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Tag: Mustapha Bukar

  • Osinbanjo: APC badly needs Katsina Senatorial bye-election

    The Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbanjo on Thursday disclosed 3 reasons why the All Progressive Congress (APC) must win Saturday’s bye-election for the Katsina North Senatorial district.

    Speaking at Kaingiwa square in front of the Emir palace in Daura during the grand finale of the APC campaign ahead of the poll, Osinbanjo said the APC wants to win the election in order to form a majority in the Senate.

    He said the second reason was to honour the memory of late Senator Mustapha Bukar, the lawmaker who occupied the position before his death on April 4, this year.

    While the third reason, he said was to ensure that the win honoured President Muhammadu Buhari, being the son of the soil and that the election would be taking place at the senatorial zone where he comes from.

    A total of six candidates from same number of political parties are contesting for the position, with Hon. Ahmed Babba Kaita being the APC flag bearer.

    He said “three reasons why we must make sure we vote for our candidate: first, we must have a majority in the Senate. Politics is about numbers. We must vote for him because we want to maintain the majority’’.

    “Secondly, we must honour the memory of late Mustapha Bukar. We should not allow anyone to be there outside our own senator’’.

    “Thirdly, this zone is Buhari’s and a vote for Kaita is a vote for Buhari.”

    He said what the country was currently going through was battle between good and evil, and that evil men trying to bring down Buhari administration would never succeed.

    He called on Nigerians to “vote for the APC in the interest of the common man,” adding that “so long as Buhari ruled the country, Nigeria will only get better and better.”

    Read Also: Osinbanjo, senators, others for prayer for the nation

    He said the current federal government has been up and doing in terms of socio-economic transformation of the country, especially in the area of roads construction.

    “All of these things we are doing when we were earning far less than what was earned when we were not in government,” he said.

    Speaking, the APC national chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomole, said the Buhari administration had “restored the confidence of the country in the eyes of the international community.”

    Oshiomole, who spoke in Hausa language, said many Nigerians, and himself included, could now confidently go abroad without being embarrassed about the country.

    He said that money belonging to the public was wantonly embezzled in the past, but that under Buhari, Nigerians can sigh a relief that their commonwealth was in safe hands.

    On the Saturday election, he called on voters to “accept monies given them by politicians from other parties,” but “vote for the choice candidate of the APC.”

    The rally had several dignitaries in attendance including the Kano state governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, Minister of state for aviation, Hadi Sirika, and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.

    Others were the water resources minister, Suleiman Adamu, Kaduna state governor, Nasiru El-rufai who was represented by the commissioner of lands, Suleiman Abdulkwari.

    The host governor, Aminu Bello Masari, senators from Katsina, Umar Kurfi (Katsina central), Abu Ibrahim (Katsina south), among others, were also at the event

    Also speaking at the occasion, the state Governor Aminu Bello Masari, said the party will win landslide come Saturday. He appealed to the people to troop out in numbers to vote for APC

  • INEC set to conduct Katsina North Bye-election

    The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on Thursday in Katsina told stakeholders including chairmen of political parties, Non-governmental organisations and heads of security agencies in the state that it is ready to conduct the long awaited Katsina  North Senatorial Bye-election latest August 12 this year

    The state Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Alhaji Jibril Ibrahim Zarewa said the decision to conduct the bye election is in conformity with the relevant provisions of the constitution and the electoral act, and a confirmation of the notification from the National Assembly informing the umpire about the vacant position

    He said ’’you will certainly recall that the dearth of the Senator Representing Katsina North Senatorial District, Senator Engineer Mustapha Bukar occurred April 4 2018.The constitution and the electoral act provide the process of election in both the circumstance of a general election and when vacancy occurs into elective positions in Nigeria’’

    ‘’This presupposes that the bye-election may have to hold anytime from now to August12, 2018.Accordingly anytime from now, the commission will give notice of the activities  and their time frame’’

    Read Also: INEC set to fill Senate, other vacancies, says Yakubu

    Zarewa further provided detailed composition of the senatorial District whose headquarter is located at Daura to include: 12 local government areas, with a registered population of 855,092 voters, 1825 voting points, 1577 polling units’ and128 wards

    In a related development, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday expressed doubt over the Independent National Election Commission’s (INEC’s) ability to conduct free and fair elections in Katsina state.

    This according to the party is due to external interference by government in power as well as undue influence by security operatives, as witnessed in the last bye election held in Mashi where it was almost impossible to conduct fair elections in the area due to interference by government operatives.

    The state Chairman of the party, Alhaji Salisu Yusuf Majigiri who made the observation during question and answer session at the forum, said the party has it on good authority that the state government officials helped in snatching of ballot boxes during the Dutsi/Mashi bye-election in order to ensure their candidate wins the poll.

    He also alleged that some security operatives were used during the election to advance the interest of the ruling party, and that it would not be surprising if same happened during the coming senatorial poll.

    The Nation recalled that Senator Mustapha Bukar had died on April 4 after a brief illness. His seat at the National Assembly had become vacant since then.

  • Saraki mourns late Sen. Mustapha Bukar

    President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, on Wednesday expressed deep sorrow over the death of the Senator representing Katsina North, Mustapha Bukar, after a brief illness in Abuja.

    Saraki, in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Mr Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, described the death of Bukar as one too many coming a few weeks after the Red Chamber lost Sen. Ali Wakili.

    “I am saddened to learn about the passing of another friend and colleague, Sen. Mustapha Bukar.

    “When I and some of my colleagues visited Sen. Bukar in the hospital after Jummat prayers last Friday, we prayed with him and we were filled with hope that he would soon recuperate and resume his normal life and legislative activities.

    “As a first-time lawmaker, Sen. Bukar stood out for the quality of his contributions on the floor, his pragmatism and his work to strengthen the institution of the legislature.

    Read Also: Saraki eulogises colleagues as 8th Senate passes 201 bills

      “We shall surely miss his vibrancy and progressive mindset.

    “But now that he is no more, we cannot query Almighty Allah over the incident because He gives and takes as it pleases Him.

    “The late Bukar was forthright and gentle in all his dealings.

    “This is indeed another painful moment for the Senate, a sad moment for his immediate family, his constituents in Katsina North Senatorial District and the people and government of Katsina State.

    “As we mourn his passing, my thoughts and prayers are with his family, President Muhammadu Buhari and the government and people of Katsina State.

    “I pray that the Almighty Allah, in his infinite grace, grant the dear and departed senator a place among the righteous ones in Aljannah firdaus,” Saraki said.

    NAN

  • Sen. Bukar dies at 63

    Senator Mustapha Bukar, representing Katsina North senatorial district, President Muhammadu Buhari’s constituency, is dead. He was aged 63.

    Alhaji Kanta Bukar, the younger brother of the deceased, confirmed the death and said that Bukar died in the early hours of Wednesday at the Nizamiye Hospital, Abuja.

    He said the deceased was survived by two wives and 12 children, including Dr Ibrahim Bukar of the Nigerian Communications Commission.

    He said the deceased would be buried in Daura today.

    Bukar described the death of his elder brother as an irreplaceable loss to the family, the state and the nation in general, stressing he was a bridge builder.

    Malam Ahmed Abdullahi, the Personal Assistant to the late senator, described him as a hard working lawmaker, who represented his people diligently.

    Abdullahi said the district would remember Bukar as one of the few lawmakers who represented the zone with commitment and dedication.

    Read Also: Efficient utilisation of resources should be govt’s priority – Bukar

    The news men reports that Bukar (APC) returned to Nigeria in March after spending one month in the UK on a medical mission.

    Senator Bukar was the second senator to die in weeks, after Senator Ali Wakili, 58, who represented Bauchi south in the senate.

    According to a biographical sketch published by National Assembly, Bukar finished his primary education in Daura in 1968, and thereafter went to Government Secondary School, Katsina. He graduated in 1973.

    He also attended School of Basic Studies in Zaria (1975), from where he gained admission to read Engineering at Ahmadu Bello University. He graduated with Bachelors in 1978.

    After the National Youth Service, he worked as project manager for the Kaduna State Water Board and later as general manager.

    He retired in 2008 as director of Katsina State Water Board.

    NAN