The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Prof. Hafiz Abubakar

  • I’m still in APC – Kano deputy governor

    Kano State Deputy Governor, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar has denied rumours making the rounds that he defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to the opposition People’s Democratic Party, PDP.

    Speaking with newsmen on Wednesday night, Prof. Hafiz  Abubakar said he is still the deputy governor of Kano State.

    Read Also:PDP welcomes Tambuwal, Kano deputy governor

    “I have not resigned; I am still the deputy governor of Kano State. I am currently in Abuja attending an official function, that is the National Council of Education meeting,” he said.

    The Nation observed that the rumour gained more prominence as the said defection of the deputy governor was announced on the PDP twitter handle welcoming him and Sokoto state governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal who defected on Wednesday.

    He noted that he would take decision on his political future at an appropriate time, after consultations.

    “I will take decision on my political future at an appropriate time after due consultation with my political leaders,” he added.

    He therefore blamed “some agents” of the state government for spreading the rumour.

    On July 30, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar petitioned the police and State Security Service, SSS, over threat to his life and plans by the state government to stage rally against him.

    Abubakar, an ally of former Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, has been at a crossroad with the state governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, for romancing with Kwankwaso in the political impasse in the state.

    The Nation gathered that Abubakar may likely contest for the PDP governorship ticket upon his defection.

  • Ganduje to deputy: Quit now, if you wish

    The Kano state Government has expressed great shock over what it described as unguarded remarks by the state deputy governor, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar who allege that, his life and that of his immediate family members are threatened.

    In a statement signed by the state’s commissioner for Information, Youth and Culture, Malam Muhammad Garba said that the fault-finding comments made by Prof. Abubakar are not only unwarranted but also unfair to the state government.

    Read Also:No prior knowledge of Speakers’ removal – Ganduje

    “Rather than making such vituperative remarks, the embattled deputy governor is advised to make a choice of quitting or remaining in the government.”

    According to him, the government holds the office of the deputy governor at high esteem, but however, sees him as too insignificant for government to commit state resources to orchestrate plan just to remove him from office, talk less of any attempt on his life.

    Furthermore, to prove that the allegations made by the deputy governor were false, he was at Tuesday’s state Executive Council Meeting, and he came with fewer security aides.

    ‘’At the meeting, when His Excellency had to excuse himself to embark on a trip, he directed the deputy governor to preside over as usual, and that  all the resolutions reached at the meeting are binding, something that would not have been accorded him by his political godfather, Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso,’’ the statement adds.

    Malam Muhammad Garba points out that despite several unguarded comments by the deputy governor, the government continues to accord respect and support for his office both morally and otherwise.

    The statement also debunks allegation that he has not been provided with statutory official residence, pointing out that it was his choice to remain in the private residence as he personally brought the contractor that is handling the construction of his official residence.

  • Islamic New Year: Kano declares Friday public holiday

    Islamic New Year: Kano declares Friday public holiday

    The Kano State Government has declared Friday, Sept. 22, as public holiday to mark the new Islamic year.

    This is contained in a statement signed by the state commissioner for Information, Malam Muhammad Garba and issued to newsmen in Kano on Wednesday.

    The Islamic New Year, which is first month in the lunar Islamic calendar, coincides with activities marking the nation’s 57th anniversary celebration.

    Garba quoted the acting governor, Prof Hafiz Abubakar as congratulating the people of the state and Muslims the world over, for witnessing the new year.

    He said Abubakar had appealed to Kano citizens to utilise the public holiday to offer prayers for peace and prosperity of the country.

    He said the the acting governor had reassured the people of the state government’s determination to work hard towards improving their living standards.

    He also called on Nigerians to join hands with the government of President Muhammadu Buhari in its determination to build a peaceful and harmonious country.

    NAN reports that Friday, Sept. 22, is the first day of Muharram, the first month in the Islamic calender and it marks the beginning of the new Islamic year 1439 after Hijra.

  • Kano completes 90 percent digitalising of Radio,TV stations–Ganduje

    Kano completes 90 percent digitalising of Radio,TV stations–Ganduje

    Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano state has said due to the importance of the broadcast industry, the state government has completed over 90 per cent of digitalizing of the state radio and television stations.

    The governor made the statement on Thursday in Kano while declaring open the fifth national delegates conference of Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers Union of Nigeria (RATTAWU).

    Ganduje, who was represented by his deputy, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar, described the broadcast industry as “one of the backbones’’ of the Journalism profession in Nigeria.

    He said that the industry should be given more consideration, adding that his administration had invested much in the broadcast industry in the state.

    He called on members of RATTAWU to deliberate on avenues of promoting the industry during the conference.

    Responding to a request by Mr Yemisi Bamgbose, the outgoing President of RATTAWU for a piece of land to establish a broadcast institute in the state, Ganduje said he would consider the request.

    Earlier in his address, Bamgbose commended members of the union for their support and cooperation during his tenure.

    He said that the success recorded during his tenure would not have been achieved without the `tireless efforts and determination’ of members of the union.

    “Such achievements include the procurement of a permanent secretariat for the union and the unionisation of many private media workers,” he said.

    Bamgbose called on the incoming leaders of the union to work harmoniously with every member of RATTAWU to ensure more success for the union.

    He called on owners of private media organisations to give the union necessary support, especially on the issue of unionisation of their workers.

    He said that if the workers in private media outfits were  allowed to form a union, it would motivate them to work hard for the progress of their organisation.