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Tag: Katsina State

  • APC members seek to restrain INEC from accepting Katsina candidates’ list

    Two aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Katsina State – Garba Dankani and Muhammad Mainasara – have asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission from accepting list of candidates submitted by their party for the next general elections.

    Dankani said he was a governorship aspirant, while Mainasara aspired for the senatorial said.

    The plaintiffs in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1035/18 alleged that the APC in Katsina State, failed to conduct ward congresses

    They argued that the APC’s alleged failure to conduct ward congresses in the state’s 34 Local Government Areas implied that the party could not make valid nomination of candidates to INEC for the 2019 general elections in the state without first conducting valid congresses in the state.

    The plaintiffs relied on the  provisions of Section 85(3) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended), Articles 12(12)(ii), 12(15), 12(16), 13(10), 13(12)(ii) and (iii) and 20(i)(a) as well as 20(iv)(a)(b) and (d) of the Constitution of the APC, 2014 (as amended) and the Guidelines for the Conduct of Wards, Local Government Areas and States Congresses of APC, 2018.

    Dankani (the 1st plaintiff), in a supporting affidavit, said that on May 5, 2018, when the ward congresses were scheduled to hold  in the 34 Local Government Areas in the state, “neither members of the Ward and Local Government Committee nor person(s) purporting to be member(s) of any Local Organizing Committee was seen at any of the wards to conduct the congresses”.

    “The congress was therefore aborted and could not hold and no official of the 2nd defendant (INEC) attended the congress,” the deponent added.

    Dankani added that aspirants for various positions subsequently met “and in a resolution, reiterated the fact that congresses did not hold in all the wards comprised in all the local government areas of Katsina State”.

    “I also know as a fact that the 1st defendant (APC) could not validly hold local government area congresses and state congresses of the All Progressives Congresses in Katsina State without first holding valid ward congresses that would elect delegates and wards executives that would participate in the local government congresses and state congresses as required by our party constitution and the Guidelines for Wards, Local Government Areas and State Congresses, 2018.”

    Dankani claimed that even when the ward congresses did not hold, the Ward and Local Government Congress Committee “submitted a list of purported elected delegates and acclaimed members of the All Progressives, Katsina State to the 1st defendant (APC).

    The plaintiffs want the court to declare the local government and state congresses of the APC which held in Katsina State on May 12 and May 19, 2018 as null and void.

    They are also seeking an order restraining APC and INEC from recognising any person or group of individuals by whatsoever name called or described as elected, ward, local government or state executive committees’ members in Katsina State pending the conduct of valid congresses in the state.

    Read Also: ‘Abuja-based APC chieftains causing problem in Imo’

    The plaintiffs want the court to restrain both APC and INEC from recognising any person or group of individuals as elected delegates or members of electoral college of APC pending when the party valid ward, local government and state congresses in the state.

    Dankani and Mainasara want the court to compel the APC to organise congresses for the state to elect principal officers of the various levels of executive committees of the party in the state, and which INEC must attend, observe and supervise.

    The plaintiffs, sought “an order of injunction restraining the 2nd defendant (INEC) from accepting any aspirant nominated by the 1st defendant political party, as candidates in any election to be conducted by the 2nd defendant, in respect of elective offices in Katsina State, without the 1st defendant holding a prior election of members of its executive committees in that state…”

    When the case was called on Thursday, the plaintiffs were represented by Olu Olanipekun, while INEC (sued as the 2nd defendant) was represented by Umar Bukar. APC, listed as the 1st defendant) was not represented by a lawyer.

    Justice Folashade Giwa-Ogunbanjo adjourned to November 8 for hearing.

     

     

     

  • FRSC takes ’ember month’ campaigns to Katsina Motor parks

    The Federal Road safety Commission, FRSC in Katsina state, on Saturday took the campaign for Accident free ‘’ember months” celebrations to the various motor parks in Katsina state, sensitizing members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, as well as carrying out public enlightenment of Special Marshals, on the inherent dangers of overloading, over speeding, poor maintenance of vehicles and the use of expired tires.

    The Assistant Head of Operations of FRSC, Mr Jim Ndianalenya who represented the Sector Commandant of FRSC in Katsina State, Mr GV Ngueku, warned motorists and road users in the state on the dangers of poor road habits including overloading ,as it may lead to untimely loss of lives and properties

    He further condemned the loading of human beings in the boot of vehicles and the use of expired tires describing them as catastrophic

    He said ’please, human beings are not cargoes, overloading encourages multiple loss of lives; it is an abuse of vehicle capacity. Again the use of expired tires puts the driver in double jeopardy and also a disaster waiting to happen’’

    Read Also: FRSC seeks road users’ support

    Earlier, the Public relations Officer of the Special Marshals, Mr Danjuma John cautioned the drivers against overspending, which according to him, often misleads them into attributing road accidents as the handwork of God

    He said ’’Drivers ought to observe speed limits a it will help them manage speed, as they are not expected to go beyond 120.Someone going60, 80,and 120 will still get to the same destination as someone on 180. About 75% of road accidents are caused by over speeding’’

    He further disclosed that the installed speed limits in the motor vehicles are capable of controlling their movement by first initial warning signals, followed by full seizure and automatic stoppage of movement, after which the driver can restart the movement

    The Chairman of NURTW, Jamilu Shuaibu, in his speech at the occasion assured the FRSC team that his members will fully comply with the rules and regulations governing road usage in the state to ensure a hitch free yuletide celebrations  

     

  • Masari chides beneficiaries of govt loans for defaults in repayments

    Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina state on Saturday chided beneficiaries of state government loans who often defaults in re-payments, even as he charged future guarantees of applicants to live up to expectations on the terms of loan agreements

    The governor who was speaking during the launch of 84 newly acquired vehicles which were given out as loans to selected members of the Nigeria Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), said loans by government to the people was aimed at empowering them, and that more than 168 people, including their wives and children, would be empowered through the vehicles

    He said “The state government had given out loans, which ran into several millions of Naira, to hundreds of beneficiaries through the Katsina State Economic and Employment Development (KASEED),but instead of repaying back the monies given them, some of the beneficiaries decided to hold onto the loan and convert same for personal use’’.

    The Governor further warned that government’s money which was being given as loans should not be deemed as free money, and that failure to payback was depriving others from benefiting.

    He said the vehicle loan was interest free, and should be paid back in three and half years, with the repaid monies rolled over so that others can benefit.

    Read Also: Masari warns APC stalwarts against dividing the party

    Masari further charged the beneficiaries to avoid overloading, but to “carry passengers in accordance with the law of the country.”He assured that similar assistance would be extended to commercial motorcycle owners as way to reduce their dependence on others for handouts thereby enhancing the poverty reduction programmes of the state government 

    In his response, the Chairman of NURTW in the state, Sani Musa commended the state government for the gesture, even as he assured that the loans would be promptly paid back. He however warned beneficiaries against defaulting as those found to be wanting would have their vehicles seized and given to another applicant on the waiting list

  • Ember Months: FRSC takes campaign to Katsina Motor parks

    The Federal Road safety Commission, FRSC, on Saturday in Katsina State took the campaign for Accident free ‘ember months’ celebration to the various motor parks in Katsina, sensitizing members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, and the public enlightenment of Special Marshals, on the inherent dangers of overloading, over speeding, poor maintenance of vehicles and the use of expired tires.

    The Assistant Head of Operations of FRSC, Mr Jim Ndianalenya who represented the Sector Commandant of FRSC in Katsina State, Mr GV Ngueku, warned motorists and road users in the state on the dangers of poor road habits including overloading ,as it may lead to untimely loss of lives and properties

    He further condemned the loading of human beings in the boot of vehicles and the use of expired tires describing them as catastrophic

    He said ‘please, human beings are not cargoes, overloading encourages multiple loss of lives; it is an abuse of vehicle capacity. Again the use of expired tires puts the driver in double jeopardy and also a disaster waiting to happen’’

    Read Also: Road crashes claim 32 lives in Edo – FRSC

    Earlier, the Public relations Officer of the Special Marshals, Mr Danjuma John cautioned the drivers against overspending, which according to him, often misleads them into attributing road accidents as the handwork of God

    He said ‘Drivers ought to observe speed limits a it will help them manage speed, as they are not expected to go beyond 120.Someone going 60, 80,and 120 will still get to the same destination as someone on 180. About 75% of road accidents are caused by over speeding’’

    He further disclosed that the installed speed limits in the motor vehicles are capable of controlling their movement by first initial warning signals, followed by full seizure and automatic stoppage of movement, after which the driver can restart the movement

    The Chairman of NURTW, Jamilu Shuaibu, in his speech at the occasion assured the FRSC team that his members will fully comply with the rules and regulations governing road usage in the state to ensure a hitch free yuletide celebrations

  • 2019: ‘America has no preferred candidate’

    The United States Government has in Katsina State declared that it has no preferred Presidential candidate in the forth coming general elections in Nigeria next year, but that it prefers a transparent and violent free process that ensures the election of a candidate freely chosen by Nigerians

    The US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr W Stuwart Symington who was represented by Mr Phillip Franz Seitz and Victoria Ibi, told newsmen at the Government House Katsina, shortly after a meeting with the permanent secretary, that his government is not interested or giving backing to any candidate but wanted a violent free and credible outcome

    He said “We are not interested in the candidates and their parties but the processes and the outcomes, that is why we have been traversing the length and breadth of the country and the North, on a productive engagement with the political leaders and stakeholders, to promote the conduct of a peaceful election next year’’

    Read Also: Road traffic – America’s sanity, Nigeria’s madness

    “We are just arriving from Kano by road after having spent 2 days in the ancient city ,and shall hold consultations including meetings with INEC and so’’

    Earlier the Permanent Secretary at the Government House, Alhaji Muktari Lawal, who received the ambassador on behalf of the state Governor Aminu Bello Masari said the US government has several intervention prorammes in the state including students exchange and Agricultural Programmes and further requested that the relationship between the two governments be stepped up for enhanced mutual economic and social benefits

    Alhaji Lawal who further noted that the tempo of political activities in the country has picked up with preparations for the elections, said the state had remained peaceful and violent free compared to what obtains in some other state of the federation

    He said ’’the state is one of the most peaceful and secured in the country, rancor free and even from the political angle has remained despite some isolated cases’’.

    ‘’We have been able to curtail cattle rustling with great recovery of cattle by the security agencies’’

  • Masari warns APC stalwarts against dividing the party

    Katsina state Governor Aminu Bello Masari have on Saturday in Katsina State, warned members of the All progressive Congress, APC, in the state, especially those who lost out in the recently concluded party primaries to be patient and accept the outcome of the party primaries, adding that they still have other roles they could play should the part win the forth coming elections in the state

    Masari who gave the warning at a stakeholders meeting of All Progressive Congress – APC executive members and contestants to the various positions, held at the banquet hall of presidential lodge at government house, further explained that in every contest, there must be a winner and a loser.

    He also maintained that the party would want members to forge a common front for the victory of its candidates in the forthcoming 2019 general elections

    He said “It has become imperative for the meeting to be convened to ask losers to be patient and accept the outcome of the party primaries’’.

    “Aspirants that contested, won or lost must forge a common front for the party to emerge victorious in the 2019 general elections’’.

    Read Also:   Independence: Masari wants four more years for Buhari

    Governor Masari however warned that there must not be formation of unions within the APC, urging aspirants who contested and lost to desist from forming Union of aspirants that lost in the APC party primaries.

    He reminded party members that the rules and regulations of APC do not permit formation of unions and associations within the party.

    Earlier, while declaring the meeting open, the state chairman of APC, Alhaji Shitu S. Shitu told members that the meeting was convened to sooth nerves of the aspirants that lost during the just concluded party primaries held throughout the state.

    The Nation recalled that in 2015 general elections ,about 37 aspirants who lost the primaries that year later teamed up and made a financial demand from the government as compensation and when their demands were not met ,they turned themselves into the opposition ‘’Akida group’’ within the party and caused several discontents within the state’s party structure up to date

  • Police nab armed robbery/kidnap syndicate in Katsina

    The Katsina State Command of the Nigerian Police Force, have announced the arrest of a notorious armed robbery/kidnapping syndicate and the recovery of two AK 47 rifles with breech nos: 1977h4719 and tk 6184 with ten (10) rounds of live ammunition, acting on a tip off

    The Commissioner of Police Mohammed Wakili who made the disclosure while addressing news men at the command headquarters, said the Command arrested Umar Suleiman alias ‘MUSHODA’ or ‘ANARUWA’ aged 34yrs, of Mazoji village, Matazu LGA and one Sada Bala, alias ‘NA-IRAQI,’ ‘m’, aged 38yrs, of Sayaya village, Matazu LGA Katsina state,

     He said’’ a notorious syndicate of armed robbery suspect, who has been terrorizing Danmusa/Safana/Dutsinma LGA’s of Katsina and have also been on the wanted list of the Command for several armed robbery and kidnapping cases, were arrested, on 26/08/2017 at about 20:00hrs, as they invaded Hawan Dan-Maigyda village, along Kankara – Dutsinama road, Danmusa LGA of Katsina state and shot two persons’’.

     ‘’However, two of their members :Horon Anchau and Mohammed Bello alias ‘KIRI GORORE (all in prison custody) were arrested in connection with the crime ‘’

    Read Also: Police nab 16 suspected kidnappers in Ankpa

     The command also announced the arrest of 3 armed robbery suspects and recovered one g.3. Rifle with breech no. 0514503020 and five rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition based on a tip off and in collaboration with IGP monitoring and striking unit, it also succeeded in smashing a notorious armed robbery/kidnapping for ransom syndicate, that migrated from Dansadau LGA of Zamfara state to Unguwar Goga village, in Faskari LGA of Katsina state.

     CP Wakil further maintained that during the raid on their criminal hideouts the command apprehended Usman Abdullahi aged 29yrs, of Unguwar Goga village, Faskari LGA, Sa’id Abdullahi aged 24yrs of the same address and Haruna Murni aged 26yrs of Ruwan Godiya village, Faskari LGA of Katsina State.

     He said’’ One G.3 Rifle with Breech No 0514503020 and five rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition, The Suspects confessed to the commission of the offence.  Investigation is ongoing with a view of arresting other members of their syndicate’’

     The Commissioner assured the people that his command will continue to deliver on its mandate of protecting the lives and property of the people of the state.

    He said ’’the Command has been achieving results in the fight against crime due to the synergy that exists between the security stakeholders and the cooperation of well meaning people in the state.  We solicit for the continuation and sustenance of this synergy. ‘’

  • FRSC step up ‘ember- months’ campaigns in Katsina

    The Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, has stepped up –up its ‘’ember months’ campaign activities aimed at checkmating reckless driving by motorists and reducing road accidents and road traffic incidents in Katsina state, as the year gradually draws to an end

    The Route Commander and Public Relations Officer of the Katsina state command of the agency, Abdullahi D. Ibrahim told The Nation, in an exclusive interview in his office in Katsina on Saturday, that the ‘ember months’ (September to December), have always remained tasking to the agency due to increased road usage by people and motorists moving from one part of the country to the other, as well as other haulage activities

    He said “During this period there are a lot of issues on ground, and we are expected to meet up with attendant challenges ,such as enforcing the rules on motoring such as ensuring compliance on no use of mobile phones while driving, conducting special patrols on roads to checkmate accidents’’

    ‘’We are currently on public enlightenment campaigns to sensitize the public, on over speeding, use of phones while driving and other traffic offences. We have already visited 5 media house in the last two weeks to intensify enlightenment and awareness campaign’’

    Read Also: Road crashes claim 32 lives in Edo – FRSC

    The Route Commander also frowned at overloading of vehicles by drivers especially those plying along Katsina- Daura and Katsina –Dutsinma roads in the state, who usually carry passengers even in the boots of their vehicles, urging the passengers to shun the urge to be packed like goods simply because of a reduced fare.

    He said “We are leveraging on the various safety campaigns we have embarked upon to sensitize especially the Road transport Workers union, on the dangers of overloading

    He described the report on road accidents in the state in the outgoing year as fair compared to similar statistics obtained on road performance last year

    Mr Ibrahim also acknowledged the rising cases of absenteeism by staff of the agency and warned that the Command’s Provost Marshal is out to discipline erring staff members and that actions have been lined up against those who break the rules.

  • Girl Child enrollment: ‘Katsina tops North West states on gender parity index’

    Katsina state Director of Schools, Hajia Halima Lawal Othman on Saturday in Katsina declared that the state ranked tops on Girl Child enrollment in schools and gender parity index among other states in the Northwest geo-political zone of the country

     Hajia Othman told The Nation in an exclusive interview in her office, that gender parity index as obtainable from the schools in the state has risen from 0.77% in 2017 to 0.84% in 2018.She further attributed the growth to increased government support of education plus the various interventionist measures by development partners such as Global partners, UNICEF and other donor agencies

    She said ‘A stipend of N20, 000.00 is given to each parent in the targeted community as motivation to send their daughters to school rather than allowing them to engage in hawking’’

    ‘’The gross enrollment percentage as at 2016 was 86% but in 2017 it has increased to 89%, while the net enrollment rate is presently between 48-51%’’

    ‘With the intervention of Global Partners as early as 2016,there were lots of improvements in the learning environments including the construction of new primary schools, provision of additional infrastructure, posting of more teaching personnel to the schools in the urban and rural areas, and so on’’

    Read Also: Masari, Lado clinches APC, PDP tickets in Katsina

    Hajia Halima also pointed at the school improvement grants of N250, 000 to Primary and N150, 000 to Pre-Primary Schools

    ‘’145 early Child classes i.e. Pre-Primary schools including Quranic  Schools, received grants to improve learning environments.1034 Primary schools received 30k each as grants while 61,766 pre-primary 1,2,and 3 also received grants’’, She said

    Om teacher development she disclosed that about 9,566 teachers were trained in different areas of pedagogy including training on Hausa and English languages

    On the completion rate for enrolled school children she noted that the rate is between 71-82% and that pupil’s classroom ratio, using JS3 pupils as example, presently stood at between 43-52%

    She further disclosed that gender focus is on the girls because they are mostly victims of neglect, the most vulnerable to forced labour including hawking.

    She said ‘’In this part of the country, the girl child is often compelled to early marriage and hawking with little attention on her education. Her parents are least perturbed whether she went to school or not, hence we place our focal attention on Girl Child Education’’

    On the controversy surrounding the out-of –school syndrome, she dismissed the claim that a huge population of the children mostly in the North were out of school; arguing that Quranic schooling represents a form of education which only needed to be registered and regulated like other schools.

    She said “Go to Bangladesh, Quranic schools are registered and regulated by Government as a type of education. All these Children you see on the streets attends one form of school or the other both the conventional type and the Quranic schools. So why do you say they are out of school’

  • 2019: Tambuwal wants INEC to live above board

    Sokoto state Governor and Presidential aspirant on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Aminu Tambuwal, on Monday, in Katsina, charged personnel working for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to live above board and remain unbiased umpire in the 2019 general elections.

    He declared “INEC personnel should understand that all eyes are on them as we prepare for the general elections. They should know that they have family names and integrity to protect’’.

    “They should not do anything that will make people insinuate and doubt the unbiased umpire that they are supposed to be’’.

    “When we form the next federal government, we shall find specific solutions to Nigeria problems and we shall respect human rights.”-

    Tambuwal who was in the state to meet members of the delegate to the fort coming national convention of the party, on his presidential ambition, made the declaration during an interview with journalists shortly after he met the leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) at the party’s state Secretariat.

    The PDP Presidential Aspirant said he believed in strong institutions that will assist in the development of Nigeria.

    Read Also: Tambuwal vows to restore peace, rebuild north east

    Citing various examples of national appointments including those of Federal Fiscal Mobilization Committee, Tambuwal said he will make states to nominate members for such Committee, to further strengthen our institutions.

    The Sokoto state Governor had earlier appealed to PDP members in Katsina state, especially delegates attending the party’s national convention to vote for him and assist him in achieving his presidential ambition.

    He declared “If you assist me to become the President, we know Katsina to be an agrarian state. We would support the state to export your agriculture products and find ready markets for the products’’.

    “I am conversant with Katsina and believe strongly that during our convention, I will score 120 over 120 from the delegates here.”