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Tag: Malam Ibrahim Shekarau

  • Senate presidency: Kano senators endorse Lawan

    The ambition of Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan, to become Senate President in the 9th National Assembly has received a boost as three Senators from Kano state on Friday endorsed his candidacy.

    The three Senators from Kano Barau Jubrin, Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya and Malam Ibrahim Shekrau threw their weight behind Senator Ahmed Lawan’s candidacy.

    They described him as eminently qualified to occupy the exalted seat going by international parliamentary best practices.

    Senator Barau Jubrin, who is the secretary of Ahmed Lawan Campaign Organisation, led other members of the campaign train to the residence of Senator-elect, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau who also endorsed Lawan.

    Among those who visited Kano with the Senate Leader include Senator Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi North) chairman, Ahmed Lawan Campaign Organisation; Senator Danladi Sankara, who is the Senator-elect for Jigawa North-West Senatorial District; Senator Bello Maudiya (Katsina South); Senator Solomon Adeola Olamilekan (Lagos West); Senator Degi-Eremienyo (Bayelsa East) and Senator Lekan Mustapha (Ogun East).

     Jubrin said: “The National Assembly leadership is elected based on international parliamentary best practices.

    “In every parliament, leaders are elected based on ranking, based on experience and once a parliament goes by election and the party that gets the majority in that election produces the leader, and in this case, the majority leader in such a parliament automatically becomes the Senate President or the Speakers, as the case may be.

     “Now, Ahmed Lawan is the current leader and he will be the oldest Senator, the most ranked Senator in the 9th Senate.

    “He was a two-time members of House of Representatives and four-time member of the Senate.

    “So, he is the most experienced and most ripe for the job of the Senate presidency going by intentional parliamentary best practices.”

    Shekarau said: “I am so highly honoured to be visited by this high-powered delegation led by the leader of the Senate, Senator Ahmed Lawan.

    “I am now a Senator-elect and I pray the 9th National Assembly will be a very peaceful and smooth one, where we will all join hands together to move Nigeria forward.

    “I also congratulate you for aspiring to lead the National Assembly. It is one thing to be there, it is another thing to be identified as a leader.

    “It is a challenge and we are all proud of the fact the it is one of those that we have known before that is aspiring to lead the National Assembly.

    READ ALSO: Why we want Lawan as Senate President, by APC Governors

    “I believe you have all what it takes to lead the National Assembly. We are already your canvassers whether you are around or not, you need not to be out to it, or recruit us to do it. We understand where need to go and who needs to have the responsibility to lead us.

    “It is not that you a super-person among all the rest, but one thing is that you are the first among all the equals and I believe that with all the other experienced people around, you will be able to give Nigeria, a Senate that everybody will be very proud of.”

    Lawan said they were in Kano to solicit for the support of Shekarau, whose wealth of experience he said is much needed to move the 9th Senate forward.

    In a chat with reporters, Adeola explained further why Senator Ahmed Lawan should be elected as the new Senate President of the 9th Assembly.

    According to him: “Senator Ahmed Lawan has been an experienced lawmaker. He has been around since 1999.

    “He is a very distinguished Nigerian, with wealth of experience in the business of lawmaking.

    “Senator Lawan has over the years distinguished himself as a Nigerian who is detribalized, who believes in the principles of fairness and equity, and fair-play.

    “He is one Nigerian that holds the sanctity of this nation in a very high esteem. Aside that, Senator Lawan is the current leader of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; and in accordance with international parliamentary best practices, as it is obtained in other parts of the world, when you have the leader of the National Assembly, whether in the House of Representatives or the Senate, it is only right for him to transit when his party is the majority party.”

  • 2019: APC offers Shekarau Kwankwaso’s seat

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday offered former governor of Kano State, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, the senatorial ticket for Kano Central District in next year’s general elections.

    The offer was part of the terms reached by both sides which culminated in Shekarau formally parting ways with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday.

    The Kano Central District is currently represented by Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso who though won the election on the platform of the APC, recently defected to the PDP.

    The embattled Senator is also believed to be eyeing a return to the Senate in the event that he loses at the PDP presidential primaries.

    The Nation gathered that last-minute efforts by the PDP to stop Shekarau from leaving were rebuffed by the former minister.

    Sources said he shut his doors against the PDP and its national leader, Senator Bukola Saraki, who doubles as Senate President.

    It was learnt that PDP and Saraki had made spirited efforts in the last 72 hours to reach out to Shekarau with a view to averting his defection to APC.

    The only concession made to Shekarau by PDP was said to be a slot in the seven-man Caretaker Committee of the party in Kano State.

    The PDP’s face-saving concession came after the legally elected PDP State Executive Committee was unilaterally dissolved by the National Secretariat of the party despite a court order.

    The National Chairman of APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, yesterday led a high power delegation of the party to Kano to woo Shekarau.

    The APC was said to have tabled its offers to Shekarau as a sign of its readiness to welcome him into its fold.

    The terms include automatic integration of Shekarau’s group into the APC structure in the state; automatic Senatorial ticket for Kano Central, commissioner slots in the Kano State Executive Council, many seats in the House of Representatives and State House of Assembly and Federal appointments, among others.

    It was gathered that there will also be ministerial slot(s) if APC government is re-elected in 2019.

    A top source said: “APC delegation went to Kano in order to beg Shekarau to join our party where he has like minds with progressive inclination.

    “Do not forget that he was a long-standing associate of President Muhammadu Buhari in the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).

    “We considered him a prized politician who can make an electoral impact in any political party. What PDP does not value, we went for it.

    “After preliminary engagement in Abuja, we decided to formally invite him into a party he deservedly belongs.”

    Responding to a question, the source, who was central to the talks with Shekarau, said: “Like a suitor to a bride, we made some concessions to the ex-governor.

    “For instance, we offered him automatic senatorial ticket for Kano Central District seat which was given to Kwankwaso in 2015 after he lost the presidential primaries of APC to President Buhari.

    “The party also expects Governor Abdullahi Ganduje to accommodate Shekarau’s supporters with commissioner slots in the Kano State Executive Council.

    “The APC will give slots for House of Representatives and House of Assembly and federal appointments to Shekarau and his supporters.”

    Asked about Shekarau’s response, the source added: “The ex-governor said, ‘Don’t worry; you will soon hear from me.’ This was the assurance he gave us.”

    Meanwhile, prior to receiving the APC delegation, there were indications that Shekarau had shut his doors against PDP and the National Leader of the opposition party, Dr. Bukola Saraki, who is the President of the Senate.

    A reliable source close to Shekarau said: “PDP not only decided to expand its Caretaker Committee to accommodate the ex-governor, it sent emissaries but Shekarau shut his doors against the party. He was sad that the PDP defied a court order.

    “Also, Saraki made spirited efforts to contact Shekarau but he could not get in touch with him. The ex-governor foreclosed any further talks with PDP.”

     

  • Oshiomhole to Shekarau: progressives like you are needed in APC

    It is now all over between ex Kano State governor, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau and the Peoples Democratic party (PDP).

    Shekarau yesterday hosted the   National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, and Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State in his Kano residence to wrap up talks on his switch to the APC.

    The former minister is said to be upset by his alleged ill-treatment by the PDP after what was perceived as too much concession to Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso following his recent defection from the APC.

    Oshiomohole described Shekarau as one of the progressives much needed in the party.

    He said: “For me, it is a rare opportunity to be in your home and reunite with you. I know from your lifestyle, your background, from what you did as the governor of Kano State, nobody can claim to be more progressive than you.

    “I am also fully aware that you are one of the founding fathers of the APC. You may not have expected the amount of efforts you invested in the formation of the All Progressive Congress which you did not enjoy.

    “I have always said that we should be going forward. This meeting has offered us the opportunity to reunite once again as progressives.

    “I have come to pay my respect to His Excellency (Shekarau). I have spoken to my brother, the executive governor of Kano State, on the need for all of us to work together for the development of Kano State and the development of our nation, Nigeria.

    “I want to believe that this is a happy reunion and we shall continue to play progressive politics for the good of the Nigerian people.”

    Governor Ganduje, who was part of the APC delegation, recalled his relationship with Shekarau and how Kwankwaso had treated him in the past.

    His words: “I and Malam Ibrahim Shekarau belong to the same constituency even though we were never in the same political party.

    “The reason why I said we are from the same constituency is that Malam Ibrahim Shekarau is a bureaucrat and I am a bureaucrat. When I was Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport, some 20 years ago, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau was Permanent Secretary.

    “When we came in 1999, myself as Deputy Governor, the former Governor of Kano State, Kwankwaso, was the governor and Malam Ibrahim Shekarau was permanent secretary in the Cabinet Office.

    “I could recall that because of a statement by sycophants of former Governor Kwankwaso, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau was given a query. He came to my house at 7 am to tell me that he was given a query. I said go and make a photocopy of that query. He made a photocopy and brought it to me.

    “I met with Governor Kwankwaso and asked him what is happening? The Permanent Secretary in the Cabinet Office said he was given a query. What is the problem?

    “He (Kwankwaso) said he learnt Malam Shekarau was holding meetings with some Ulamas in order to contest election.

    “I said, ‘What is wrong in holding meetings with Ulamas? Even myself, through my Ganduje Foundation, I hold meetings with Ulamas. What is the problem? Please withdraw that query.’

    “But the Governor refused to withdraw the query, and he had the right to do that.

    “What later happened was that Malam Shekarau was posted out to the Ministry of Education. I called the Commissioner of Education at that time and said Malam Ibrahim Shekarau has been posted to your ministry. I asked him to discuss with Malam Shekarau what type of job he would want to do in the Ministry of Education.

    “Then the Honourable Commissioner asked Malam Shekarau what he would want to be, and Malam Shekarau said he wanted to be a classroom teacher, and Malam Ibrahim Shekarau was posted out as a classroom teacher.

    “As God would have it, in less than two months, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau became the Governor of Kano State. He defeated the incumbent governor. He defeated Kwankwaso and myself. He sent us out of Government House.

    “One important thing is that Malam Ibrahim Shekarau and myself have always been good associates. We have always been good friends. In fact, we are like minds; and for him to be in APC, I am the happiest person in this state today.

    “Before, a friend, a brother in different political party, now our dreams have come true; now we are together in the same political party.

    “We understand ourselves. We believe in the same ideology. We believe in commitment—the development of our people, the development of our state.

    “I think there is no better time to have a brother, to come together and serve the people of Kano State.

    “I tell you today that all other things would be sorted out between Malam Ibrahim Shekarau and myself; between Malam Ibrahim Shekarau and our government; between the followers of Malam Ibrahim Shekarau and our government, everything will be sorted out peacefully.

    “So, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, we welcome you to this very important party, the APC. You are one of the founding fathers of APC. The hyena that drove you out of APC is the same hyena that drove you out of PDP. We are happy that you will soon make your pronouncement. Let us come together and fight that lion.”

    Malam Shekarau who said his position for membership of APC would be made known in a few hours, said: “I am happy today for you (Oshiomhole) and His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kano State, to pay me this special visit. I feel highly honoured; I feel highly respected.

    “I am not totally surprised because the National Chairman has been a long-standing friend, a long-standing colleague and a long-standing comrade.

    “I am not surprised also when he emerged the chairman of the APC. I want to assure you that those of us here in Kano are aware of all that has been happening because history is repeating itself.

    “All along, I have been beating my chest with pride that anybody writing the history of APC and the name of Ibrahim Shekarau is not there, that history is incomplete. I had the singular honour of being the chief midwife of APC.

    “For me and Governor Ganduje, regardless of any political party we find ourselves, our mission is always one—sincerity of purpose to move Kano and Nigeria forward. Our consultations are in full gear, in the next couple of hours, we will make it known to the world our stand as far as membership of APC is concerned.”

    Other dignitaries in the APC delegation were Senator Kabiru Gaya (Kano South), Senator Barau Jubrin (Kano North), Speaker of Kano State House of Assembly, Kabiru Alhassan Rurum; Chief Whip of Kano State House of Assembly, Bappa Babba Dan Agundi; Senator Mohammed Bello; Senior Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on National Assembly Matters, Abdulraman Kawu Sumaila; Private Secretary to Ganduje, Ibrahim Kankorofi; members of Kano State executive council, among others.

    A grand rally has been scheduled for today in Kano to formally receive Shekarau.

     

  • Oshiomhole in Kano as Shekarau joins APC

    The National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Mr. Adams Oshiomhole on Friday paid a special visit to former Governor of Kano state, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, describing him as one of the progressives that is much needed in the All Progressive Congress (APC).

    Oshiomhole who was accompanied by Kano state Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and some members of APC National Working Committee (NWC), visited Shekarau at his Kano residence, insisting that his coming back to APC remains a reunion that have been long awaited.

    Read Also:APC shift sale of nomination form by 24 hours

    According to him, “for me, it is a rare opportunity to be in your home and reunite with you. I know from your lifestyle, your background, from what you did as the Governor of Kano state, nobody can claim to be more progressive than you.

    “I am also fully aware that you are one of the founding fathers of the APC. You may not have expected the amount of efforts you invested in the formation of the All Progressive Congress which you did not enjoy.

    “I have always said that we should be going forward, in progressive we unite, with conservative, we move our ways. This meeting has offered us the opportunity to reunite once again as progressives.

    “I have come to pay my respect to His Excellency (Shekarau). I have spoken to my brother, the Executive Governor of Kano state, for the need for all of us to work together for the development of Kano state and the development of our nation, Nigeria.

    “I want to believe that this is a happy reunion and we shall continue to play progressive politics for the good of the Nigerian people.”

    Governor Ganduje in his remarks thanked Oshiomhole for sparring time to reunite him and Shekarau who he described as, “a brother and friend,” adding that, “we are very grateful for this honour that you (Oshiomhole) have done to us in order to concretize the relationship between Malam Ibrahim Shekarau and our great party; and to also acknowledge and ensure that this relationship has come to stay.”

    He pointed out that, “I and Malam Ibrahim Shekarau belong to the same constituency even though we were never in the same political party. The reason why I said we are from the same constituency is that Malam Ibrahim Shekarau is a bureaucrat and I am a bureaucrat. When I was Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport, some 20 years ago, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau was Permanent Secretary.

    “When we came in 1999, myself as the Deputy Governor, the former Governor of Kano state, Kwankwaso was the Governor and Malam Ibrahim Shekarau was a Permanent Secretary in the Cabinet Office.

    “I could recall because of a statement by sycophants of former Governor Kwankwaso, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau was given a query. He came to my house at 7 a.m. to tell me that he was given a query, I said go and make photocopy of that query. He made a photocopy and brought to me.

    “I met with Governor Kwankwaso and asked him what is happening? The Permanent Secretary in the Cabinet Office said he was given a query, what is the problem? He (Kwankwaso) said he learnt Malam Shekarau was holding meetings with some Ulamas in order to contest election.

    “I said what is wrong for him to hold meetings with Ulamas? Even myself through my Ganduje Foundation, I hold meeting with Ulamas. What is the problem, please withdraw that query, but the Governor refused to withdraw that query, and he had the right to do that.

    “What later happened was that Malam Shekarau was posted out to the Ministry of Education. I called the Commissioner of Education at that time and said Malam Ibrahim Shekarau has been posted to your ministry, I asked him to discuss with Malam Shekarau what type of job he would want to do in the Ministry of Education.

    “Then, the Honourable Commissioner asked Malam Shekarau what he would want to be, and Malam Shekarau said he wanted to be a classroom teacher, and Malam Ibrahim Shekarau was posted out as a classroom teacher.

    “As God would have it, in less than two months, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau became the Governor of Kano state. He defeated the incumbent Governor, he defeated Kwankwaso and myself. He sent us out of Government House.

    “One important thing is that, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau and myself have always been good associates, we have always been good friends, in fact, we are like minds; and for him to be in APC, I am the happiest person in this state today.

    “Before, a friend, a brother in different political party, now our dreams have come true; now, we are together in the same political party, we understand ourselves, we believe in the same ideology, we believe in commitment—the development of our people, the development of our state.

    “I think there is no better time to have a brother, to come together and serve the people of Kano state. I tell you today that all other things would be sorted out between Malam Ibrahim Shekarau and I, between Malam Ibrahim Shekarau and our government, between the followers of Malam Ibrahim Shekarau and our government, everything will be sorted out peacefully.

    “So, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, we welcome you to this very important party, the APC. You are one of the founding fathers of APC. The same Hyena that drove you out of APC is the same Hyena that drove you out of PDP. We are happy that you will soon make your pronouncement. Let us come together and fight that Lion.”

    Malam Shekarau who said his position for membership of APC would be made known in few hours said that: “I am happy today for you (Oshiomhole) and His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kano state to pay me this special visit. I feel highly honoured, I feel highly respected.

    “I am not totally surprised because the National Chairman has been a long-standing friend, a long-standing colleague and a long-standing comrade.

    “I am not surprised also when he emerged the chairman of the APC. I want to assure you that those of us here in Kano are aware of all that has been happening because history is repeating itself.

    “All along, I have been beating my chest with pride that anybody writing the history of APC and the name of Ibrahim Shekarau is not there, that history is incomplete. I had the singular honour of being the Chief mid-wife of APC.

    “For me and Governor Ganduje, regardless of any political party we find ourselves, our mission is always one sincerity of purpose to move Kano and Nigeria forward. Our consultations are in full gear, in the next couple of hours, we will make it known to the world our stand as far as membership of APC is concerned.”

    Other dignitaries in Ganduje’s entourage include Senator Ibrahim Kabiru Gaya (Kano South), Senator Barau Jubrin (Kano North), Speaker of Kano state House of Assembly, Kabiru Alhassan Rurum, Chief Whip of Kano state House of Assembly, Bappa Babba Dan Agundi, Senator Mohammed Bello, Senior Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on National Assembly Matters, Abdulraman Kawu Sumaila, Private Secretary to Ganduje, Ibrahim Kankorofi, members of Kano state executive council, among others.

    However, plans have been concluded to officially receive Shekarau to APC in a grand rally to be held today.

     

  • Defection: Kwankwaso must abide by the rule – Shekarau

    Former Governor of Kano State, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, has described the defection of Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso from APC to PDP as a welcome development but urged him and his supporters to abide by the rules.

    Recall that Shekarau, a founding member of the APC had to leave the party for Kwankwaso in Kano when serving governors who dumped the PDP for the APC were asked to lead the party in their states.

    The former governor who spoke through his media aide, Sule Ya’u Sule, said he hoped Kwankwaso had changed.

    Many fear that those who defected to the PDP would have to fight for supremacy in their states where some chieftains had institutionalized themselves in the last three years.

    Read Also: Defections: The drama, the facts

    “I hope the PDP has received a reformed Kwankwaso. I hope it is not the old Kwankwaso I knew,” Shekarau said.

    “I hope he will this time around abide by the rules and regulations of the PDP. I hope he will not repeat what he did after he joined APC in 2015. At that time, he took over everything leaving us with empty hand,” he said.

    Shekarau regretted that the party they had laboured for at the end  handed over the leadership of the party to Kwankwaso in 2015.

    “I hope Kwankwaso is not coming to PDP to repeat the injustice he did in 2015. If everybody will be allowed to play his card according to rules of the party, that will be better for him (Kwankwaso) and every member of the party,” he said.

  • N950m Fraud: Shekarau, Wali, other granted bail

    …as police disperses supporters with tear-gas and live bullets

     

    There was pandemonium Thursday around the Federal High Court Kano on Court road shortly after the former minister of Education,l Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, Ambassador Aminu Wali and the Director general of Ex-president Good Luck Jonathan Engr. Munsur Ahmad were granted bail during which scores were injured.

    Confusion started when supporters of Shekarau attempted to forcefully the security to gain entrance into the court premises, suddenly to a counter reaction from the police by shooting live bullets sporadically into the air to scare them.

    The rampaging security operatives later extended their counter attack by shooting canisters of tear gas into the court premises where lawyers, journalists and court staffs scampered for safety.

    The security men who did not stop at that further went berserk, beating up everyone on-sight with the butt of their gun as well as flogging anyone who challenges their decision of shooting tear gas into the court premises.

    Read Also: N950m Money Laundering: Shekarau, two others quizzed, released by EFCC

    In the submission of the counsel to the EFCC JA Ojogbane, before Justice Zainab Abubakar, opposed the bail application of the Defence counsel, insisted that the affidavit submitted for bail application was against section 155 of the evidence act noting that, there was no bail application before the court. Council to the accused, Ologunnorisa SAN who did not opposed the argument of the prosecution counsel to open trial however seek the leaf of the court for bail application.

    The defence counsel who relied on section 163’of the administrative of criminal justice act in a ten paragraph affidavit insisted that the offence is bailable.

    After listening to the arguments of both counsels, the presiding judge Justice Zainab Abubakar Kagi stood down the precedings for about 40 minutes before rulings.

    The Judge the recess granted the accused bail on six conditions and should be remanded at EFCC custody pending when they satisfactorily fulfill the bail conditions.

    The six conditions include, one hundred million naira each, two suretees one, with landed property within the jurisdiction of the court. The landed property must have a C of O and must be verified by the ministry of land and deposited with the court registrar. The second surety must be a civil servant not below the rank of a director. That the accused should submit their international passport with the registrar and two copies of recent passport sized photographs.

    The three accused persons, are standing trial for six count charges bordering on money laundering an offence committed contrary to section 18(a) of money laundering prohibition act of 2011 as amended.

    The accused however, pleaded not guilty to the six charges.

    The case has been adjourned to June 26

  • Sheikh Jafar: Shakarau urges Police to quiz Senator Goje

    Sheikh Jafar: Shakarau urges Police to quiz Senator Goje

    Former Kano State Governor, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, Friday in Kano, urged the Nigeria Police Force to quiz Senator Danjuma Goje on how he stumbled on the documents on the alleged assassination of the late Kano Islamic scholar, Sheikh Jaafar Adam.

    “We would be glad, if the Police Force could quiz Senator Goje on how he got the document hidden over the years, as well as make more clarification, regarding the source and credibility of the document “.

    Shekarau told reporters on Friday at his residence through his Media Aide, Ghali Sadiq that findings revealed that the document is not a classified document but rather a personal opinion, orchestrated and circulated to the public 10 years ago.

    He said, “the circulated document was made in an attempt to tarnish the image and good reputation of Malam Ibrahim Shekarau in his bid to contest second term governorship election in the state “.

    “We are passionately appealing to the police to make public its findings on the report, regarding the controversial assassination in 2007, which we believed exonerated the former Governor of any complicity on the matter “.

    Also Shekarau, reiterated his continued commitment and Selfless service to the country at all cost, lamenting that the mischievous acts against him would not in any way deter him from being forthright.

    Similarly, the former Governor expressed appreciation to his supporters and urged them to remain calm.

    He stated that consultation, with lawyers have reached an advanced stage, regarding the matter.

     

  • Shekarau calls for policy to back online studies

    Shekarau calls for policy to back online studies

    Former governor of Kano, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau has called for the introduction of a policy that is designed to encourage online studies in the country, which will enhance the knowledge and the process of learning.

    Shekarau, who is the immediate-past Minister of Education made the call in his private residence where he received the founder of Islamic Online University, Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips.

    The Sardaunan Kano further noted that, “at the time the online studies became a policy in Nigeria, the better for us; because online studies is a very good way for promoting education in a developing country like Nigeria.”

    He, however, hailed Dr. Bilal Philips, for not only encouraging online studies, but also introducing Islamic angle to learning and university education.

    “Another aspect that is very important is the Islamization of knowledge; and the Islamization of the process of learning because all knowledge belongs to God,” he stated.

    Malam Shekarau, however, offered prayers to God for guidance, just as he promised to do everything within his powers to ensure the success and establishment of the tuition-free Online Islamic University in Nigeria.

    While speaking on the need to establish the university in Nigeria, founder of the institution, Dr. Bilal Philips, a renowned Islamic scholar, stated that already, “over 300, 000 students across the world are enrolled in the institution, with 12, 000 Nigerians who are already benefitting from the online free-education.

    “In the Online Islamic University, we don’t only offer Sharia’ah, we offer degree programmes in education, Banking and Financing, Agriculture, Information and Communication Technology, Mass Communication, among others.”

    The Chief Imam of Kano, Prof. Sani Zahradeen, in his speech, described the establishment of Online Islamic University in Nigeria as a welcome development that will liberate the Islamic North from education backwardness.

    The Nation reports that Dr. Bilal Philips is expected to meet with the Emir of Kano, His Highness, Malam Muhammad Sanusi 11, to further discuss ways of making the Online Islamic University a dream come true in Nigeria.

     

  • ‘12,000 Nigerians studying through online Islamic University’

    The proprietor of Islamic Online University (IOU), Dr Bilal Philips, said on Monday that no fewer than 12,000 Nigerians were presently studying through the institution.

    Philips made the disclosure in Kano, when he visited former Kano State Governor, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau.

    According to him, the Nigerian students are part of the 300,000 students studying in the institution at no cost.

    “We are also presently planning to establish the online Islamic University in Nigeria. We are going through all the necessary processes.”

    Philips canvassed for the inclusion of the Islamic perspective in the educational process in Nigeria, to enable students understand the Islamic aspects of any course they study.

    “By Islamising the teaching processes in the country, it will bring out the good and the bad aspects of any profession, especially the accounting, business administration and other courses”, he said.

    He explained that the institution was established to offer access to education, free of charge.

    “The aim of the university is also to grant global access to quality undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate level in Islamic education for students at virtually no cost.

    “Its mission is to be a catalyst for change in the global Muslim nations, to facilitate their contributions to the progress of human civilisation.”

    Responding, Shekarau, a former Minister of Education, commended the scholar for promoting Islam across the world, describing such effort as a welcome development.

    According to him, bringing Islamic perspective to courses would  sanitise government ministries, agencies and other organisations, especially in ending corruption.

    “During my eight years tenure as governor, I was the first to make it mandatory for the civil servants to apply the Islamic perspective, in carrying out their functions,” Shekarau said.

     

  • Shekarau sympathizes with victims of Gombe market fire

    Shekarau sympathizes with victims of Gombe market fire

    Former Governor of Kano State, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau has expressed his heartfelt sympathy with the government and people of Gombe State over the inferno that destroyed the Gombe old Market.

    Shekarau said this when briefing newsmen at the end of the Islamic Vocational Course in Gombe on Wednesday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the incident occurred on Tuesday night where 48 shops and properties worth millions of Naira were burnt to ashes.

    Shekarau said that he received the news with shock and prayed for God to restore what the victims had lost.

    He called on the victims to take it as an act of God and advised them to trace the genesis of the incident.

    According to him, knowing the course of the incident will help them to guard against future disaster.