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Tag: Kwankwaso

  • Abuja residents push for Kwankwaso as FCT Minister

    Abuja residents push for Kwankwaso as FCT Minister

    The Abuja Residents Forum (ARF) yesterday urged President-elect Muhammadu Buhari to appoint Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    ARF, which spoke at a news briefing in Abuja by its leader, Alhaji Aminu Abubakar, said the governor has the experience and records of performance to turn Abuja into a masterpiece.

    He said: “Yes, we are aware that Kwankwanso has just been elected a senator, but it is our belief that he will be better utilised as a minister under the envisaged dispensation, as Nigerians are eager to reap the benefits of electing Gen. Buhari. It is only tested hands that can help to achieve this.

    “Remember that he was governor between 2003 and 2007 before he took a break to serve as the minister of Defence. He returned to Kano Government House in 2011where he performed his development miracle in the state.

    “The FCT does not have a governor. So, residents lack the power to elect who governs the territory. Appointing Kwankwanso as FCT minister will have the multiple advantage of ensuring that someone with a sound pedigree and great antecedents is put in charge.

    “Kwankwaso is noted for infrastructural development. The FCT will benefit from such a leader with a vision.

    “The residents also need a minister with a listening ear and also someone who can give the President peace of mind. Kwankwanso’s dependability makes him fit into this bill.

    “He was deputy speaker, House of Representatives, between 1992 and 1993 and board member (Rep Northwest) Niger Delta Development Commission (NNDC)

    “Over 1,000 students from the state are studying in universities in Nigeria and abroad on government scholarship in addition to other first class institutions he established within the short period.”

    The forum leader said it decided to make a recommendation to the President-elect because of the need to make Abuja a model city.

    He added: “Our aim is to see to the progress of FCT and improvement of welfare of its residents.

    “ We congratulate the President-elect, Gen. Buhari, on his well-deserved victory after three strenuous trials. Your victory is a lesson for the younger generation of Nigerians in perseverance, dedication and patience.

    “ We hail President Goodluck Jonathan for displaying statesmanship, humility and exemplary attitude for humanity to emulate in conceding defeat even before the official announcement of the results.”

    On the occasion were some of the executive members of the forum including Olushola Emmanuel, Comrade Mohammed Usman, Alhaji Hussaini Yusuf, Evangelist Charles Okehislem and Mrs. Veronica Joseph.

  • APC ‘ll learn from PDP’s mistakes, says Kwankwaso

    APC ‘ll learn from PDP’s mistakes, says Kwankwaso

    •Governor flays Lamido, Aliyu for returning to PDP

    Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso yesterday said the All Progressives Congress (APC) will not commit the mistake of abandoning its members as allegedly done by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Kwankwaso, who spoke to reporters in his office, said the APC would avoid mistakes that led to the fall of the PDP in the presidential elections

    The APC, he said, must learn not to be like the PDP, which, he added, disrespected those members that defected to the APC through constant insults.

    He said the party should recognise that “everybody is somebody in the quest to succeed”.

    The governor added: “We need to have a solid government, come together, work as a family and learn from the mistakes of the PDP”.

    Kwankwaso attributed the mistakes of President Goodluck Jonathan to lack of exposure to identify “who is who in the party and the country” and preferring to listen to roadside gossips against those who struggled for the success of the party.

    He, however, said it was a show of statesmanship for President Jonathan to concede defeat and went ahead to congratulate the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari.

    Kwankwaso urged security agencies to shun partisan politics, praising them for their role in the last election.

    The governor maintained that the APC as a government would not oppose vibrant opposition, but would want objective criticisms devoid of blackmail, propaganda and hate campaign.

    But, he said Governors Sule Lamido (Jigawa) and Babagida Aliyu of (Niger) got it wrong for deciding to return to PDP.

    Kwankwaso, who is the senator-elect for Kano Central, explained that he was surprised for their return to “PDP despite the fact that the party was not in good shape”.

    He noted that both Lamido and Aliyu were the brain behind the Group of Seven PDP Governors’ (G-7) struggle by virtue of their positions as elders and most experienced politically.

    Kwankwaso alleged that Lamido was instrumental to the design and the draft of what would be required by the G-7 to float a brand new party, which was vehemently rejected.

    The governor added that Lamido’s document provided options of establishing a new party or joining an established party like the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    According to him, there was no option of G-7 members going back to PDP in Lamido’s document.

    “G-5 were embarrassed by what Lamido and Aliyu did in returning to PDP and what they are now doing in the party could hardly be entrusted with anything,” he said.

    Kwankwaso said the big blow Aliyu received from Nigerlites would have taught him a good lesson.

    He predicted that Lamido and Aliyu would in future defect to APC to enable all of them work as one family for the betterment of the nation.

  • Kwankwaso: APC ‘ll learn from PDP’s mistakes

    Kwankwaso: APC ‘ll learn from PDP’s mistakes

    Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso said yesterday that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would not make the mistakes of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by abandoning its members.

    Kwankwaso, who spoke to reporters in his office, said APC would avoid such mistakes, which led to the failure of the PDP in the presidential election.

    He said APC must learn not to be a monster as the PDP, who disrespected the members, who defected to the APC, through its insults on the integrity of the members.

    The governor advised that the party should recognise that everybody was important in its quest to succeed, saying: “We need to have a solid government, come together, work as a family and learn from the mistakes of the PDP.”

    He noted that the composition of the APC government would speak volumes because the essence of going to school was to learn from the mistakes of the past and make adjustment by taking the right path.

    Kwankwaso attributed the mistakes of President Goodluck Jonathan to lack of exposure in identifying who is who in the party and the country.

    “Rather, he preferred to listen to gossips. He refused to recognise those who struggled for the success of the party by denying them their legitimate dues.”

    According to him, for President Jonathan to concede defeat and congratulate President-elect Muhammadu Buhari could be described as a show of statesmanship, adding that his name should be written in gold for standing for the truth.

    He urged security agencies to shun partisan politics and hailed them for their roles in the election.

    The governor said APC would not oppose a vibrant opposition, but would want objective criticisms, devoid of blackmail, propaganda and hate campaign.

  • Kwankwaso, others in early lead

    The three senatorial candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State appear to be cruising to victory.

    The candidates, Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso vied for the Kano Central seat; Alhaji Barau Jubrin, an ex-House of Representatives’ member (Kano North ) and Senator Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya (Kano South).

    Our correspondents learnt that the three APC standard-bearers are likely to beat their Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) opponents; former Commissioner for Local Government, Alhaji Abdullahi Rogo (Kano South); Senator Bashir Lado, Kano Central and Senator Bello Hayatu Gwarzo (Kano North).

    Also favoured to win are the APC candidates vying for the House of Representatives.

    The elections were peaceful, with impressive turnout of voters, especially women in purdah.

    Shortly after Governor Kwankwaso voted at Kwankwaso Malamai Special Primary in his home town, he hailed the electorate for their impressive turnout and peaceful conduct.

    He said the situation showed the true reflection of what Kano, a stronghold of the APC, was known for.

    The governor said: “We support the Card Reader because it will make the election more credible.”

    He enjoined the people to be patient over accreditation.

    On the APC presidential candidate, he said: “As you can see, we are working with Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and we are expecting APC to  garner 80 per cent of the votes cast in the state.”

    Official results of the elections were being awaited.

  • Kwankwaso gives six million malaria nets

    Six million long-lasting treated insecticidal nets are expected to be distributed in 44 local governments in Kano State.

    Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who spoke yesterday in Bunkure Local Government when launching the distribution of the nets, said they were meant to reduce the high rate of malaria.

    The governor, represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, said activities were carried out to ensure the conduct of the exercise, which included training of ad hoc workers, visit to stakeholders, community mobilisation, among others.

    He said malaria is a global emergency, which affects mostly children under five and expectant mothers, adding that about 3.3 billion of the world population are at risk of malaria and an estimated 300-500 million cases occur globally, which makes the disease one of the major public health problems.

    Kwankwaso said government had made a ground-breaking stride in the fight against malaria, which included the distribution of 946,000 rapid diagnostic kits to general hospitals and public health centres (PHCs) in the 44 councils, to aid malaria diagnosis; distribution of 534,360 doses of ACT and 995,000 doses of SPs to general hospitals and PHCs for the treatment of malaria; training of health workers in the public and private sectors, among others.

    The Chairman of Bunkure Local Government, Alhaji Rabiu Bala, thanked the government for selecting Bunkure to host the event.

     

     

  • Kwankwaso: world concerned about Nigeria’s polls

    Kwankwaso: world concerned about Nigeria’s polls

    KANO State Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso said yesterday that the interest shown by the international community in Nigeria’s rescheduled elections should make the federal authorities to ensure free and fair polls.

    The governor, who spoke when members of the Council of the Wise visited him at the Kano Government House yesterday, noted that the nation’s peace and stability was not only the peace of West Africa or Africa, but has far-reaching international repercussion.

    Because of the strategic position of Nigeria as an emerging economic power, Kwankwaso said, whatever affects the country would affect the world.

    The governor added that Nigeria’s foreign friends were doing everything possible to ensure that the March and April polls were credible, peaceful and acceptable.

    He observed that the usage of foul language during campaigns, undue postponement of election as well as rigging were some of the factors that could cause election violence, adding that usage of ethnicity, religion and regionalism to canvass for votes would also negatively affect the elections.

    The governor urged politicians to campaign on issues, their projects and programmes to persuade the electorate to vote for them, pointing out that his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), is determined and ready for peaceful and credible elections.

    “Kano as the most populous state in the federation and with the level of awareness of the people, we are ready for free and fair elections,” Kwankwaso added.

    He assured that Kano State government would support the Council of the Wise to achieve its goals, adding that because of their objectives, all right-thinking Nigerians most support them.

    The spokesperson of the delegation, former Chief Justice Muhammadu Uwais, who was represented by Archbishop Fearon-Idowu Josiah, told the governor that the council’s main objective was promotion of peaceful, credible, free and fair elections, adding that to achieve this, the forum decided to consult with community leaders to appeal to their people on the importance of credible polls that would be internationally acceptable.

    Justice Uwais said: “Apart from meeting with you as the state governor, we are going to have a seminar with 80 religious leaders to urge them to call their followers not to engage in violence before, during and after the elections.”

    He said the council had met with INEC, security agencies, civil societies and some presidential candidates, noting that they were waiting to meet President Goodluck Jonathan and discuss on the election and related issues.

  • Ganduje, Takai battle for Kwankwaso’s seat

    Ganduje, Takai battle for Kwankwaso’s seat

    The road to the governorship election in Kano State has been rough. The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart, Alhaji Salihu Takai, are warming up for the poll. KOLADE ADEYEMI examines the fierce battle for power and the chances of the two candidates. 

    Ahead of the April 11 governorship election in Kano State, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), the two major parties with strong candidates, are poised for a fierce battle. The campaign for the election has taken Alhaji Salihu Takai of the PDP and Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje of the APC to the 44 local governments. The die is now cast; there is a stiff contest to capture the attention of the electorates.

    The battle has been taken to the airwaves.  Supporters of the two candidates are now engaged in a war-of-words at local radio stations. Using blackmail and propaganda, they are castigating one another and selling their candidates to the public. Though the two candidates have consistently urged their supporters to eschew violence, political thugs loyal to them continue to flout this non-violent stance, especially during rallies and road shows. The Kano State Police Command, however, are not taking it cool, as the police have been arresting and prosecuting party supporters who engage in thuggery and violence.

    Last week, police paraded 23 suspected political thugs, including a female, alleged to have sponsored the killing of one of the victims during a political clash. The State Commissioner of Police Idris Ibrahim told reporters that a clash between two political rivals in Ladi Makole, Warawa Local Government Area, resulted in the killing of one person and  wanton destruction of properties. He said the police and other security agencies are prepared to provide security during the elections, by ensuring that enough men are deployed to the nooks and crannies of the state.

    The Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Zone, Alhaji Muhammadu Tambari Yabo, has read the riot act to politicians, saying police were ready to arrest and prosecute anybody engaged in electoral violence, no matter how highly placed. He said: “We have not forgotten the 2011 elections and the violence that followed it. That was a sad experience that no one would want a repeat. So, we should be prepared to have elections that will be free, fair, peaceful and rancour-free. We should make sure that our activities are within the ambits of the law. Let me give the Ghana example where electoral officers and returning officers move freely with electoral materials (on their bicycles) after elections without molestation or harassment from anybody. We should not be seen to be carrying offensive weapons while on political rallies. Don’t carry anything you can use to take advantage of your brother in a way of inflicting injury on him. Our wish is that what happened in 2011 will not repeat itself again and as the custodians of law and order, we will do our best as police men to make sure that we will not record election violence this time round.”

    Tambari drew attention to Section 94 (2) of the Electoral Act which prescribed  a fine of N2 million or two-year imprisonment or both to persons convicted for being in possession of offensive weapons during political rallies or on the election day. He said he has directed all Commissioners of Police under him to bring the law to full bear no matter, whose ox is gored. Yabo added: “I wish to strongly warn at this juncture that the police and other law enforcement agencies will bring into bear the full weight of the law on all violators of electoral and other national laws. These laws are very categorical in guiding your conduct during electioneering campaigns,” he added.

    Ganduje said the APC will record 100 per cent victory in the  most populous state. Ganduje who spoke to reporters during an interactive session in his office, also declared that the victory of the APC presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, in the 2015 general elections is sure, citing calamitous leadership allegedly run by the PDP at the centre. From Ganduje’s calculations, the APC is ready to sweep the 40 House of Assembly seats, 24 House of Representatives seats, three Senatorial seats and the governorship seat in Kano. He added that Buhari’s victory in Kano would be 100 per cent.

    He said: “The die has been cast, we are ready for the race and, Insha Allah, and we shall succeed. For our President-in-waiting, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, we are working very hard to give him the maximum votes here in Kano. If possible, all those who registered, even those who are not in the APC, we are begging them, we are soliciting for their support, we are appealing for them to vote for our president because of the different shortcomings, different man-made calamities, we require somebody who is upright, somebody has the political will, somebody who is strong, somebody who can fight injustice — no matter what will happen to him and to any other person. So, we shall continue to do that to ensure that we contribute our quota being the most populous state. We want to lead in giving him (Buhari) the maximum vote, may God help us.

    “We are also working very hard to ensure that all our candidates will be able to make it in the forthcoming elections. For the governorship, Insha Allah, we shall celebrate, we shall rejoice together, but we have to work hard before that time. Here in Kano, the issue is continuity, the issue is consolidation — consolidation with new innovations, consolidation with ideas and consolidation with a lot of planning and calculations. Governor Rabi’u Kwankwaso has done an excellent job. Hence, there is a need to consolidate and complete those projects that we may not be able to complete within the period of this administration. But, beyond that, we need to introduce new innovations in critical infrastructure in Kano State.”

    On his agenda for the state, he said: “We have done a lot in education. My administration, Insha Allah, will consolidate and lay emphasis on qualitative education; because looking at the quality of education all over the country, I am sure you’ll agree with me that it is appalling. Look at WAEC and NECO results, you’ll understand what I’m talking about. So, we shall ensure that there is quality in the system; and of course in terms of quantity, we shall continue to improve. We are even attacking it from so many fronts—even those who are beyond school age are included. We shall introduce adult education, so that we capture all those that cannot read and write.”

    He added that his administration will concentrate on the provision of stable power supply under Independent Power Project (IPP), road construction, transforming Kano to a mega-city, integrated rural development, boosting the agricultural sector and increasing Internally Generated Revenue (IGR.)

    The Director-General of Kano State Hisbah Board, Alhaji Abba Sa’ad Sufi, said:  “Dr. Ganduje has all it takes to succeed our leader, Governor Kwankwaso. As the Deputy Governor and Second-in-Command of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, he is part and parcel of the development we are witnessing in Kano. He was there as the Deputy to Governor Kwankwaso between 1999 and 2003. He is also here now; and he knows how Governor Kwankwaso manages the economy. He has been part of all the decision-making and as a leader with a great mind and great ambition for Kano, Governor Kwankwaso would not have entrusted such an important mantle to somebody who has not been tested and trusted. Everybody in Kano and those who have been visiting the state recently are aware that a revolution is going on; and it will take only a fool to say that these good tidings that are flowing in Kano should not continue. So, Dr. Ganduje is there for continuity. He is there to build on the legacies of his boss and also introduce innovations that will take Kano State to greater heights.

    Ganduje is not a small fry in Kano politics. He has been there for over four decades and he is one of the bulldozers in the political landscape. A foundation member of the PDP, he gave up his ambition to govern Kano in 1999, after he was pressured by stakeholders to step down and support Kwankwaso, who eventually picked the ticket and chose him as the running-mate. Ganduje was Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport between 1994 and 1998. He was Kwankwaso’s deputy between 1999 and 2003. Before then, he served as Administrative Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA); Development Secretary of Kwalli Development Area; Sole Administrator of Abaji Area Council; Chairman, Gwagwalada Area Council; Special Adviser (Political) to Kwankwaso when he was Defence Minister; Executive Secretary of Lake Chad Basin Commission and Assistant Secretary of the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in the Second Republic. Many believe that Ganduje’s wealth of experience in politics and civil service put him at a vintage position to win.

    Takai, the PDP candidate, is also not a novice in Kano politics. He has the full backing of the former governor, who is now Minister of Education, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau. Takai is also believed to be in the good books of the Ulamas and some traditional rulers. In 2011, he challenged Kwankwaso under the platform of the defunct All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), but was defeated with just 60,000 votes.  His supporters believe that, this time round, Takai would make it to Government House. He has been campaigning all over the state. But, he may face challenges in some places because of the emergence of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari as the APC presidential candidate. Though Buhari is not from Kano, he has a big following in the state; he is loved and cherished by the Talakawas.

    Takai was former Commissioner of Local Government Affairs during the Shekarau administration. According to Farouk Iya, the white-beaded Malam remains the only candidate that can defeat the APC in Kano.  Iya is a close associate of the PDP candidate. He had to resign as Commissioner of Education when Kwankwaso dumped the PDP because he was not ready to jump ship. Today, he is the Director-General of Takai Campaign Organization.

    Takai said that his ambition was not a do-or-die affair, but an art of God and a sincere intention to rescue Kano from “the mercy of a very harsh government that is making life unbearable for all.” He added: “It is a pity that the state government has distanced itself from the population and has been involved in destructive activities, rather than being constructive. They do not seem to have concrete plans to develop the state, but are needlessly engaged in unnecessary waste of public funds.”

    Takai said his government would concentrate more on agriculture, education, security, health, commerce and industry, human development, as well as infrastructural development.

    The Kano governorship race promises to be an interesting one. The two candidates are popular and with the capricious nature of Kano politics, pundits believe that it would be difficult to make a clear-cut prediction on who will emerge the winner on April 11.

  • Ganduje, Takai battle for Kwankwaso’s seat

    Ganduje, Takai battle for Kwankwaso’s seat

    The road to the governorship election in Kano State has been rough. The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart, Alhaji Salihu Takai are warming up for the poll. KOLADE ADEYEMI examines the fierce battle for power and the chances of the two candidates. 

    Ahead of the April 11 governorship election in Kano State, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), the two major parties with strong candidates, are poised for a fierce battle. The campaign for the election has taken Alhaji Salihu Takai of the PDP and Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje of the APC to the 44 local governments. The die is now cast; there is a stiff contest to capture the attention of the electorates.

    The battle has been taken to the airwaves.  Supporters of the two candidates are now engaged in a war-of-words at local radio stations. Using blackmail and propaganda, they are castigating one another and selling their candidates to the public. Though the two candidates have consistently urged their supporters to eschew violence, political thugs loyal to them continue to flout this non-violent stance, especially during rallies and road shows. The Kano State Police Command, however, are not taking it cool, as the police have been arresting and prosecuting party supporters who engage in thuggery and violence.

    Last week, police paraded 23 suspected political thugs, including a female, alleged to have sponsored the killing of one of the victims during a political clash. The State Commissioner of Police Idris Ibrahim told reporters that a clash between two political rivals in Ladi Makole, Warawa Local Government Area, resulted in the killing of one person and  wanton destruction of properties. He said the police and other security agencies are prepared to provide security during the elections, by ensuring that enough men are deployed to the nooks and crannies of the state.

    The Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Zone, Alhaji Muhammadu Tambari Yabo, has read the riot act to politicians, saying police were ready to arrest and prosecute anybody engaged in electoral violence, no matter how highly placed. He said: “We have not forgotten the 2011 elections and the violence that followed it. That was a sad experience that no one would want a repeat. So, we should be prepared to have elections that will be free, fair, peaceful and rancour-free. We should make sure that our activities are within the ambits of the law. Let me give the Ghana example where electoral officers and returning officers move freely with electoral materials (on their bicycles) after elections without molestation or harassment from anybody. We should not be seen to be carrying offensive weapons while on political rallies. Don’t carry anything you can use to take advantage of your brother in a way of inflicting injury on him. Our wish is that what happened in 2011 will not repeat itself again and as the custodians of law and order, we will do our best as police men to make sure that we will not record election violence this time round.”

    Tambari drew attention to Section 94 (2) of the Electoral Act which prescribed  a fine of N2 million or two-year imprisonment or both to persons convicted for being in possession of offensive weapons during political rallies or on the election day. He said he has directed all Commissioners of Police under him to bring the law to full bear no matter, whose ox is gored. Yabo added: “I wish to strongly warn at this juncture that the police and other law enforcement agencies will bring into bear the full weight of the law on all violators of electoral and other national laws. These laws are very categorical in guiding your conduct during electioneering campaigns,” he added.

    Ganduje said the APC will record 100 per cent victory in the  most populous state. Ganduje who spoke to reporters during an interactive session in his office, also declared that the victory of the APC presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, in the 2015 general elections is sure, citing calamitous leadership allegedly run by the PDP at the centre. From Ganduje’s calculations, the APC is ready to sweep the 40 House of Assembly seats, 24 House of Representatives seats, three Senatorial seats and the governorship seat in Kano. He added that Buhari’s victory in Kano would be 100 per cent.

    In his words, “the die has been cast, we are ready for the race and, Insha Allah, and we shall succeed. For our President-in-waiting, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, we are working very hard to give him the maximum votes here in Kano. If possible, all those who registered, even those who are not in the APC, we are begging them, we are soliciting for their support, we are appealing for them to vote for our president because of the different shortcomings, different man-made calamities, we require somebody who is upright, somebody has the political will, somebody who is strong, somebody who can fight injustice — no matter what will happen to him and to any other person. So, we shall continue to do that to ensure that we contribute our quota being the most populous state. We want to lead in giving him (Buhari) the maximum vote, may God help us.

    “We are also working very hard to ensure that all our candidates will be able to make it in the forthcoming elections. For the governorship, Insha Allah, we shall celebrate, we shall rejoice together, but we have to work hard before that time. Here in Kano, the issue is continuity, the issue is consolidation — consolidation with new innovations, consolidation with ideas and consolidation with a lot of planning and calculations. Governor Rabi’u Kwankwaso has done an excellent job. Hence, there is a need to consolidate and complete those projects that we may not be able to complete within the period of this administration. But, beyond that, we need to introduce new innovations in critical infrastructure in Kano State.”

    On his agenda for the state, he said: “We have done a lot in education. My administration, Insha Allah, will consolidate and lay emphasis on qualitative education; because looking at the quality of education all over the country, I am sure you’ll agree with me that it is appalling. Look at WAEC and NECO results, you’ll understand what I’m talking about. So, we shall ensure that there is quality in the system; and of course in terms of quantity, we shall continue to improve. We are even attacking it from so many fronts—even those who are beyond school age are included. We shall introduce adult education, so that we capture all those that cannot read and write.”

    He added that his administration will centre more on provision of stable power supply under Independent Power Project (IPP), road construction, transforming Kano to a mega-city, integrated rural development, boosting the agricultural sector and increasing Internally Generated Revenue (IGR.)

    Also speaking on Ganduje’s chances, Director-General of Kano State Hisbah Board, Alhaji Abba Sa’ad Sufi said,  “Dr. Ganduje has all it takes to succeed our leader, Governor Kwankwaso. As the Deputy Governor and Second-in-Command of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, he is part and parcel of the development we are witnessing in Kano. He was there as the Deputy to Governor Kwankwaso between 1999 and 2003. He is also here now; and he knows how Governor Kwankwaso manages the economy. He has been part of all the decision-making and as a leader with a great mind and great ambition for Kano, Governor Kwankwaso would not have entrusted such an important mantle to somebody who has not been tested and trusted. Everybody in Kano and those who have been visiting the state recently are aware that a revolution is going on; and it will take only a fool to say that these good tidings that are flowing in Kano should not continue. So, Dr. Ganduje is there for continuity. He is there to build on the legacies of his boss and also introduce innovations that will take Kano State to greater heights.

    Ganduje is not a small fry in Kano politics. He has been there for over four decades and he is one of the bulldozers in the political landscape. A foundation member of the PDP, he gave up his ambition to govern Kano in 1999, after he was pressured by stakeholders to step down and support Kwankwaso who eventually picked the ticket and chose him as running-mate. Ganduje was Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport between 1994 and 1998. He was Kwankwaso’s Deputy between 1999 and 2003. Before then he served as Administrative Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA); Development Secretary of Kwalli Development Area; Sole Administrator of Abaji Area Council; Chairman, Gwagwalada Area Council; Special Adviser (political) to Kwankwaso when he was Defence Minister; Executive Secretary of Lake Chad Basin Commission and Assistant Secretary of the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in the Second Republic. Many believe that Ganduje’s wealth of experience in politics and civil service puts him at a vintage position to win.

    Takai, the PDP candidate, is also not a novice in Kano politics. He has the full backing of the immediate past governor of the state, who is now Minister of Education, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau. Takai is also believed to be in the good books of the Ulamas and some traditional rulers. In 2011, he challenged Kwankwaso under the platform of the defunct All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), but was defeated with just 60, 000 votes.  His supporters believe that, this time round, Takai would make it to Government House. He has been campaigning all over the state. But, he may be face challenges in some places, because of the emergence of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari as the APC presidential candidate. Though Buhari is not from Kano, he has a big following in the state; he is loved and cherished by mostly the Talakawas.

    Takai was former Commissioner of Local Government Affairs during the Shekarau administration. According to Farouk Iya, the white-beaded Malam remains the only candidate that can defeat the APC in Kano.  Iya is a close associate of the PDP candidate. He had to resign as Commissioner of Education when Kwankwaso dumped the PDP because he was not ready to jump ship. Today, he is the Director-General of Takai Campaign Organization.

    Takai noted recently that his interest in the race was not a do-or-die affair, but an art of God and a sincere intention to rescue Kano from “the mercy of a very harsh government that is making life unbearable for all.” He added: “It is a pity that the state government has distanced itself from the population and has been involved in destructive activities, rather than being constructive. They do not seem to have concrete plans to develop the state, but are needlessly engaged in unnecessary waste of public funds.”

    Takai said his government would concentrate more on agriculture, education, security, health, commerce and industry, human development, as well as infrastructural development.

    Thus, the Kano governorship race promises to be an interesting one. The two candidates are popular and with the capricious nature of Kano politics, pundits believe that it would be difficult to make a clear-cut prediction on who will emerge the winner on April 11.

  • Kwankwaso urges vigilance

    Kano State Governor  Musa Kwankwaso has called on citizens to support security agencies by stepping up surveillance of their business premises to avoid attack by insurgents.

    Kwankwaso spoke when he visited Kano Line Motor Park in Kano where two suspected insurgents detonated a bomb in a vehicle, which led to the death of over 12 people on Monday.

  • Kwankwaso faults Lamido’s comments on G-five governors

    Kwankwaso faults Lamido’s comments on G-five governors

    … Obasanjo’s exit signals PDP’s demise

    Fresh facts are now emerging on what led to the breakup of the G-Seven Governors Forum that protested during the Peoples Democratic Party’s special convention in 2013.

    Leader of the governors G-Seven group, Sule Lamido of Jigawa State, who is now the North-West Coordinator of President Goodluck Jonathan’s Presidential campaign team, recently said his five colleagues’ exit from the party will not affect the progress of the party.

    Lamido declared that the exit of Chibuike Amaechi (Rivers), Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso (Kano), Aliyu Wammako (Sokoto), Abdulfatai Ahmed (Kwara) and the impeached Murtala Nyako of Adamawa state, from PDP is inconsequential and of no effect to the success of the party in the forthcoming general election.

    But Kwankwaso took exception to Lamido’s utterances on the five governors, describing him as a betrayer.

    He said, “I don’t want to talk too much about the Governor of Jigawa State. Everybody know that he was part of us. He worked so hard. In fact, he was the leader of the group. He took us to a level that we felt there was no going back, and we were surprised that he had different things in mind. He stayed in the PDP and we felt we had no business being in PDP.

    “I think if there is anybody who should criticize our exit, I believe it shouldn’t come from him or the Governor of Niger State. I don’t want to join issues with any of my colleagues. Nigerians are the best judges on our actions and utterances and of course on what we have done. And I believe that judgment will be part of what will happen during the next elections.

    “What we have done is not a secret, it is not something that anybody can hide and I believe that we have done the right thing, we have deepened democracy. PDP is no more the monster it used to be where nobody was important, where people were not respected, even the governor of the most populous state who won election almost single-handedly within the party to come back as a governor.

    “I was not being respected and they see me as an irritant and so on, but I can tell you, now if there is anything they can do under the sun to take me back to their party, they will do. I can assure you now that they know the importance of Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso in Nigerian politics. I have no business talking about my colleagues. You can bring another topic.”

    Kwankwaso also described the PDP as a dying elephant, saying the exit of former President Olusegun Obasanjo is an indication that the party is already dead.
    He said Obasanjo’s resignation confirmed the evil that is going in the party.

    The governor said, “Obasanjo has got supporters not only in Ogun State, not only in western states, but across the country, and for him to come out to say what he said (because most of us who have worked closely with him know that he is somebody who tolerates things). I have not seen him since he decided to leave the PDP, but I can comfortably say that so much must have happened in the party for him to come out and tear his card and said that he has left the party.

    Kwankwaso also described Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose’s recent statements against the All Progressive Congress presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, as reckless and unguided, saying such utterances should not emanate from a person who called himself a leader.