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Tag: Kashim Ibrahim

  • Presidential poll will be walkover for Buhari, says El-Rufai

    The February 16 presidential poll would be a walkover for President Muhammadu Buhari, Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has declared.

    He spoke when a pro-Buhari group, Forward With Buhari, led by its National Deputy Chairman (North), Senator Lawali Shaibu paid a him a visit in Kaduna.

    El-Rufai, who received the group at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Goverment House in Kaduna on Thursday said, he has no doubt that the President will be victorious in the election.

    He said: “Kaduna is the home town of the President. It is true that the President is from Katsina State, but he is more of a Kaduna state person.

    “Kaduna is more passionate about returning the President. We will not only return him, Kaduna people will give him 90 per cent of their votes.”

    While lauding the group for its efforts, he urged members to consolidate on what the party has done in terms of canvasing for votes in the coming elections.

    Shuaibu said the idea of the door- to- door campaign they are embarking on was influenced by brain cracking to ensure that Buhari comes out victorious in the forthcoming elections.

    Read Also: Choosing between Buhari and Atiku

    The Buhari -led administration, he said, deserves a second term judging by its performances in all sectors.

    According to him: “In the history of governance in Nigeria, APC under President Buhari has done tremendously well in all the six geo political zone. Buhari’s laudable projects have direct bearing on the lives of people in the country.”

    He explained their support was based on the President’s numerous achievements, saying that without any doubt Buhari will floor his opponents based on the support of Nigerians.

    “Buhari’s re-election would ensure continuity in the positive affairs of the nation.

    “What we are doing in Kaduna today is to add value to what the President has come to do when he visited the state for his rally sometimes ago, and with what we are seeing Kaduna seems to be a state that will give good number of votes to Mr. President in the coming elections.

    “Throughout our campaign in Kaduna, we are going to ensure that there is no use of hate speeches,” he stated

  • 2019: Kaduna women vow to deliver 2m votes to Buhari, El-Rufai

    Kaduna state women across the 23 local government areas, under the auspices of El-Rufai Support Group, on Tuesday, declared to deliver no fewer than two million votes to President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Nasir El-Rufai, re-election in the 2019 polls.

    Addressing the Kaduna women who gathered at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House for an interaction, wife of Kaduna state governor, Mrs. Hadiza El-Rufai, while commending the women for their support urged them to embark on door to door peaceful campaigns especially in the grassroots.

    The governor’s wife hailed her husband for nominating a woman as his running  mate saying her transformation at state primary health agency would be remembered by all in Kaduna.

    El-Rufai’s wife who cautioned youths not to involve in any form of violence during campaigns,called on voters to cast their  votes in 2019  for all All Progressives Congress( APC) candidates:”Our  door to door campaign down to the grassroots should be based on our achievements in office”

    In her part, Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s running mate, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, urged women to fully participate in the coming 2019 general elections by voting APC candidates for continuity that will take the nation to the next level.

    Balarabe however urged women to embrace peace for socio-economic development, stressing that governor El-rufai has done excellently well in all sectors and should be re-elected to continue with the good work.

    Read Also: Special military parade for Buhari at 76

    Also speaking, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hafsat Baba, said governor El-Rufai’s reforms in health, education, among other sectors needed to be sustained, adding that only the present administration can consolidate:” We know APC candidates and we must votes for all of them in 2019, only then there will be massive development.”

     

  • Benue to spend N46m to rehabilitate 21 township roads – Official

    The Benue State Government says it will spend N46 million to rehabilitate 21 township roads to enhance movements of persons and goods in the state.

    Mr Hyosange Akaagerger, Permanent Secretary and Acting Commissioner, Ministry of Works, Transport and Energy, made the disclosure in an interview with News men on Tuesday in Makurdi.

    Akaagerger said that work had started on 21 critical roads, although 25 roads had been earmarked for rehabilitation.

    He listed the roads to include Ishaya Bakut, Old Otukpo, Kashim Ibrahim and Iyorchia Ayu Roads.

    Others are Achumugu Peter, Ogiri Oko, Gondo Aluor, JoeAkaahan Roads, David Mark Bypass and Jonah Jang Crescent.

    Also undergoing rehabilitation, he said, are Old Lafia Road, Atom Kpera, J.S. Tarka to Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Roads.

    The acting commissioner said FMC to Government House Roundabout, Bill Anakaa and Father Hunter’s Roads were under rehabilitation.

    “Benue Crescent to Bush Bar-Naka road, Ankpa quarters to Rainoil Junction, NKST lane-low level, Konshisha Street to Katsina-Ala Street were all undergoing renovations,’’ he said.

    Akaagerger added that all the roads at the three major rail crossings had been fixed.

    He disclosed that the state government would now focus on roads in Gboko, Katsina-Ala and Otukpo, headquarters of the three senatorial zones.

    Read Also: Benue monarch consoles Dickson over mum’s death

    ‘‘Our rural roads need to be fixed too. Apart from the township roads, other critical roads to be considered are the rural areas.

    ‘‘They are major towns and the volume of vehicular movement is high; major socio economic businesses are carried out on these routes, there are also major inter states links,” he noted.

    The commissioner also said that the construction of new major roads would commence soon.

    “We have new layouts springing up without access roads and it is a thing of concern to the government to construct new roads,” he said.

    Akaagerger said the new roads would include the Customary Court of Appeal road leading to George Akume Way as well as the VIO training ground linking Old Customs Quarters in North bank.

    Also, the Mobile Junction to Industrial Layout and Adaka village mop out to connect the main access road.

    ‘‘When constructed, most of the roads will act as bypasses, the town will be decongested of traffic and lesser time will be spent on the roads,’’ he said.

    The acting commissioner said the state government had called on the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, rehabilitate the River Katsina – Ala Bridge.

    He recalled that the 40 year-old bridge constructed in 1978 had suffered much neglect adding that it needed routine maintenance.

    He said an on the spot assessment by the Federal Controller of Works and a team of civil engineers showed that the surface of the bridge had deteriorated.

    “There are failed portion at the pedestrian ways and have cracks at the embodiments.

    ‘‘The state of the bridge is worrisome and presently the pillars are cracked and shaking,” he said.

    Akaagerger appealed to the Federal Government to quickly intervene to prevent its imminent collapse.

  • ‘I joined PDP to kick El-Rufai out of Government House’

    The Senator representing Kaduna North in the National Assembly, Suleiman Othman Hunkuyi said he joined the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to help kick Governor Nasir El-Rufai out of the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House.

    Hunkuyi who recently decamped from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) alongside other Senators on the floor of the Senate, had since fell apart with Governor El-Rufai, a situation which led to his spearheading a faction of the APC in the state.

    Hunkuyi made the assertion, while responding on behalf of the decampees at a formal reception for them by the (PDP) in Kaduna on Monday.

    He added that, God gives power but the APC regime in Kaduna and Nigeria has dealt with the electorates and the electorates will retaliate at the right time.

    According to him, “We don’t insult, but we tell the truth. I am telling El-Rufai to use the remaining time he has in office to pack his things and be prepared to leave Government House. We don’t insult, but they will feel pains by the truth we speak,” he said.

    He further disclosed that, PDP is full and rebranded, ready to take over.

    The Lawmaker admitted what he described as ‘the error of bringing el-Rufai on board’, begging the Kaduna State people and God to forgive him for his roles. Adding that, “The engine of APC has been removed along with the tyres.”

    Read Also: ‘El-Rufai should correct salary shortfalls’

    He vowed that APC will never come back to power. “We came to join hands with our friends to liberate our friends from the bondage of APC in Kaduna State.

    “Let’s join hand with our great party PDP and change things. Without PDP, there would be no end to untold hardship Nigerians would be suffering. We are praying to God to help us to be united to be successful in reclaiming our state and country,” he said.

    Hunkuyi assured all those sacked by Governor El-Rufai that they would be given back their jobs when PDP comes back to power.

    In his remarks, former Kaduna State Governor, Dr. Mukhtar Ramalan Yero said that PDP is back and the people are yearning for its return to power.

    PDP Chairman Kaduna State, Honourable Felix Hassan Hyet while welcoming them back to the party, said that they would work together with the decampees to liberate Kaduna State and Nigeria from the shackles of APC.

    He said all the mistakes APC are making is to propel PDP back to power.

    “Hunkuyi brought El-Rufai to power. I believe he has realized his mistake and would work hard towards correcting that by helping to send him packing from Sir Kashim Ibrahim House,” he added.

  • El-Rufai inaugurates 16 Nigerian youths for Kashim Ibrahim Fellows

    Sixteen young Nigerians have emerged as the first set of Kaduna State’s Kashim Ibrahim Fellows (KIF).

    The successful candidates are: Eyinnaya Danjuma Chukwueke, Aminu Rabi Usman, Fatima Kesington, Muhammad Maccido Usman, Dorcas Kadangs, Jatau Jemimah Magaji, Abdulhakeem Muhammad Miko, Ali Anas Sani, Abimbola K. Adetunji, Aliyu Suleiman Iya, Ibrahim Tasiu, Michael Medubi, Leonell Echa, Musa Muhammad Kona, Abubakar Saleh Joji and Rebecca Maulome Padonu.

    Speaking at the event held at Sir Kashim Ibrahim Kaduna Government House on Wednesday, Governor Nasir El-Rufai said he was impressed by the quality of many of the candidates.

    According to him, “Their submissions reinforced our conviction that youthful talent abounds, and that we can productively engage these smart young people for the benefit of our country. Each of the 31 persons that made the last stage of the selection process was superbly qualified.”

    Read Also: Still on El Rufai and Kaduna teachers

    Malam Nasir El-Rufai confirmed that the Kashim Ibrahim Fellows programme is an initiative of the Kaduna State Government to help develop and nurture leadership ability across Nigeria, with a specific focus on the promising leaders of the future.

    “The one-year programme aims to create a network of high potential young Nigerians who are expected to rise to top leadership positions in the public sector and other spheres of activity over the next decade.”

    The governor affirmed that the leaders of the country owe the youths platforms for leadership capacity development. “There is no doubt in my mind that leaders in Nigeria must device and sustain deliberate pathways to build youth capacity for leadership in the public service. Most Nigerians are younger than 35, and we owe them a duty to make the necessary investments to enable them to acquire the skills, the steel and the exposure for effective public service.

    “The world of today is changing fast, with new challenges and opportunities arising. It is time that we become quite deliberate in building leadership capacity, recruiting the most talented and promoting a meritocratic culture. If we prepare this young people with sufficient rigour, they will be better at helping our people to productively navigate a competitive world.”

    “The Governing Board has designed a commendable leadership development programme aimed at producing the next generation of inclusive, patriotic and results-oriented managers of human and material resources in the public sector. I therefore call on the first set of fellows to seize the moment, and apply themselves with the energy and wit required to make a success of this opportunity.

    “I wish to thank all the members of the Governing Board, and I will for this purpose mention their names: Hakeem Belo-Osagie, Dele Olojede, Hadiza Bala-Usman, Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, Bilya Bala, Barbara Barungi, Japheth Omojuwa, Muhammad Sani Abdullahi, Jimi Lawal, Iboroma Akpana, Kadaria Ahmed and Segun Adeniyi.” He said.

    The 16 fellows emerged from the over 1,300 applications that were submitted online to the Kashim Ibrahim Fellows Programme portal by the deadline of 20th March 2018.

    The Steering Committee selected 271 of the entries for the next stage during which their CVs, essays and letters of recommendation were assessed. The top 66 were then invited to submit video entries of their responses to three questions. The 31 most impressive entries were then forwarded to the Governing Board which met on 23rd May 2018 to settle on the final 16.

    In February 2018, the Kaduna State Government introduced the Kashim Ibrahim Fellows Programme as a leadership training platform for young people through a one-year immersion at the heart of government. During this one year, the fellows will also be engaged in reflection, lectures and seminars on leadership.

    Seven of the 16 fellows are female. Kaduna State residents constitute half of the fellows, while the others are from other parts of Nigeria.