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Tag: Nasir el-Rufai

El-Rufai presents budget of N216.5bn for 2018

Gov. Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State on Thursday presented an Appropriation bill of N216.5 billion for the 2018 fiscal year to the state House of Assembly.

El-Rufai, in the budget tagged, “Budget of Consolidation”, explained that N131 billion was earmarked as capital expenditure, representing 60.5 per cent, while N85 billion was set aside for recurrent expenditure, representing 39.4 per cent.

According to him, capital expenditure is allocated 60 per cent because of the administration’s resolve to spend more and invest in the people.

“Under capital expenditure, the Social Sector received the largest chunk of N51.4 billion; Economic Sector, N38 billion; General Administration, N26 billion; and Real Sector, 14 billion.”

He said that the Social Sector, comprising education, health and social development took the lion share of 39.2 per cent of the budget so as to promote social justice through human capital development.

“We envisage starting the year with an opening balance of N10 billion with internally generated revenue of over N42 billion and statutory allocation from Federation Account of over N34 billion.

“The recurrent expenditure estimate for 2018 are projected to be broken down as, public desk charges, that is payment of loans and other facilities estimated at over N4 billion with consolidated revenue fund charges at over N1 billion.

“Others include, personnel cost, N40 billion; overhead cost, N44 billion; and 10 per cent statutory transfers from the state to local government areas, totaling over N85 billion.

“The breakdown of the capital account for 2018 as projected would be transfers from the recurrent budget surplus of over N2 billion and over N13 billion from value added tax.

“Others are over N800 million as internal loans as well as N89 billion as external loans, internal grant at over N9 billion while external grant stands at over N4 billion.”

He added that the state would raise over N11 billion from sales of government quarters.

Receiving the budget estimates, the Speaker of the assembly, Alhaji Aminu Shagali, assured of the assembly’s commitment to diligently scrutinise the document for the benefits of the people of the state.

Shagali said that legislative arm would support the executive in ensuring peace and social justice in the state.

He added that the House would ensure that the budget meet the yearnings and aspirations of the people.

The government had earlier proposed N201 billion as 2018 budget, but N15 billion was added after receiving inputs from citizens during a town hall meeting.

NAN

October 13, 2017
Restructuring: Only N/Assembly has the power – Dogara

…APC True Federalism’s report ready October Ending- El-Rufai

Only the National Assembly has the power to restructure the country, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara said Tuesday.

According to Dogara the Legislature is the only institution mandated to enact laws for the country and the President as the head of the Executive is to implement the laws made by the National Assembly.

Dogara who spoke during a courtesy call by the Nasir El-Rufai led All Progressives Congress, APC Committee on True Federalism said that in spite of the powers of the President,

This was as El- Rufai disclosed that his committee’s report would be submitted to the party by the end of October.

El- Rufai told the House Leadership that their visit is to brief the House on the details of their assignment.

The Speaker said in line with the powers conferred on it by the constitution, the House has gone ahead to constitute a Committee to address the issue of political agitations in the country.

The committee, he said, is non- partisan and necessary to douse tension in the country and in line with the statements of the President that only the National Assembly has a solution to the agitations of the people across the country.

His words: “When the President talked about the National Assembly being the proper forum for this discussion, so many people objected to that. Even some senior advocates who think that the President could just sit and restructure the country. But I know the President uses green pen not a red pen that I use. I don’t know whether by any stroke of imagination or margin a green pen can actually restructure Nigeria.

“If that is the case it is a very simple thing that can be done, but unfortunately, most of the things that we talked about, most of the issues that are being raised are there in the foundational document of this country, the grand norm which is the Constitution.

“And even going by elementary description of the departments of governments, the Executive cannot make laws, they cannot tinker with the provision of the Constitution. It is the National Assembly that must do that.

“I guess even if the President has powers, his powers would just amount to recommendations in the form of an executive bill which he can send to the National Assembly for constitutional alteration or amendment in other to address the fundamental basis of some of these agitations.

” I concur with him totally that this is the right forum where the outcomes of those debates would be channeled for processing and for action. I know that we won’t let this country down when it comes to performing our responsibilities because this is the institution that represents the people.”

The Chairman of APC Committee, El-Rufai in his remarks noted that restructuring was part of the APC manifesto adding that there were unbalances in the federation structurally and politically.

While agreeing that the House did the right thing by nominating members into the committee on political agitations, he said the Senate is expected to do same and that the Senate President had been written by his committee in that regard.

Submissions, he said, had already been made to the State Houses of Assembly and that other steps had been taken in a bid to achieve success in the committee’s assignment.

His words: “We are here as the APC committee on federalism to pay you a courtesy call and give you a brief background on the assignment the party has entrusted on us.

“The APC in its manifesto made very firm commitment towards devolution of power true federalism which is variously referred to restructuring as so on. However, because of other challenges, the administration had to deal with on assumption of office, the expeditious implementation of some of these commitments has not occurred.

“I am proud to say that the National Assembly led by APC went ahead with the constitutional amendment to make our federation be better balanced. We all recognized there is some imbalance in our federation. This is why our party is committed to do something about it. However, it is better late than never.

“We have already taken steps which are now before the State Houses of Assembly. We believe in the history of Nigeria, there has never been a comprehensive discussion on what is before us: federalism, restructuring and so on. We also believe even the debate and discussions in previous national conference has excluded key stakeholders particularly our young people that account for 80% of our population.

“We believe ultimately that as a democratic government, the voice of the people is the voice of God and we must listen to them. We must not presume just because we are elected, just because we are leaders that we know what the country needs.

“As articulated by our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari whatever discussion we have about federalism, restructuring will have no value unless the national assembly enacts whatever the people of Nigeria say they want. So, this hallowed chambers give all the power to make federalism work better.

“The purpose of our committee is to merely collect and collate the views of Nigerians particularly young people and other vulnerable people and present to the party”, El-Rufai.

“The Confab report of 2014 as well as the one of 2005 are some of the documents that were looking at in the committee. We plan to submit our report at the end of October. Our report would be to the party, but of course, since National Assembly members are in the committee, they’ll also have copies,” El- Rufai said.

October 10, 2017
Kaduna to employ 25,000 teachers

Gov. Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State says the state will employ 25,000 primary school teachers as parts of efforts to restore dignity and quality to its education sector.

The governor, who stated this when he received a World Bank delegation in his office in Kaduna on Monday said this would also entrench equity in the distribution of teachers across the state.

He explained that recruiting teachers had became necessary due to the acute shortage of qualified primary school teachers in the state.

The governor stated that his administration would disengage about 20,000 unqualified primary school teachers to restore confidence in public schools.

According to him: “we tested our 33,000 primary school teachers, we gave them primary four exams and required they must get at least 75 per cent but am sad to announce that 66 per cent of them failed to get the requirements.

“The hiring of teachers in the past was politicized and we intend to change that by bringing in young and qualified primary school teachers to restore the dignity of education in the state,” the governor said.

He stressed that teachers would be redeployed across the state to balance the issue of teacher-pupil ratio.

“We have a challenge with the teacher-pupil ratio in the urban schools; there is concentration of teachers that are not needed.

‘’In some LGAs, it’s a teacher pupil ratio of 1-9 while in some places it’s 1-100,” he said.

El-Rufai said that in a bid to improve the education sector, the school Directors decided to enrol their children in public schools starting from this academic session.

Speaking earlier, the World Bank representative, Dr Kunle Adekola, expressed appreciation to the state for investing in education and for the priority given to the girl child.

“This state has demonstrated and supported us to achieve our goals,” he said.

Adekola said the Bank would invest N30 million in Rigasa Primary School, which has a population of about 22,000 pupils, as part of its support for the state.

The Education Intervention Fund by the World Bank and other collaborative development partners, is rendering support to about 13 Northern states and a state from each of the other four geopolitical zones of the country.

NAN

October 10, 2017
El-Rufai commends Airtel for supporting education

The Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has commended Airtel Nigeria for its role in the development of primary education across the country, after commissioning Yahaya Hamza Primary School, one of its newly adopted schools in Zaria, Kaduna State.

This is in line with the telco’s commitment to providing opportunities to underprivileged children.

The Governor thanked Airtel for adopting a school in the State and for its support to primary education in Nigeria.

According to him, with Airtel’s intervention, the new Yahaya Hamza Primary School has been transformed – complete with 6 blocks, 12 classrooms, desk and chairs, teachers’ offices, whiteboards, borehole facilities and toilets for male and female students as well as teachers. Students, today, also got a complete set of uniforms, bags and books.

“I urge other stakeholders in corporate Nigeria to emulate Airtel by partnering with the Kaduna State government in supporting educational initiatives.”

The governor also expressed delight at Airtel’s choice of Yahaya Hamza Primary school, noting that it signifies the preservation of the legacies of a great man, a teacher, a role model, a leader and an inspiration, Yahaya Hamza.

He also said that Airtel’s intervention is a gift that aligns with Kaduna State’s goal of developing primary, secondary and tertiary education.

“The Kaduna State Government thanks Airtel for offering its widow mite and contributions in our quest to revamp education in the State,” he said.

Also speaking at the occasion, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Airtel Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya, noted that good education is a human right, describing it as a ticket to prosperity since it creates a level field for everyone to succeed.

He further noted that Airtel’s adoption of schools is not a one-year wonder but a continuing partnership.

The CEO also used the occasion to request support for Sadiq Usman, a five-year-old boy whose eyes were removed by suspected ritualists last year.

“It is tragic and heart-breaking to see an innocent, vulnerable child suffer and go through such excruciating pains. I and My colleagues were deeply moved by Sadiq’s situation and generously supported the call to provide relief.

“Our support will not just end here, Sadiq is our adopted son and he will continue to be our priority and in our prayers. A child is a trust and every member of society has a responsibility towards children – this we must take seriously,” he said.

Yahaya Hamza primary school in Zaria, Kaduna State joins the five other Airtel adopted primary schools spread across Nigeria, namely Oremeji Primary School II, Ajegunle, Lagos; St. John’s Primary School, Oke-Agbo, Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun; Community Primary School, Amumara, Imo; Iyeru Okin Primary School, Ilara-Mokin, Kwara and Presbyterian Primary School, Ediba, Cross River State.

The commissioning ceremony was attended by several dignitaries including the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris and Zaria City representative at the State House of Assembly, Hon. Kasim Iliyasu, among others.

September 28, 2017
El-Rufai inaugurates committee on open governance

Gov. Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, on Tuesday inaugurated the Open Government Partnership ( OGP ) Steering Committee for the full implementation of the initiative in the state.

El-Rufai explained that the state keyed into the initiative to address negative citizens’ perception about government and its activities in the state.

The governor inaugurated the committee in Kaduna after the commencement of a two-day workshop to develop the state OGP Action Plan.

He recalled that a citizen perception survey carried out in 2015 with support from UKAID, showed that most people had lost confidence and trust in government.

“It was to correct the anomalies in governance and ensure that the people who are the ultimate key stakeholders in determining how their resources should be utilized that the state government indicated interest to join OGP.

“Today I am happy that Kaduna State has now fully joined the OGP.

“This partnership will further entrench the commitment of Kaduna state government in area of fiscal responsibility, access to information and citizens’ engagement.”

According to him, the State Development Plan 2016-2020 was developed after due consultations with the citizens and private sector, while CSOs were also involved in the preparations and implementation of the state budget.

The governor disclosed that the administration had also developed a Citizens Feedback App for project monitoring.

El-Rufa’i urged civil society organisations participating in the workshop to develop a comprehensive implementable plan that would benefit the people.

In a remark, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, appreciated the Kaduna state government for being the first to sign into the OGP at the sub-national level.

“I also commend the state government for setting the pace and initializing several reforms in the area of good governance that have enhanced service delivery and infrastructural development in the state,” Malami said.

The minister disclosed that reasonable progress has been made by the Federal Government since it commenced implementation of the OGP National Action Plan in January 2017.

Earlier, the state’s Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Muhammad Abdullahi, explained that the OGP was a platform for governments to be more open, accountable and responsive to citizens.

“We have subscribed to the OGP in order to improve on our transparency, accountability and citizens participation with a view to attract foreign investment and funding.”

He urged participants at the workshop to design implementable action plan that reflects the yearnings and desires of the people.

On his part, Mr Edetaen Ojo, Co-Chairman, OGP Nigeria, said that as a pioneer, Kaduna state holds the key to the success of OGP at the state level in the country.

Ojo stressed that the concept of equal partnership between government and CSOs was essential to OGP implementation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state steering committee is headed by the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, with CSOs and government officials as members.

NAN reports that the state subscribed to seven of the 14 commitment areas of the OGP.

The areas include ensuring citizens’ participation in budget circle, open contracting, common reporting standard, promoting ease of doing business and improving compliance with Freedom of Information Act.

The rest are developing permanent dialogue mechanism on transparency, accountability, and good governance with citizens and adopting technology-based citizens’ feedback on government projects and programmes.

September 26, 2017
Restructuring: States step up push for more powers

North rejects more states

New revenue formula wanted

Advocates of more power for states seem to be winning their age-long battle.

Their position is being vindicated at the various consultations on restructuring organised by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In the North, which an elderstateman yesterday said was not afraid of restructuring, some states supported the devolution of power, a rework of the revenue allocation formula and a united Nigeria.

It was all at the APC’s restructuring consultation in North West (Sokoto), North Central (Ilorin) and North East (Bauchi).

Kwara, Kogi and Niger states were in Ilorin. Bauchi, Gombe and Yobe had their session in Bauchi.

Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states met in Sokoto for the consultation on Nigerians’ position on restructuring, which many believe is the antidote to the dismemberment of Nigeria.

The common position in all the centres is that there should be devolution of power from the Federal Governemt to states.

The consultation being coordinated by a committee headed by Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, started on September 18. It will end on October 9.

The governments of Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara advocated that some aspects of health, transport, fire service, among others, should be devolved to the states with resources attached. The Federal Government should focus on defence, foreign affairs, security and currency—a position canvassed by many eminent citizens, including frontline politician Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The three Northwest states are controlled by the APC. Governors Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto) and Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi) attended the session. Zamfara State was represented by Deputy Governor Ibrahim Wakala.

Also yesterday, elder statesman Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, an adviser to Second Republic President Shehu Shagari, said on a television programme that the north is not opposed to restructuring.

Sokoto’s position, presented by former Deputy Governor Chiso Abdullahi, rejected the creation of new states, because many states are not viable.

He said the presidential system should be preserved with fiscal federalism while power rotation and zoning should be maintained to foster national unity.

He also advocated a unicameral legislature with advisory role given to traditional rulers.

To Sokoto State, the revenue allocation formula should be adjusted to give the Federal Government 43 per cent, states 35 per cent and local governments 23 per cent.

Kebbi State equally rejected creation of new states and bicameral legislature. It suggested that zoning should be on the basis of North and South.

Kebbi’s proposal on revenue sharing is Federal Government 40 per cent, states 40 per cent and local government areas 20 per cent. It is in support of devolution of power to states.

Zamfara State also suggested that the status quo should be maintained on state creation, derivation, devolution of powers, presidential system of government and land tenure system.

The chairman of the APC Restructuring Committee for North-west, Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong, said all the views collated would be taken back to the APC national headquarters.

“At the end of the exercise, all the views collated will be analysed and this will form the opinion of the APC and the Federal Government,” he said.

Zamfara State said it was solidly for Nigeria’s unity.

Speaking on Chanels Television, Yakasai said: ”I have never known any known northerner who is opposed to restructuring. But what we want to know is what are the details? We are tired of going into something blindly only to turn out in regrets.

”I have been asking the promoters of the idea of restructuring to explain what the blueprint is What will Nigeria look like after restructuring? What we have been asking for is a blueprint for restructuring.

Yakasai, who backed the call for Nigeria to return to the 1963 constitution, added that the country must maintain the four regions adopted by that same constitution in 1963.

”Now some people have started to speak out. Emeka Anyaoku said we should go back to 1963 constitution where we had four regions- North, West, East and Midwest. Then there was a gathering of some Afenifere leaders in Ibadan and they said we should go back to the 1963 constitution but they created six regions.

”In 1963, we didn’t have six regions. We either eat our cake or have it. If we want to go back to 1963 situation, then we go back to four regions.

”If we want to create more then we use the provisions of 1963 constitution to create more (states), whatever number we want to create,” he said.

Answering a question on resource control, the elder statesman said: “I can tell you that whoever is having this kind of thinking is a short sighted person.”

He condemned those calling for the creation of more states, adding that they were doing so not to develop the poor but to win elections or get elective positions.

”There are so many states and each one is consuming 70 per cent of its revenue on bureaucracy. How can you develop on that? All countries in the world are not spending 70 per cent of their revenues on bureaucracy.

”All the 19 states plus Abuja (in the North) spend 70 per cent of their revenue on bureaucracy – salary, allowances and so on – not on development. They did not develop agriculture. They did not develop even power to provide for industries.”

But the Chairman, Political Committee, Afenifere, Prof. Banji Akintoye, urged the Federal Government to create structures to address calls for restructuring.

He accused the APC nine-member committee on restructuring headed by Governor El-Rufai of embarking on delay tactics to dampen the debate on restructuring.

Akintoye said: “If the Federal Government is committed to seeing the will of the people done, the thing to do is to create some sort of structure for sorting out this whole question of restructuring. That is how to do it. There is no other way.

”It is difficult to believe that you put a person like the young governor of Kaduna State, El-Rufai at the head of an arrangement like that and you want us to trust that you really want the thing (restructuring) to happen. No, there are other leaders of the party. Former vice president is a member of the party. Bola Tinubu is a national leader of the party. Those people would have been more credible in that type of situation.

“When you go and put a man who is avowedly opposed to restructuring to come and head a party’s committee that will collect information about restructuring, there is doubt about what they are really after. Even though I hope they will come out with something good for the country I doubt that they would.”

Bauchi, Borno,Gombe, Yobe, backed calls for restructuring at the Bauchi centre of the consultation.

Bauchi State Governor Mohammed Abubakar expressed strong belief in one and united Nigeria.

Represented by Deouty Goveror Nuhu Gidado, the governor submitted that the youth should be given priority in a restructured Nigeria with true federalism.

Yobe State Governor Ibrahim Gaidam was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Special Services, Government House, Damaturu, Lawal Usman Hassan

In its memorandum the Bauchi State chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress submitted that the organized labour was not in support of any move towards the creation of additional states in view of the present Nigeria economic realities.

Gital also said the local government councils in the country should be granted autonomy should in order to facilitate and fast track development.

According to him, the organised labour is strongly of the view that Nigeria should continue with the current presidential system of government, which he said encourages democracy, guarantee political stability, independence of the President, proper use of talent and there is check and balance.

September 26, 2017
Endorsement of El-Rufai a charade – Sen Sani

The Senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, on Tuesday, faulted the reported endorsement of Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai for the second term by the All Progressive Congress (APC).

Senator Sani, who is chairman, Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts dubbed endorsement as a charade that cannot stand.

The outspoken lawmaker said that El-Rufai simply gathered his employees, aide and hangers-on to actualize his endorsement for the second term.

He noted that because the chances of El-Rufai becoming vice president which was allegedly aiming for while President Buhari was away on medical has failed with the return of the president, the Kauna governor has taken up another project for Buhari.

He added that El-Rufai’s name dropping and mobilization for President Buhari for 2019 is self-serving while his loyalty to the president is questionable.

Sani said: “The so-called endorsement of Governor El-Rufai by Kaduna APC amounts to an endorsement of toxic waste.

“El-Rufai simply gathered his employees, aides and hangers-on to endorse him.

“He is a poisonous viper corrosive to the integrity and moral standing of the party in the state and the nation.

“El-Rufai name dropping and mobilization for Buhari 2019 is self-serving. His loyalty to Buhari is for political relevance and his allegiance to Buhari is for self-protection and preservation.

“Now that President Buhari is back from health vacation and the chances of becoming a Vice President is zero, Elrufai has taken up a new project for Buhari 2019.

“El-Rufai obsession with Buhari is not about Buhari but about himself. Buhari should protect his testicles from a man who always bends close to his knees.

“Those who endorsed El-Rufai are marketing a bottled fart. A man who boasts of sending Yar’adua to his grave should not be trusted by Buhari. The snake that killed the hunter can kill the charmer.”

September 19, 2017
Kaduna Govt declares KASU-ASUU strike unlawful

Gov. Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State on Friday declared as unlawful the strike embarked on by the Kaduna State University (KASU) branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

According to a statement by the Governor’s Spokesman, Mr Samuel Aruwan, the KASU branch of ASUU confirmed that the branch had joined the nation-wide strike as full members of the national union.

He said that there was no trade dispute between the state government and ASUU.

“This is unacceptable to the state government. It is an anomaly that employees can be on strike without declaring a dispute with their employer.

“It bears restating that Nigeria is a federation of states and no trade union can alter this federal reality by imposing on an employer – a state government – the terms that federal employees have agreed with the Federal Government.

“The Kaduna State Government is neither affected nor bound by any dispute, disagreement or agreement ASUU may have with the Federal Government.

“As a sub-national entity, the Kaduna State Government is separate from the Federal Government of Nigeria. The Constitution of Nigeria clearly attests to this.

“It is the considered view of the Kaduna State Government that the KASU branch of ASUU has embarked on an unlawful strike,’’ Aruwan said.

According to him, the Kaduna State Government is not liable for salaries and allowances for the period of the unlawful strike.

“The government shall proceed to initiate the necessary disciplinary steps in accordance with the Kaduna State Public Service Rules.

“With respect to individual’s act of commission or omission by those that choose to join or persist in an unlawful strike,’’ he said.

September 15, 2017
No tension in Kaduna – Police

Following rumoured tension and crisis against tribal communities, particularly Igbo community in Kaduna, Police as well as the State government on Thursday dispelled such rumour.

There was rumour coming from outside the state since Monday that, Kaduna was on fire, with relations outside the State making frantic phone calls to their loved ones to authenticate the fact of the situation.

However, in a meeting with Igbo and Yoruba communities in Kaduna, the State Commissioner of Police, Agyole Abeh advised every residents to go about their normal businesses as there was no such incident in the entire State.

“There is no crisis in Kaduna, the state is peaceful, I advise everybody to open his shops as usual and do your business.

“Don’t be apprehensive, the rumour is baseless and unfounded. Our men are at alert all the time to ensure peaceful atmospheres in the State,” Abeh said.

Responding, both Igbo and Yoruba community leaders, Chris Nnoli and Yinka Olapade respectively thanked the Police boss for assuring them of safety of Kaduna residents.

The two community leaders blamed social media for the unwarranted rumour, and assured the police that they will take the message back to their people that Kaduna is actually peaceful.

“I want to say without bias that Igbo are peace loving people, and they like to bring development to anywhere they found themselves even better than where they come from.

“It is unfortunate that this rumour emanated from the social media, but we want to tell our that they should disregard such rumour because Kaduna is peaceful and we are all law abiding citizens,” Nnoli said.

Similarly, the State Government has assured all residents of their safety.

A statement issued by the Spokesman to governor Nasir El-rufai, Mr. Samuel Aruwan said state government and the security agencies have taken appropriate action to protect life and property in the state.

“The Kaduna State Government wishes to assure all residents of their safety. The state government and the security agencies have taken appropriate action to secure lives and property. Therefore, every citizen should go about their lawful duties, without let or hindrance.

“The security situation is under constant review, including events that have taken place in other parts of the country. Our diverse communities will not be engulfed by negative conduct that has taken place elsewhere.

“The security agencies are staging shows of force and patrols as part of the effort to build confidence among citizens and deter mischief-makers.

“The police and the SSS are also engaged in outreach to our communities to update them and to provide reassurance.

“Our traditional institutions have also been alerted, and they are engaging people in their domains to keep the peace.

“Every resident must live up to their civic responsibilities, and must shun and report anyone seeking or urging reprisals against innocents.

“The Kaduna State Government urges everyone to resist the temptation to take the law into their hands.

“There should be no recourse to self-help in Kaduna State. It will not be tolerated and will be punished accordingly.

“In times like these, every citizen is expected to do their duty to uphold peace and harmony.”

“Government wishes to reiterate that it will not tolerate hate speech and incitement. Members of the public should verify information before they share. Kaduna State is peaceful.

“No community or market is under attack, and robust efforts are being applied to maintain the peace”.

September 14, 2017
El-Rufai a stranger to the Buhari project, says ex CPC members

Members of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) funder the auspices of Southern Mandate of Nigeria at the weekend described Kaduna state governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai as a total stranger to the Buhari project.

They said the real problem with the Buhari government was the fact that the President surrounded himself with people who do not share the same vision for Nigeria with him.

The group said if urgent steps are not taken to address the abnormalities affecting the government, there is the possibility that Nigerians will stone the APC and its leaders on the streets during the 2019 campaigns because of the level of poverty and hunger in the land.

In a statement signed by the National Coordinator, Comrade Ikonomwan Francis and made available to newsmen in Abuja, the group said the government was not moving forward because President Buhari is a sheep in the midst of wolves and hyennas majorly because he neglected those who sacrificed for him and shared same ideology and vision with him.

He said it was surprising that the same el-Rufai who once said that Gen Mohammadu Buhari was “perpetually unelectable”is the same man now claiming to be a core Buharist when it was the core members of the defunct CPC made him electable?

He said the only way out of the political lacuna is to bring on board his co-vision bearers who encouraged him to come to politics for the betterment of our beloved country Nigeria

“We are strongly of the opinion that the only way out of this confusion is the outright dissolution of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and appoint 40% of the core members of the defunct CPC into his cabinet. These are men and women who have the strong political will to drive and remedy the system right now.

“A situation where strangers have taken over his administration, those who were not there when we made Buhari’s Presidential Project a political tsunami and Hurricane that produced him as President of Nigeria today is no longer acceptable to us.

The likes of Kaduna state governor, Mallam Nasir El-rufai , the Governor of Katsina state, Aminu Bello Masari and the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, who now parade themselves by claiming that they are more Buharist, are strangers in Buhari Project.”

September 10, 2017