The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Malam Nasir el-Rufai

  • APC has left me stranded, says El-Rufai

    APC has left me stranded, says El-Rufai

    •‘My grouse about party, not President’

    Former Kaduna State Governor Malam Nasir El-Rufai is unhappy that the party – All Progressives Congress (APC) – he helped to form has left him stranded.

    He, however, ruled out returning to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as an option, as according to him, such decision would amount to jumping from frying pan into fire.

    The former governor, who spoke on a national television, hopes the APC would get its acts together for people like him to remain in the fold.

    Read Also: UNODC survey: 14.3m Nigerians use psychoactive substances

    According to him, his grouse is about the party and not  President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    He said: “I’m a founding member of the APC and I am still a member of the APC. But, I have concern on how the party is being run and I’ve expressed those concerns.

    “Two years after, the party organs are functioning but the progressive ideals are not being pursued with any vigour.”

    Expressing displeasure with the party, he said: “I don’t know what has gone wrong with the APC. All I know is that a political party functions well through internal democracy. But, in the last two years, the party has not met.

    “There has been no conversation on the alignment of the government and the progressive programmes of the party.

    “I’m happy to learn through a grapevine source that the party is finally going to have a national caucus meeting and NEC meeting.

    ‘I’m not leaving the APC, the APC has left me, and I am stranded and I’m not planning to leave politics. Sooner or later, I may find another platform to pursue the progressive values that I believe in.

    “May be, if APC corrects its way, some of us may have to look at it again. But, for now, there are many of us that cannot recognise the party.

    “I don’t know where I will end up, if the APC doesn’t come back to the basics. But, one thing I can tell for sure is that PDP is not a party I will go to.

    “I have thought about that long ago and I have taken my decision. In fact, if anything, the PDP has gotten worse. Other parties, possibly, if the APC doesn’t sort itself.”

    He said his grouse was not personal with the President but with the ruling party.

    On his inability to serve in the government, El-Rufai said: “It is a misplacement of assumption that once you contribute to establish a government, you must get a pay back through appointment.”

    El-Rufai dismissed the claim that he failed to make the ministerial list because the National Assembly declined to clear him.

    He believed that Tinubu, who approached him to join the cabinet, changed his mind along the line.  

    The former governor said: “I had my plans. But, publicly, when President Tinubu begged me to serve in his government, after about two months of negotiations, I agreed that he should nominate me as minister, though I attached some certain conditions to that.

    “But, I think along the line, it seems the President changed his mind. Please, don’t believe the story that the National Assembly rejected me. The National Assembly had nothing to do with this.”

  • El-Rufai names 11 commissioner-nominees

    Kaduna state Governor Malam Nasir El-Rufai has sent the names of 11 nominees for appointment as commissioners to the House of Assembly.

    The governor said he will subsequently forward three more nominees to make up the 14 commissioners that will constitute the state executive council.

    A statement signed by the governor’s spokesman, Samuel Aruwan, said upon confirmation by the legislature, the commissioners will run the 14 ministries created in the June 2019 Executive Order.

    The statement reads: “El-Rufai nominated 11 persons for appointment as commissioners. The names of this first batch of 11 nominees have been forwarded to the Kaduna State House of Assembly. The second batch of nominees will subsequently be forwarded for the consideration of the legislature.

    Read Also: Kaduna’s bold move to regulate preaching

    “All the 11 nominees served in various positions in the first-term of the government. Picking insiders is a deliberate decision to enable the nominees hit the ground running and assists the government to achieve its targets for the second term. Every appointee will be subjected to stronger monitoring based on clear terms of reference and key performance indicators.

    “The first batch of 11 nominees for and their proposed portfolios are as follows: Ja’afaru Ibrahim Sani, Ministry of Local Government Affairs; Idris Samaila Nyam, Ministry of Business, Innovation & Technology; Shehu Usman Makarfi, Ministry of Education; and Ibrahim Garba Hussaini, Ministry of Environment & Natural Resources.

    Others are Kabir Muhammad Mato, Ministry of Sports Development; Balaraba Aliyu-Inuwa, Ministry of Public Works & Infrastructure; Samuel Peter Aruwan, Ministry of Internal Security & Home Affairs; Fausat Adebola Ibikunle, Ministry of Housing & Urban Development; Mohammed Bashir Saidu, Ministry of Finance; Hafsat Mohammed Baba, Ministry of Human Services & Social Development; Aisha Dikko, Ministry of Justice.

    “Nominations for the commissioners of Agriculture, Health and Planning & Budget will be forwarded in the second batch.

  • El-Rufai ends accident rumour, arrives Nigeria

    Kaduna State Governor Malam Nasir El-Rufai on Wednesday evening ended the rumour of his involvement in a fatal accident, which allegedly claimed life of his driver on the spot.

    El-Rufai, according to his spokesman, Samuel Aruwan, arrived Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Wednesday afternoon wearing a cheerful face.

    Rumours were rife in hush tones that El-Rufai was involved in an accident.

    The rumours, however, became louder last Thursday when it was reported the governor was injured and his driver dead instantly.

    But, El-Rufai who reacted to the rumour, attributed it to the opposition party members.

    He said he was neither in coma nor was his driver dead as being speculated.

    El-Rufai, on his official Facebook page, wrote: “I woke up after a rare 8-hour bout of deep sleep to learn that some bigotry-driven, PDP-affiliated fake news platform has declared my driver dead and my humble self in coma. Both claims are false.

    “I thank them for reducing the days in their lives and adding them to mine.

    “I remain their permanent nightmare and not about to disappear from their wretched and corrupt lives any time soon by the Grace of Almighty Allah, until they are permanently retired and buried.”

    But despite the rebuttal, another round of rumour spread he was in coma in a hospital in Germany.

    Aruwan, in a short Facebook post this evening, inferred the Governor’s arrival has ended the rumour, asking the mongers to proceed to the next issue.

    According to him: “Ever smiling and cheerful Governor Nasir El-Rufai at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. Next story!”

    His post was accompanied with two photographs showing the Governor smiling while pulling his luggage.

  • El-Rufai, wife decry low turnout of voters in Kaduna

    Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, and his wife Hajiyah Ummi El-Rufai, has decried low turnout of voters in Kaduna.

    El-Rufai who is the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), however, expressed optimism that the turn out will improve before the close of voting.

    The governor arrived his polling unit at Ungwar Sarki Ward at exactly 8:27 am and joined the queue.

    El-Rufai, who insisted on joining the queue, said that is the right thing to do as a patriotic citizen.

    Speaking on the security situation, the governor lauded the security agencies for being proactive. “The military presence is everywhere, although they are not close to the polling unit, they are out to ensure that everyone is safe.

    “On the part of INEC, they have done well and we hope to have a peaceful election,” the governor said.

  • El-Rufai, wife decry low turnout of voters in Kaduna

    Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai has decried low turnout of voters in Kaduna.

    El-Rufai who is the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) however expressed optimism that the turn out will improve before the close of voting.

    Also, the wife of the governor, Hajiyah Ummi El-Rufai decried low turnout of voters, but was optimistic there will be turn-up as the voting continues.

    The governor arrived his polling unit at Ungwar Sarki ward at exactly 8:27 am and joined the queue.

    El-Rufai who insisted in joining the queue said, that is the right thing to do as a patriotic citizen.

    While reacting to the low turnout of electorate, the Governor said, “I am very optimistic that the turnout will improve. I think people are taking their time to come out and cast their votes for the candidates of their voice”.

    Speaking on the security situation, the governor lauded the security agencies for being proactive. “The military are out, although, they are not close to the polling unit, but they are out to ensure that everyone is safe.

    “On the part of INEC, they have done well and we hope to have a peaceful election”, the governor said.

    While reacting to the low turnout of electorate, he says: “I am very optimistic that the turnout will improve. I think people are taking their time to come out and cast their votes for the candidates of their voice”.

  • Community replies El-Rufai over relocation threat

    The Gonin-Gora community of Chikun local government area of Kaduna State has replied the recent statement credited to Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai where he threatened to demolish and evacuate the community if the youths of the area don’t desist from attacking motorists that ply the route during crisis situations.

    It would be recalled that the governor during a Hausa radio program recently threatened to evacuate and relocate Gonin-Gora, a community with well over 300,000 residents if the youths in the area attempt to block Kaduna-Abuja high way and attack innocent travelers.

    Read Also:El-Rufai’s policies responsible for Kaduna crisis, says NLC

    The alleged threat by the governor generated lots of controversies as to why the governor had to narrow down the threat to only Gonin-Gora community as volatile area at the wake of any crisis in the state and exonerated other volatile communities like Tudun Wada, Mararaban Jos, Rigasa and Kabala West.

    Meanwhile, addressing newsmen at the palace of the late Sarkin Gonin Gora on behalf of the leaders and elders of Gonin-Gora and environs, the Sarkin Yaki Gora said, Gonin Gora residents are peaceful adding that, the governor pronouncements is an attempt to give dog a bad name to hang it.

    The text of the briefing jointly signed by Alhaji Baba Ali (Dallatun Gonin Gora), John Auta (Ciroman Gonin Gora) Sule Fulani (Wakilin Fulani) and Zakka Auta (Wakilin Atyap) said, “it is unfortunate that while the communal clash was going on at Kasuwan Magani and later spilled over to Kujama, Mararaban Rido and Sabon – Tasha, rumours were already being peddled inside Kaduna and certain areas of the town that killings, mounting of roadblocks and attacks of innocent motorists as well as kidnapping of passersby was going on unabated in Gonin-Gora.

    “Indeed, all these false allegations and rumours are not new to the people of Gonin-Gora as this has always been the case whenever trouble is in the offing.

    “What transpired in reality is that through-out the violent clash on the 18th October, 2018 at Kasuwan Magani and its subsequent spill-over to places like Kujama, Mararaban Rido and Sabon-Tasha on 20th, 21st and 22nd respectively, Gonin-Gora and its environs remained calm and peaceful.

    “It is in the context of these realities that we in Gonin-Gora are baffled and shocked by the reported threats of His Excellency Governor Nasir El-Rufai to demolish and or evacuate the Gonin-Gora settlement on account of violence to and molestation of travelers which, to the best of our knowledge never ever occurred during this crisis.

    “We are sure that it is either that the governor has been misinformed or ill-advised by people hell-bent on giving Gonin-Gora a bad and gory name in order to hang it,” he stated.

    “Indeed, during this tense period the acting Sarkin Gonin-Gora and his ward heads appealed to the residents, and the youths in particular to remain calm and law-abiding. It remained so until Friday, 26th October, 2018 when news about the killing of Agom Adara started circulating.

    “On that fateful day, unknown to the leadership of the Gonin-Gora community, a handful of miscreants around Buwaya out of pure mischief took the law into their hands by mounting a road block immediately after the bye-pass overhead bridge coming from the toll gate from Abuja.

    “This happened to be at about the same time that His Excellency, Governor Nasir El-Rufai and his convoy were coming from the direction of Abuja where he encountered many motorists that had been caught up by the twenty-four hour curfew that had been imposed as well as the impromptu blockage mounted by the miscreants.

    “On reaching the spot with his convoy and other motorists trailing behind him, the governor stopped and ordered the police to dismantle it to allow the motorists pass into Kaduna town.

    “The leadership of Gonin- Gora community wishes to restate the community’s resolve to promote peaceful coexistence, mutual understanding and inter- faith solidarity not only within the Gonin-Gora settlement and environs but with all our neighboring settlements.

    “Our leaders will continue with our proactive interventions in educating our youths and all other members of our community on the primacy of the maintenance of peace, compliance with lawful orders and the pursuit of cordial inter-communal and inter-faith,” the community said.

  • Over 1m Kaduna residents have obtained residency card – El-Rufai

    Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state has disclosed that over one million residents of Kaduna have so far obtained the residency card introduced by the state government.

    Speaking during the official flag-off the state residency card programme at Miyetti Allah Primary Health Centre,  Rigasa, the governor explained that the decision to introduce the card was to help the state government in planning for its social and economic programmes in future.

    He said successive governments have over the years failed to use accurate data in planning, noting that, this had led to guess work and incurate data.

    For instance, he disclosed, “the overcrowded school in Rigasa made national headlines after we revealed its existence. But how did one primary school in Rigasa come about having more than 20,000 pupils

    The governor explained that while the National Identity card is to identify who are true Nigerians, the Kaduna residency card is to help the state government know who are residing in the state.

    Read Also: Be fair to all, El-Rufai warns LG chairmen

    While acknowledging that no fewer than one million residents have so far obtained the residency card, he disclosed that there are 58 registration centres across the state established for the exercise.

    “Three Mobile Enrolment Buses are also shuttling within Kaduna Metropolis, bringing the registration process to the elderly and persons living with physical disabilities.

    “The ultimate goal is to ensure ease of access by scaling up the registration centres to 255 with one in each ward of our 23 Local Governments.

    He also noted that, “Residents of Kaduna State should note that at in the near future, no citizen will enjoy some of our free or subsidized social services like basic education, healthcare or even be considered for land allocation unless he or she can provide a Kaduna State Residents Card

    To this end, he called on religious leaders as well as traditional rulers to help in sensitising their people over the importance of obtaining   the residency card.

    Earlier, the Director General, National Identity Management Committee, Alhaji Aliyu Azeez remarked that it’s agency had captured 30.6 million Nigerians in its data base, saying, Kaduna alone has 1.6m people that were captured.

    Enumerating the importance of data for national development, the DG maintained that it could be used by for security planning and poverty eradication, saying at the personal level it could be used to obtain international passport, bank account among others.

    Azeez assured the resolve of the agency to capture every Nigerian in the next three years.

    Highlight of the occasion included the issuance of certificate to the first person who obtained the residency card.

  • 11 slain soldiers buried in Kaduna amidst tears 

    ….as Buratai vows to fish out killers

     

     

    The remains of the 11 slain soldiers killed by armed bandits at Kampanin doka village in Birnin Gwari local government area of Kaduna State have been laid to rest amidst tears at the Commonwealth cemetery, Kaduna.

    Armed bandits attacked the said village on the 20th March, 2018 and in the process killed 11 soldiers who were deployed there on military operations against arm banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling among other forms of criminalities, code named “Exercise Ayem AKpatuma” (Cat Race).

    The late soldiers are, Private Olabode Hammed (Ogun state), Private Bamidele Adekunle Emmanuel (Ogun State), Private Owochukwu Christian Chigoziri (Rivers State), Private Adamu Muhammed (Bauchi State) Private Lamara Ahmed (Jigawa State), Private Mubarak Suleiman (Plateau State), Private Bashir Sani (Katsina State), Private Usman Abubakar Jalo (Gombe state), Private Nafiu Iliyasu (Jigawa State), Private Safiyanu Ahmed (Jigawa State) and Private Alhassan Ibrahim (Kaduna State).

    The chief mourner and Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai represented by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division Army Headquarters Kaduna, Major General Mohammed Mohammed in his speech described the death of the soldiers as painful but a sacrifice and supreme prize for the people of Birnin Gwari, Kaduna State and Nigeria.

    While condoling the families of the deceased soldiers, he said the military will stop at nothing to fish out the perpetrators of the attack and bring them to justice accordingly.

    Meanwhile, he urged the deceased family not to be discouraged in sending their children to the army as a result of the death of the soldiers.

    “We will remain committed towards guaranteeing the peace and security of Nigeria and Nigerians regardless of situations such as this, we will not run away”.

    While assuring the family and next of kins of the deceased of military support, he further reiterated that their death is not and will not be in vain.

    “We will continue to fight against all forms of arm banditry, cattle rustling, kidnapping and other criminalities in the country”.

    On his part, Kaduna state Governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai represented by the Secretary to the State government Lawal Balarebe also expressed his condolence to the family of the deceased.

    The Governor who promised the support of the government also donated Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500, 000:00) to each of the next of kin to the slain soldiers in a single cheque amounting to 5.5 million naira.

    Responding, one of the next of kin to the slain soldiers, Sani Leman Kila described their death as unfortunate and painful but attributes it to the will of God.

    Read Also: Burial for 11 soldiers killed in Kaduna

  • El-Rufai receives North Igbo Leaders in Kaduna 

    El-Rufai receives North Igbo Leaders in Kaduna 

    …Assures Arewa youths’ll be arrested, prosecuted

     

    Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, on Tuesday received leaders of the Igbos resident in Northern Nigeria under the auspices of Igbo Delegate Assembly and Northern Igbo Chiefs, reassuring them that, they and their property in the region will be protected.

    This was also as the Governor assured the Igbo leaders that, no matter how long it will take, Northern youths who signed the quit notice to Igbos would be arrested and prosecuted to serve as deterrent to others.

    El-Rufai, however urged Igbo leaders to prevail on their youths against making statements and agitations capable of dividing Nigeria.

    According to El-Rufai, “Kaduna State Government is grateful to the Igbos for coming. Kaduna has suffered so many crises, so we are very sensitive to comments that incite and cause disaffection among the people. Therefore, the Northern youths behind the ultimatum will not only be arrested but will be prosecuted”.

    “Kaduna used to be a home for all, but so many crises have divided the state and the metropolis across religious lines. As a government that is why we abolish indigeneship, once you live in Kaduna you are an indigene.

    “We have arrested so many people for hate speeches and we are trying them. We are going to arrest the Arewa Youths and bring them to justice no matter how long it takes. Since the press conference was done in Kaduna.

    “If they had done it in any other place we would have just condemned them, but since it is in Kaduna we are going to arrest them no matter how long it takes.”

    “I have the mandate of the Northern Governors Forum under the chairmanship of Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, to reassure the Igbos in the 19 Northern states and Abuja that their lives and property are safe in the North”, El-Rufai said.

    On his part, President General Igbo Delegate Assembly, Chief Chikezie Nwogu, commended the Federal government and Governor El-Rufai for their swift reaction to the quit notice issued by the Northern youths.

    Chief Nwogu, who led the Igbo traditional rulers from the 19 Northern States to Kaduna on a courtesy to Governor El-Rufai, said the Igbos are ready to remain in the north.

    He said, “we are here in Kaduna to hold a meeting based on what has been happening in the North, especially with the Arewa Youths and the ultimatum given to Igbos and the agitations by IPOB. We are not here to condemn anybody. We thank the Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai and other Northern governors, traditional rulers and the Federal government for their interventions at the heat of the issue.”

    “We want the government to tackle the root cause of agitations and subsequent quit notice by Northern youths and find solution. Let us look at the problem of the Youths when there is complains, also is good to restructure in a way that will benefit everyone.”

    “We are not happy with the call for division. We want Nigeria as one so that all of us can benefit. Northern youths have been our brothers. The Igbos are not going anywhere, we will remain with our Arewa brothers in the north,” Nwogu said.

  • ‎Polio: Kaduna has maintained zero status since 2012 – El-Rufai

    ‎Polio: Kaduna has maintained zero status since 2012 – El-Rufai

    Kaduna State has maintained ‎a zero polio status since November 2012, the state Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai has disclosed.

    The Governor who disclosed this during the on-going ministerial briefing at the Correspondent Chapel of Kaduna NUJ through his Commissioner for Health Dr. Paul Manya Dogo reiterated the committed of the state government to do all humanly possible to maintain such status.

    He noted that prior to the administration under his leadership‎, the health indices of the state were very disturbing despite investments in healthcare, hence the need that saw to the convening of a health summit very early into his administration that brought together important relevant stakeholders including local, national andinternational partners to discuss the Kaduna State healthcare.

    According to the governor, Kaduna State now has a robust immunisation program, purchase of cold chain equipment ‎(144SDDs refrigerators) to fill in the gaps and such equipment have been deployed to the 255 Primary Health Care (PHCs) centres with additional zonal cold stores built and fitted with walk-in-cold rooms for effective andefficient routinne vaccination.

    “Close to one thousand directly funded primary health centres now offer ‎routine immunization with outreach services to their host communities.

    “The polio eradication initiative has been sustained and th estate has maintained a zero polio status since November, 2012” he said.

    “For improved health outcomes, government is committed to building a resilient health commodities‎ supply chain management system. Our sustainable drug. Supply system and free maternal and child health program did not have a functional logistic management system or standard operating procedures.

    “The aim of the intervention is to institute an effective, efficient, visible and well coordinated health supply chain management system. We are currently in the implementation phase of the transformation,where the solutions and models have been launched for testing before scaling up”.

    The governor also disclosed that Kaduna State is the first state in the country to have a baseline costing of its public supply chain ‎management system, adding that a master data for all drugs and health commodities to give it visibility.

    “With the support of the centre for Disease control, Kaduna State has just completed the first ever Kadua AIDS indicator ‎survey that will hopefully give us the correct current prevalence rate of HIV and AIDS in the state,” he further disclosed.