The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Muhammadu Sanusi II

  • Moghalu condoles with BUA Group’s Chairman over father’s death

    Former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Deputy Governor and Presidential aspirant, Kingsley Moghalu has condoled with the family of BUA Group’s Chairman, Abdulsamad Rabiu over the death of his father, Isyaku Rabiu.

    In a statement released on Friday, Moghalu said: “ It is with sadness that Professor Kingsley Moghalu and the Kingsley Moghalu Support Organisation (KIMSO) received, this evening, the news of the departure of an illustrious son of the great City of Kano, Isyaku Rabiu. Sheik Isyaku Rabiu, leader of the Tijjaniya Movement in Africa, was an Islamic scholar, elder statesman, business tycoon, philanthropist, and a senior stakeholder of the Kano Emirates”.

    He added: “Popularly called the Khadimul Qur’an, the elder Rabiu is survived by his loving family members, including Abdulsamad Rabiu, Chairman of BUA Group. We would like to express our heartfelt condolences to his entire family, His Royal Highness, Mallam Muhammadu Sanusi II, CON (Emir of Kano), sons and daughters of Kano, and indeed all Nigerian people for this great loss,”.

  • Shehu Sani and senators’ salaries

    Sir: When former CBN governor now Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi II, told us some years back that a quarter of our annual budget was spent on the National Assembly, many did not believe him and tagged him a rabble rouser and attention seeker. But the recent revelations about senators’ salaries and allowances by Senator Shehu Sani have proven Sanusi right. He revealed that a senator collects N13 million monthly for running costs which must receipted, N700,000 for salary and allowances and N200 million worth of constituency projects annually. However, the disclosure by the senator does not cover allowances for cars, housing, wardrobe, furniture, etc. which runs into several millions of naira.

    It is a tragic irony that while we have the largest concentration of poor people in the world, our lawmakers are arguably the highest paid in the world. Why can’t they borrow a leaf from their counterparts in Britain, the House of Lords, where each lawmaker earns only 150 pounds (about N250,000) per sitting? How can we be paying corrupt politicians and thieving bureaucrats millions of naira as salaries and allowances in a country where no doctor, lawyer, engineer, university lecturer or any professional of any hue earns anything close to that amount monthly? How can we expect to become a great power when for so many years till date, the Nigerian budget has been overwhelmingly tilted in favour of recurrent expenditure rather than capital expenditure?

    In most advanced climes, the private sector pays more than the public sector because remuneration is based on productivity and the public sector is seen as a place to serve and make an impact not as a channel to become rich. In Nigeria, the reverse is the case. Public service is a do-or-die thing because it is viewed by many as a cheap avenue to enrich self.

    If only on the grounds of productivity, I sincerely do not think that our lawmakers deserve to earn such humongous sums as salaries and allowances. Most of these senators do not have constituency offices. They do not hold town hall meetings and some rarely visit their home states. Secondly, the quality of debate in the Senate is very poor and often characterized by absentee and sleeping senators during plenary. Despite their lavish salaries, members are often accused of soliciting and collecting bribes to pass bills and from agencies that they oversee.

    One knotty issue that baffles and defies logic is the issue of constituency projects for lawmakers. Just like their name implies, lawmakers all over the world make laws, carry out oversight functions, and are vested with the power of appropriation while it is the role of the executive to implement projects. The earlier we do away with this democratic aberration, the better for our treasury.

    I commend the courage of Senator Shehu Sani in making this disclosure unlike the Twitter senator, who is adept at playing the ostrich and epitomizes the phrase “all talk and no action”.

    The way forward is to make law-making a part-time job that pays allowances per sitting just as we had it in the First Republic. We should also do away with our current bi-cameral legislature in favour of a unicameral legislature so as to save costs and reduce our recurrent expenditure.

     

    • Peter Ovie Akus,

    Ifo, Ogun State.

  • Police begins investigation into impersonation of Emir Sanusi

    Police begins investigation into impersonation of Emir Sanusi

    The Police in Kano have commenced an investigation into the alleged impersonation of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II by a 20-year-old man identified as Sultan Bello.

    DSP Magaji Majiya, the Police/Public Relations Officer of the State Police Command, told our reporter in Kano on Friday that the suspect was arrested on Feb. 27, for operating an Instagram page impersonating the Emir.

    According to him, the young man was arrested following a written complaint by a woman over his suspicious activities, pretending to be the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II.
    He said the suspect had since confessed to have defrauded many innocent people by impersonating the traditional ruler.

    “The command is currently investigating and interrogating the suspect and he is cooperating with the police and as soon as the investigation is completed, he will be charged to court,’’ Majiya said.

    He added that Bello had admitted impersonating the Emir on social media and collecting over N3 million from unsuspecting persons, before he was arrested.

    The Police/PRO, however, warned youths to desist from indulging into fraudulent activities as anyone caught would be made to face the wrath of the law.

    NAN

  • We’ll see end of herdsmen-farmers clashes – Osinbajo

    We’ll see end of herdsmen-farmers clashes – Osinbajo

    *Bachama, Batta leaders commend Buhari administration’s efforts in resolving crisis

    The Presidency on Tuesday expressed confidence that the Buhari administration will end the herdsmen-farmers clashes and the violence associated with it, which predate the administration.

    Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, gave the assurance while receiving a delegation led by the traditional rulers of Batta and Bachamma communities in Adamawa State: HRM Hama Batta, Homun Alhamdu Teneke (JP); and HRM Hama Bachamma, Homun Honest Irmiya Stephen (JP) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Laolu Akande, Osinbajo said “President Muhammadu Buhari is determined to resolve the herdsmen-farmers clashes in Adamawa State and return peace and order to the affected communities.

    “Much damage has been done, not just security-wise, but to the psyche of the people; due to the series of attacks, people are afraid. We are also looking at repairing the damage that has been done to the infrastructure of the communities and rehabilitate the people.” he said 

    It would be recalled that following his visit to affected communities in Adamawa State on the 5th of December, 2017, the Vice President had commenced a series of national consultations with all relevant groups designed to find a lasting solution to the farmers-herders conflict in parts of the country.

    In the first of the series, Prof. Osinbajo had a meeting on the 11thof December, 2017, with the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II; the Lamido of Adamawa, Muhammadu Barkindo Aliyu Musdafa; elder statesman, Mallam Ahmed Joda; and other leaders of the Fulani communities.

    On the issue of proffering permanent solution to the crisis, Prof. Osinbajo further said the report provided by the National Animal Production Research Institute ( NAPRI ), Zaria, would be considered.

    Speaking further, Prof. Osinbajo admonished the people of the affected communities to embrace peace and not to seek revenge. He emphasized that it was important to disarm anyone caught with arms and weapons as it was, by law, an offence for anyone to carry unlicensed firearms.

    In his remarks, the Hama Batta thanked the Vice President for the invitation and his visit to the affected communities late last year. 

    He said, “We came to thank you for your visit (to Numan communities). You made promises of relief materials when you visited, and the relief materials were brought. Also, the Special Forces that you promised responded on time. There is also now a police command with a Commissioner of Police.”

    Also speaking, the Hama Bachamma echoed the words of the Hama Batta, and thanked the Presidency for its efforts so far in tackling the issue.

  • Emir Sanusi wants public officers to undergo drug test

    Emir Sanusi wants public officers to undergo drug test

    The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, has called for a law that would compel public officers and traditional rulers to undergo drug test in the country.

    He made the call at the Senate Roundtable on drug abuse held in Kano on Monday.

    The event is organised by the Senate in order to address drug abuse epidemic in the country.

    He said the call was necessary in order to ensure that anybody was not allowed to hold political office and traditional leadership positions.

    “I am ready to submit myself for the drug test.

    “I suggest that ministers, governors and traditional rulers should go for drug test because when youths understand that they cannot be governors, ministers or senators if they are drug addicts, they will be into their senses.

    “The country is facing a great danger because the fight against drug abuse has to be taken seriously if we are to succeed,’’ he said.

    Read also: I’ll remain an agent of change, says Emir Sanusi

    While calling for effective implementation of the laws against drug abuse in the country, the first class traditional ruler also urged the Senate to ensure proper funding of all agencies charged with the responsibility to enforce the laws.

    “We are deceiving ourselves if we don’t believe that we are part of the problem,’’ Sanusi said.

    Besides, the emir called for the establishment of modern rehabilitation centres for victims of drug abuse in the six geo-political zones of the country.

    He said when established, the centres should be equipped with necessary facilities and personnel to enable them take care of the teeming numbers of victims of the drug abuse.

    He said the measure was necessary in order to ensure that those addicts were rehabilitated and trained in various skills to enable them be reintegrated into the society.

    He, however, called for adequate funding of the centres to enable them operate effectively and serve the purpose for which they are established.

    NAN

  • Presidency moves to end farmers-herdsmen conflicts

    Presidency moves to end farmers-herdsmen conflicts

    The Federal government has opened nationwide consultations with opinion leaders towards ending incessant farmers – herdsmen conflict.

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo opened the dialogue with the hosting of some traditional rulers from Adamawa at the State House in Abuja.

    The meeting was sequel to his visit to Adamawa on December 5, in the wake of the communal clashes in the area.

    The meeting had in attendance the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II; the Lamido of Adamawa, Muhammadu Barkindo Musdafa; elder statesman, Malam Ahmed Joda and other leaders of the Fulani communities.

    Subsequent meetings would focus on other interest groups.

    At the meeting, previous reports on the conflict were presented by the delegation and causes of the conflicts were analysed.

    The meeting condemned the acts of violence that had occurred, especially the killing of children and women.

    It also highlighted the need for Law Enforcement and other Government Agencies to dutifully and objectively perform their constitutional roles.

    Osinbajo assured the delegation of the Federal Government’s resolve and commitment to the entrenchment of lasting peace in all communities across the country and the resolution of all legitimate grievances.

    He said, “There is nothing much more important now, in showing our leadership beyond preventing tragedy and destruction of everything we have built as a nation.

    The entire Nigeria enterprise is bigger than other interests. The overall objective is ensuring that our nation is not enveloped by another crisis.”

    According to the Vice President “We now have an opportunity to do something. We have the opportunity to resolve the issues and to build a nation where we and our children can live in peace.”

    Following the vice president’s visit to Adamawa, several food items and relief materials had been distributed to all the affected communities in the state, including Shafaron, Kodomti, Tullum, Mzoruwe and Mararraban Bare in Numan Local Government Area.

    Other communities that received relief materials were Dong, Lawaru and Kukumso in Demsa Local Government Area of the state.

    In the next series of meetings, the vice president will meet with the Batta, Bachama and other groups from Adamawa, while meetings with stakeholders from other conflict-affected states would follow.

    Also at the meeting were Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Musa Bello.

    NAN 

  • Buhari vows to reform, decongest Prisons

    Buhari vows to reform, decongest Prisons

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday in Kano reaffirmed that prison reforms and decongestion will be pursued with greater vigor by his administration.

    Speaking at a ceremony in Kurmawa Central Prison Kano, at which 500 inmates were either pardoned or set free upon the payment of fines by the State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, President Buhari lamented that some of the freed inmates were young and charged prison authorities to make every effort to make better citizens of prisoners.

    President Buhari, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, pledged that prisons reforms and decongestion would continue to receive prompt attention from his administration.

    He harped on the need for prisoners to receive proper care, support and rehabilitation to make them better citizens after serving their prisons terms.

    He said “I am pleased with this visit and I have learnt a bit more about the conditions of the prisons and inmates.

    “This building in front of us was built since 1910. Rehabilitation of prisoners and training of inmates is very important to us and we would continue to invest more on this.

    “I asked one of the inmates (released) how old he was and he told me he is only 19 years old.

    “If we have people of 18 and 19 years in the prison, and there is no continuous training, then their lives will be completely destroyed. We will invest more in education and vocational training,’’ he said.

    The 500 inmates granted pardon, including men and women, were drawn from various prisons in Kano state, including Kurmawa prisons, which has 1,398 inmates as opposed to 750, the established capacity.

    Earlier, the President who arrived Kano to a tumultuous welcome by the Government and people of the State at the start of a two-day state visit paid homage to the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II.

    At the Emir’s place, President Buhari recounted his fond memories of Kano, as a symbol of peace, trade, commerce and industry in Nigeria.

    ‘‘If there is a problem here, the whole country has a problem. I remember the industry and employment people get in Kano.

    ‘‘Before the problem in the North East, I remember the number of articulated vehicles that leave this city to Maiduguri and the Cameroons, and the number of vehicles that come in from Chad and Niger, providing millions of jobs to Nigerians.

    ‘‘A lot of people in Nigeria didn’t realise how much the instability in the North East have cost the people and the industry here ’’ he said.

    President Buhari, therefore, assured all Nigerians that the fight against the degraded Boko Haram will be sustained, in addition to the positive trends in the economy and the fight against corruption.

    ‘‘The three things we said in our campaign on security, economy and fighting corruption, nobody will be able to successfully disabuse the minds of Nigerians on our clear intentions for our country and our people,’’ he said.

  • Osinbajo, IBB, Sultan, others save Emir of Kano from Assembly probe

    Osinbajo, IBB, Sultan, others save Emir of Kano from Assembly probe

    The Kano State House of Assembly on Monday stopped further probe of the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, following a letter received from Government House and signed by Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, urging the House to halt the probe due to appeals from notable Nigerians who pleaded on behalf of the Emir.

    The Nation gathered that Ganduje who recognized the principles of separation of powers stated that his letter to that effect did not intend to threaten the independence of the House.

    According to the Speaker of the Kano state House of Assembly who read the Governor’s letter yesterday afternoon, Hon. Kabiru Alhasan Rurum, the decision to suspend the probe was prompted by a letter written by Kano state governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje requesting the House to halt further actions against the Royal Father.

    The letter from the Governor appealed to the state legislative arm to halt proceedings into the eight count charge against the Emir of Kano, citing mediation by prominent Nigerians, including the Governors’ Forum, Acting president, Yemi Osinbajo, Sultan of Sokoto, Alh Sahaad Abubakar, Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker of House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara, Aminu Dantata and Alhaji Aliko Dangote.

    Ganduje in the letter to the House buttressed his appeal for the cancellation of further investigation of the charges against the Kano monarch positing that the Emir had shown remorse during a reconciliation session organized by Northern Governors’ forum in Kaduna.

    The House after an extensive deliberation session passed a unanimous verdict approving the termination of the probe into the alleged illicit activities of the Emir.

    The Nation learned that the House before now had planned to allegedly create additional Emirates in the state.

    However, a lawmaker who spoke to The Nation on condition of anonymity expressed dissatisfaction over the abrupt intervention by prominent Nigerians.

    According to him, “I am not happy at all because we are set to make the records straight before this sudden intervention by prominent personalities in the country.”

    The Nation reports that Emir Sanusi has been in controversy lately with the allegation of financial misappropriation and alleged misconduct.

    Apart from the probe initiated by the Kano state anti-corruption agency, Emir Sanusi recently entered the black book of the state Assembly as it set up an eight-man committee to investigate the Emir.

    A member representing Nasarawa Local Government Area, Alhaji Ibrahim Gama last week raised a motion of urgent public importance.

    Gama frowned at the recent comments credited to the Emir over the proposed Kano light rail project which will soon be executed by Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

    The Chairman of the House committee on Works insisted that, “the statement from the Emir is capable of tarnishing his image, the Government and that of the assembly.

    “The Emir during his speech in Kaduna alleged that the Kano State Governor and his entourage, including me as the Chairman of the House committee on Works wasted one month in China seeking for a loan to construct rail.”

    “The Emir’s statement was not true, we spent only four days in China, and our visit was to find out the capability of the company to handle the rail project.

    “His utterances have caused a lot of insult to me, the state government and also the house of assembly by the general public in the state, and outside the state.”

    He took a swipe at Emir Sanusi for sending his daughter to represent in one of the functions organized by Bring Back Our Girls group in Abuja, describing it as inimical to the tradition of the Emirate Council.

    “There are many responsible Emirate Council members who can represent him at the Programme. This is the first time we are seeing such in the historical traditional home,” he added.

    According to Gama, the mode of dressing by the Emir’s daughter during the Programme, was an embarrassment to the emirate council and the tradition of Kano people.

    He also accused Sanusi for introducing religious issues that are contrary to the teachings of Islam, saying such things are capable of disgracing the religion.

    Gama further accused Emir Sanusi of involvement in political issues, misappropriation of emirate Council’s fund, and making statements against President Muhammad Buhari.

  • Emir Sanusi urges states, FG to encourage investment in power sector

    Emir Sanusi urges states, FG to encourage investment in power sector

    The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II has called on both the Federal and State Governments to encourage private entrepreneurs to invest in the power sector.

    He made the call while delivering a keynote address at a two-day conference in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the creation of Kano state.

    NAN reports that the conference is part of the week-long activities organised by the state government to celebrate the anniversary.

    He said there was urgent need to encourage private investors to invest in the power sector with a view to promoting socio-economic activities of the people in the country.

    According to him, investment in the power sector was necessary in order to ensure economic growth and development in the state in particular and the country at large.

    “We must invest in the development of Kano and the country at large.

    The monarch, who lamented the current power shortage in the country, noted that majority of the industries in the state had collapsed or stopped production due to inadequate power supply.

    He, however, called on the Kano state government to continue to give priority attention to education with particular emphasis on girl-child education.

    “Education holds the key to our development. We must continue to give priority attention to the sector because it is the bedrock of any development,” he said.

    “Government should also give priority attention to the agriculture and industrialisation because they are key to moving the state and country forward,” he said.

    He noted that with the collapse of the nation’s industries, the country was now importing three million pairs of shoes from China annually.

    “We must be ready to change our way of thinking; if we must be able to face the challenges and ensure economic growth and development of the state.” he added.

    NAN reports that the conference was attended by prominent personalities from within and outside the state.

  • Emir Sanusi tasks northern leaders on girl-child education‎

    The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has called on Northern leaders to promote girl-child education in the region.

    Sanusi made the call during the inauguration of Aminu Dabo College of Health Sciences laboratory complex in Kano on Monday.

    ‎‎‎He urged the leaders to give priority to female education as they did with their male counterparts.‎‎”

    The people need to prioritise their commitment toward the education of female just like their male counterpart.‎

    “We appeal to everybody, especially well- meaning individuals irrespective of party differences, to provide the environment to aid girl-child education,” he said.‎

    The monarch also admonished the people of Kano to support each other and work as a team for the overall development of the state.

    He commended the proprietor of the school for his foresight and contribution to the development of education in the state.‎

    Earlier, the proprietor of the school, Alhaji Aminu Dabo, had said that the school was established two years ago to promote educational development in the state.

    He said that 80 per cent of the institution’s students’ population was women. Dabo added that the school would collaborate with Kwara University and another university in Malaysia for degree courses.

    He commended the Kano Emir for his stance on girl-child education and also thanked him for honoring the invitation to the event.