support 389 victims with N40m relief materials

    Kano state Government on Thursday disbursed relief materials, including cash, roofing sheets and bags of cement worth over N40 million to 389 victims of flood in Rimin Gado and Kabo Local Government Areas of the state.

    Speaking on behalf of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the state Deputy Governor, Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, in a brief ceremony in Rimin Gado, said the gesture was part of the N100 million donated by the Kano state government to cushion the sufferings of the affected flood victims.

    Gawuna recalled that the state Governor had approved the immediate release of N100 million to the flood victims across the state, after the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi 11, briefed Ganduje on the extent of damage caused by flood across the state.

    Gawuna said the sum of N50, 000 each was given to the families of those who lost their lives during the flood, while the injured got N30, 000 each.

    He added that, victims whose houses were submerged and destroyed by the flood got two bundles of roofing sheet and three bags of cement each.

    Read Also: Kano to harvest three million tonnes of rice

    Gawuna added that this was in fulfillment of the state government to assist the victims as a palliative measure.

     He appealed to the residents to always take precautionary measures, such as avoid building houses on water ways and blocking drainages.

    He said the distribution will continue in other Local Government Areas affected by the flooding such as Gwarzo, Warawa, Gabasawa, among others.

    Also speaking, the Director Operations, Kano State Emergency Management Agency, Hajia Aisha Lawan said over 848 bundles of roofing sheets and 848 bags of cement were distributed to victims in Kabo Local Government Area.

    She added that in Rimin Gado, the victims got a total of 658 bundles of roofing sheet and 987 bags of cement,  while 424 buildings were destroyed by flood in Kabo, residents of Rimin Gado lost five people and 339 houses to the flood, just as a total of 389 people got government assistance in the two Local Government Areas.

  • Education is antidote to extremism, terrorism – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Abuja urged religious leaders in the country to assist government to overcome forces of destruction by enlightening their followers to guard against religious extremism and terrorism.

    He made the call while receiving the leadership of Qadiriyya Islamic Movement in Africa at the State House, Abuja.

    Buhari, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, also noted that Muslim leaders have a duty to promote the principles and tenets of Islam as a religion of peace and justice.

    He said that those who indoctrinate children and plant explosives on them to harm innocent people do not belong to any religion but ‘‘terrorists who should be identified and fought until they give up their evil ways.’’

    The President, who commended the Qadiriyya movement for promoting education, interfaith dialogue and good moral conduct in the society, expressed support for the proposed Islamic Centre in Abuja by the movement.

    Speaking earlier in his remarks, the leader of the Qadiriyya in Africa, Sheikh Qaribullah Kabara had congratulated the President on his emergence as his party’s candidate for the 2019 election.

    He also commended the President on the achievements of his administration since coming into office, stressing the diversification of the economy, increased power supply and food sufficiency.

    Speaking with State House correspondents at the end of meeting, Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Gamduje said “First of all to congratulate Mr. President for picking the ticket to run for second term and he used the opportunity to thank Mr. President for the development in Nigeria especially in the economy which has improved especially electricity and also agriculture and also we used the opportunity to inform Mr. President the importance of the Qadiriyyah center which is being built here in Abuja.

    “It is basically for education especially for reducing extremism, radicalism in religion. This is the right time the centre will be able to control the minds of the followers.

    Read Also: Buhari, Amosun meet in Aso Rock

    “So the centre is under construction now. Mr. President appreciated the building of the centre and he promised to the help concern of the centre. We also prayed for Mr. President.

    “That is the first group that came to visit the President, the Qadiriyyah Movement of Africa. It is a very powerful organisation with so many followers and it is anti extremism and anti Boko Haram. It believes in the normal religious injunctions as professed by our holy Koran.
    Asked whether the meeting has anything to do with Buhari’s re-election bid, he said “Yes, in fact they prayed for his success in the forthcoming election.”

  • 10 APC governors seek re-election

    As party commence screening of aspirants

     

    Not less than 10 sitting governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are seeking the party ticket re-election to fly the party flag in the governorship election scheduled for February 2019.

    Sitting governors seeking the parry ticket are Governors Abubakar Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje (Kano), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), Aminu Bello Masari (Katsina), Nasir El Rufai (Kaduna), Mohammed Sani Bello (Niger), Simon Lalong (Plateau), Mohammed Abubakar (Bauchi), Jibrilla Bindo (Adamawa) and Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos).

    Governors Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Kashim Shettima (Borno), Ibrahim Gaidam (Yobe), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun) is not seeking re-election, while the election of Governors Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo) and Yahaya Bello (Kogi) is not due yet.

    While Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State is also not seeking re-election having served his mandatory eight years, the governorship election in the state will take place on Saturday, while the inauguration of Kayode Fayemi as Ekiti state Governor will take place in October.

    The National Working Committee (NWC) of the party led by the National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole screened the returning governors one after the other at Oshiomhole’s personal campaign at the Asokoro area of Abuja.

    The party leadership also screened some sitting governors who are contesting the Senatorial ticket to represent the party in the senate including Governor Abiola Ajimobi, Rochas Okorocha, Abdulaziz Yari, Kashim Shettima and Tanko Al Makura.

    The Nation gathered Governors Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano, Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna and Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina has nobody contesting against them in the governorship primaries.

    Read Also: Oyetola is best candidate, says APC

    Kano state governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje who spoke with newsmen after his screening said “the screening went on successfully but you know the number of governors that took turn to undergo the screening. My own took less than 3 minutes then I bowed and left because I have no challenger in APC governorship primary in Kano state.”

    He dismissed the effect of defection on the fortune of the party in the forthcoming elections, saying “it is the opposite, meaning many more politicians are coming to APC. I know that they are nomadic politicians but and we have gained more from nomadic politicians than we initially suffered from.”

    When specifically mentioned the exit of the former Kano state governor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, governor Ganduje simply also asked: “And the coming of Shekarau.”

    On his part, Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari expressed justified the use of indirect method of primary, saying that  the governors are mostly on ground and will easily adapt to any of the options for primary election.

    He insisted that those who were clamoring for the use of direct primary were members of the party who are not on ground and were afraid of facing the people through the delegate system.

    Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi on his part said he does not have any anointed for any of the positions being contest, assuring that he will not interfere in the process leading to the choice of his successor.

    “I am not God, I don’t anoint. I have no anointed candidate. I think we have opted for indirect primary but more importantly, we have so many people who are eminently qualified aspirants and for me, I have given them free hands, let them talk to all party members. And whoever they among them, I am okay. There is none of them who is not eminently qualified.

    “I think we have opted for indirect but more importantly, we have so many people who are eminently qualified aspirants and for me, I have given them free hands, let them talk to all party members. And whoever they among them, I am okay. There is none of them who is not eminently qualified.”

    Niger state governor Mohammed Sani Bello whose state is one of the few than has settled for direct primary said that the party’s stakeholders met and decided to settle for the direct primary in the state.

    When asked on the strategies putting in place to ensure that APC win at the general election in Niger, the governor said: “With the adoption of the direct primary the party is becoming more popular. We will try as much as possible to uphold fairness and justice in the party, and give everyone equal opportunity to vie for any position they want. We will ensure that by God’s grace we have outstanding victory in 2019.”

  • Flood: Kano donates N100m, urges FG intervention

    Kano state government has announced a direct financial assistance of N100 million to the victims of flood disaster in the state, with a call on the federal government’s special intervention to further alleviate the suffering of the affected communities.

    The state commissioner for information, youth and culture, Malam Muhammad Garba, who briefed newsmen in his office, Thursday, said that even though Kano was not among the 12 states the National Emergency Management Agency predicted to have intense flooding, the disaster wreaked havoc on many communities in eight local government areas of the state.

    Read Also: ‘Kano leading anti-corruption war’

    He said government was also compiling reports on the extent of destruction from the eight local government areas hit by the disaster to ascertain their value.

    Garba condoled on behalf of the state government with families who lost their loved ones in the disaster and cautioned the public, particularly those in flood prone areas against building structures on the waterways as it is one the major causes of flooding.

    The commissioner said the situation requires collaboration with relevant stakeholders to give the necessary support to the state government in managing the disaster.

  • Why l defected with Shekarau to APC – Sen. Bello

    A one-time senator of Kano central senatorial district, Muhammad Bello on Tuesday said he followed his political leader, former Kano State governor, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau to All Progressives Congress (APC) to strengthen the capacity of party and ensure victory in the forthcoming elections for President Buhari and Governor Ganduje.

    Shekarau recently defected to APC from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), following the dissolution of the state structure by the national body of the party.

    However, some of the Shekarau’s loyalists, including Bello had decided to join him in APC, while others opted to remain in PDP.

    Speaking immediately after collecting his party membership card at his Fagge (A) ward in Fagge Local Government area, on Tuesday, Bello said he would not contest for any position in APC.

    According to Bello, he decided to join forces with APC in order to strengthen the party to win all electoral positions in the forthcoming 2019 elections.

    Bello, a former commissioner during Shekarau’s administration boasted that his strong support base was enough to consolidate on the successes of APC in the state.

    Read Also: Shekarau dumps PDP

    “I joined APC to add value to the party. Looking at this crowd, you will have the impression that our support base is capable of adding strength to APC’s capacity in Kano State.

    ” We have decided to move to APC due to the injustice mated on us in PDP. We hope the injustice will not be replicated in APC.

    “From all indications, APC would do justice as it is the party that adheres strictly to its manifesto of internal democracy.

    ” I will not contest for any position now,but I don’t know what future holds. I am just in APC to contribute my quota towards its success,”

    On his part, the ward’s APC chairman, Jamilu Isyaku, expressed delight for receiving senator Bello in the party.

    He expressed optimism that Bello would contribute a lot to the success of APC in the state come 2019.

  • Kwankwaso promises to promote justice, fairness if elected

    Former governor of Kano State and Presidential hopeful of the People’s Democratic Party in 2019 general election, Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso has vowed to promote justice, fairness and equity if elected the president of the country which he said that the country is lacking at the moment.

    Kwankwaso while addressing members of the PDP at the Abia State chapter secretariat of the party at Finbarrs road Umuahia, the state capital said that he wants to lead a Nigeria where people are educated and exposed beyond the confines of their tribe, religion, linguistic group or place of birth when elected president.

    According to the Kano born politician who attributed the challenges being faced in the country is as lack of leadership capacity by the incumbent administration said he is committed to address the needs of Nigerians bothering on restructuring and stated that the constitution of the country needed to be reviewed constantly in order to meet the yearnings of Nigerians.

    While praying for credible primaries of the party, Kwankwaso said he believes in one united and developed Nigeria and appealed to prospective PDP delegates to the primaries to make a good choice amongst the party’s presidential hopefuls in order to withstand the major opposition party which he accused of not giving proper attention to the challenges the challenges that have bedeviled country in recent times.

    He also commended the State PDP Chairman led Executive for their continued support for a free, fair, transparent and credible elections in Nigeria, which according to him will ensure lasting peace.

    In his remarks, the State PDP Chairman, Sir Johnson Onuigbo saluted the consuming zeal and courage of Mr. Kwankwaso, saying that many people have heard about his good deeds even when he served as the Governor of Kano state.

    Read Also: Kwankwaso pledges paradigm shift at declaration

    Onuigbo observed that the Aspirant has both the quality and academic vibrancy to lead Nigeria, pointing out that his leadership in Kano State cannot be wiped out in a hurry.

    Sir Onuigbo pointed that his leadership in Abia also preaches for credible and verifiable elections, disclosing that Abia PDP respects the rule of law and promotes democracy in action.

    He further promised that the party will take his plea of support to the appropriate quarters.

    Earlier during a courtesy visit on Governor Okezie Ikpeazu at the Government House, Umuahia, Kwankwaso congratulated Ikpeazu for his giant strides for Abians and his contributions to the PDP family across the country.

    He said he has heard so much about the Governor’s achievements and seen things on the ground despite the fact that Abia receives one of the least allocations from the federation account and also among the least in terms of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

    He said Abia was lucky to have Dr. Ikpeazu as Governor and advised the people to come out en masse to vote him back to power in 2019 to avoid the mistake made by Kano state in 2003.

    According to him, his visit to Abia was to inform the Governor and the party in the state of his intention to run for president of the country and to solicit for their support and cooperation.

    The presidential aspirant who said he left the PDP at a time because he thought the party was bad only to realize that the PDP is better than the APC. “This time we are all out to change the change itself”, he said.

    Receiving the Presidential Aspirant, Governor Ikpeazu restated that Nigeria needs somebody with capacity and exposure to confront the challenges facing the country especially security.

    He stressed the need for social mobilization so that every Nigerian will have belief in government and governance of the country.

    The Governor said his greatest achievement in the state is the prevailing peace and unity, explained that Nigeria currently needs a unifying factor as the country is yearning and crying for ownership.

    He assured his guest that Abians are on the same page as it concerns national interest rather than primordial sentiments.

     

  • Shekarau, Wali, Gwarzo reject dissolution of Kano PDP Exco

    The Kano State Stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), on Monday  rejected the dissolution of the executive of the party.

    Addressing party members at the state secretariat along Maiduguri road on behalf of gubernatorial aspirants, Engr Sarki Labaran said the action of the national headquarters of the party is illegal and cannot stand.

    The other aspirants are Malam Salihu Sagir Takai and  Sadik Aminu Wali

    Labaran frowned at the manner the former Governor of the state, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has been conducting himself since he rejoined the party, accusing him of causing disaffection in the once peaceful party.

    The former Commissioner during the tenure of Malam Ibrahim Shekarau stated that national party contradicted itself by the dissolution, noting that since the state executive elected members of the National Working Committee , the NWC should also be dissolved.

    Read Also: Kaduna Speaker declares to run for House of Reps

    Labaran who wondered why such action should be taken by the national executive of the party, noted that the tenure of the  party executive has not expired and they were not found wanting in anyway that would warrant the dissolution.

    The State Deputy Chairman of the party, Alhaji Ibrahim KT who equally spoke at the solidarity rally, also frowned at the sudden dissolution, saying “we are not in support of such dissolution. We are in support of the Masaud El-jibrin Doguwa led leadership of the party in the state.”

    “We cannot allow somebody to come and hijack the party in which we suffered to build and we will not agree for the dissolution of the 484 wards”.

    Meanwhile, the State Chairman of the party Doguwa in an interview said that he remains the chairman as he has not been informed of the said dissolution.

    “ Nobody has the power to unilaterally dissolve our exco, this cannot stand and will never stand, because its unconstitutional”

    On the court order restraining the national headquarters of the party from dissolving the state exco, Doguwa said “the court action wasn’t instituted by my exco, some loyal party members whom I’m in support of approached the court.”

    Among the top echelons of the party that attended the gathering were, Bashir I Bashir, Faruk Iya, Alhaji Yahaya Bogobiri.

    The elders of the party include, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, Ambassador Aminu Wali and Senator Bello Hayatu Gwarzo.

  • NYSC DG urges corps members to embrace small businesses

    Brigadier Gen. Suleiman Kazaure, the Director-General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), has charged corps members to engage in small-scale businesses after their service year to enable them to be self-reliant.

    Kazaure gave the advice on Friday when he paid an inspection visit to the NYSC permanent orientation camp in Kusalla, Karaye Local Government Area of Kano State.

    The NYSC director-general was in Kano State to inspect the ongoing orientation course of 2018 Batch ‘B’ Stream II.

    He enjoined the corps members to participate actively in all camp activities and avoid unnecessary travels throughout the service year.

    Kazaure said that in an effort to address accommodation challenges confronting corps members, the agency would request state governments to build corpers’ lodge in each of the 774 local government areas across the nation.

    Read Also: Davido’s presence electrifies NYSC camp

    The NYSC boss, who cautioned the corps members against patronising nightclubs, urged them to shun all acts of indiscipline and immorality.

    The director-general commended the state of facilities in the camp and urged the management of the NYSC in the state to ensure that they were properly maintained.

    He said that as part of efforts to improve the welfare of the corps members, the Federal Government had recently increased their transportation and feeding allowances.

    Earlier, the state NYSC Coordinator, Alhaji Ladan Baba, said that over 2,100 corps members for Borno and Kano states were registered in the camp.

    NAN