Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State has threatened to sue an online news medium, Daily Nigerian, that released a video allegedly showing him collecting money suspected to be bribe from contractors on different occasions.
Ganduje, in a statement by the state Commissioner for Information, Muhammad Garba, said the video was not only cloned, but also that the allegation contained no iota of truth.
He said: “We wish to state that there is no iota of truth to these allegations and if there is any such alleged video, it is at best cloned.
“The government of Kano State is taking this matter seriously and will exploit every appropriate and legal avenue to ensure that it gets to the root of the matter and the perpetrators brought to book.”
Publisher reacts
However, Publisher of Daily Nigerian, Jaafar Jaafar, who had gone underground due to alleged threat to his life, said the sting operation to capture the governor on camera began two years ago when one of the contractors agreed to a request by the media outfit to plant spy camera on him, while offering the bribes.
The publisher said: “During a 10-month effort to capture the bribe giving/taking scenes, the governor’s face and body were clearly captured in nine clips, while six others did not clearly reveal the governor’s face.
“About $5 million dollars were delivered to the governor during the sting operation. One of the contractors, who preferred not to be named, said the reason he collaborated with Daily Nigerian was to expose corruption and bring sanity to the country.
“The contractor stated that if his aim was to blackmail or extort the governor, he would have used the videos to get over a billion settlement or force the governor to pay the hundreds of millions of naira the state was owing to his company or force him to pay back all the money he paid as kickbacks.
“We believe if public office holders are exposed, there will be sanity in the system.”
Tag: Ganduje
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Ganduje speaks on video showing him receiving $5 million bribe from contractors [Watch Video]
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[BRIBERY SCANDAL] Kano Governor. Ganduje caught receiving dollars from contractors
The Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, has appeared in a video receiving money in dollars alleged to be bribe amounting to about $5million.
The money was given by persons believed to be contractors in to the state government.
The video which was released by online media, Daily Nigerian, was a sting operation that captured the governor on camera collecting the money at different occasions.
The governor in response says the video is ‘cloned.’
Meanwhile, PRNigeria gathered that security and forensic experts have screened and verified the authenticity of a trove of video clips of the bribery before the online media decided to release it to the public on Sunday.
The publisher of Daily Nigerian, Jaafar Jaafar, who had gone underground due to alleged threat to his life, said the sting operation to capture the governor on camera began two years ago when one of the contractors agreed to a request by the media outfit to plant spy camera on his kaftan lapel while offering the bribes.
The publisher said: “During about 10 months efforts to capture the bribe giving/taking scenes, the governor’s face and body were clearly captured in nine clips, while six others did not clearly reveal the governor’s face. About $5m dollars were delivered to the governor during the sting operation.
“One of the contractors who preferred not to be named said the reason he collaborated with DAILY NIGERIAN was to expose corruption and bring sanity to the country.”
“The contractor stated that if his aim was to blackmail or extort the governor, he would have used the videos to get over a billion settlement or force the governor to pay the hundreds of millions of naira the state was owing to his company or force him to pay back all the money he paid as kickbacks.
“We believe if public office holders are exposed, there will be sanity in the system.”
In its response to the video, the Kano government has claimed that the video was cloned.
“We wish to state that there is no iota of truth to these allegations and if indeed there is any such alleged video, it is at best cloned,” the Kano state commissioner for information, Muhammad Garba, said in a statement.
“The government of Kano state is taking this matter seriously, and will exploit every appropriate and legal avenue to ensure that it gets to the root of the matter and the perpetrators are brought to book.”
Watch the video here:
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Buhari meets Governors Ganduje, Amosun, Yari in Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari again on Friday met with three state governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The President’s Personal Assistant on New Media, Bashir Ahmad, disclosed this on his Twitter handle, @BashirAhmaad.
Ahmad listed the governors who met with Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja to include Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun) and Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara).
“President Muhammadu Buhari this afternoon, met with Governors of Kano, Ogun and Zamfara States at the Presidential Villa, Abuja,” he wrote.
Although the president’s aide did not disclose the purpose of the meeting, it is believed to be part of ongoing efforts to resolve the post-primaries crises that erupted in the ruling party in some states.
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2019: 10 Kano Gov. Ganduje’s aides resign
Ten aides of Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State have tendered their resignation letters, barely two days after the former Deputy Governor of the state, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar resigned.
One of the former aides, Dr Abdullahi Zubairu Chula, disclosed this while briefing newsmen in Kano on Tuesday.
Chula, who spoke to newsmen on behalf of his aggrieved colleagues, said their decision was informed by their desire to join their leader and former deputy governor of the state, Prof Hafiz Abubakar.
“We decided to resign because our leader, the former Deputy Governor, Prof Hafiz Abubakar has also left the government,” he said.
“We felt it necessary to leave this government because we cannot continue to stay in a government where our leaders felt threatened.
Chula, the Special Adviser on Non-Governmental organisation, said among those who also resigned are: Shamsu Aliyu Samanja (Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs) and Alhaji Hafizu Bichi (Special Adviser attached to Deputy Governor’s office).
Others are: Dr Bakari Ado Hussaina (Special Adviser on Education), Alhaji Namoda-Birnin (Special Adviser on Grave yard), Habibu Abubakar (Senior Special Assistant) and Idris Salisu Rogo (SSA attached to Deputy Governor’s office).
The rest are: Usman Kassim Bichi (Special Assistant to Deputy Governor on Education), Hafizu Alkali Jingau (PA at Deputy Governor’s office), Shamsu Kura (Special Adviser Media) and Rukayya Jibrin (Senior Special Assistant on Drug)
He said all the 10 aides had since forwarded their resignation letters to the Secretary to the State Government (SSG).
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Kano Deputy Governor resigns, blasts Gov Ganduje
Hafiz Abubakar has resigned from his position as Deputy Governor of Kano state, claiming he was disrespected by the governor, Abdullahi Ganduje.
Abubakar, who recently decamped to the major opposition Peoples Democratic Party, announced his resignation in a letter addressed to Ganduje on Sunday.
“I have endured immeasurable and unjustifiable humiliation for over two and a half years without any reason other than my principled position on the issues of governance and the desire to keep the government on track,” the letter read in part.
“Under the circumstances and given the deteriorating state of affairs and your continued disrespect for the office of the deputy governor as well as your expression of several injustices on my person. I regret to say that I have no option than to succumb to my inner calling.”
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2019: Ganduje’s deputy petitions police over alleged threat to life, impeachment
The Deputy Governor of Kano State, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar has petitioned the State Security Service and other security agents over alleged threats to his life and plots to remove him from office.
Recall that Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, Yusuf Abdullahi Atta was earlier impeached on Monday.
In the petition, addressed to the Kano State Police Commissioner, Rabiu Yusuf, copied to the Assistant Inspector-General in Charge of Zone One and the State Director of SSS, the deputy governor, prayed for the deployment of more security operatives around him.
Among others, he accused the state government of disbursing funds to mobilise youths from the 44 Local Government Areas of the State to protest against his continued stay in office.
A loyalist to Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the deputy governor has been at loggerheads, with the State Governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
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Ganduje reacts to Kano Assembly Speaker’s impeachment
Kano State governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje said on Monday that he had no knowledge of what happened at the state’s assembly.
Ganduje who described the episode as an internal democracy said that, such development is good for any progressive democracy.
The Governor made the assertion at the Kano State Government House when the new speaker, Honorable Kabiru Alhassan Rurum and his principal officers paid a courtesy visit during which they pledged their loyalty to him.
They further reaffirmed their unflinching support for his administration and reelection bid.
According to Ganduje, “I was not aware of what was going on at the state assembly; I was informed by top members of our great party that the speaker of the house has been impeached by the members of the house.
“As you know, there has been, and they would be different interpretations to what has happened, but one thing is certain, that is, we in Kano believe in internal democracy”
“I urge you to embrace all those whom have lost their seats and ensure that there are no factions within the assembly members.
“I welcome you to the state government House, your house, and I want to reassure you that there shall be synergy between the state government and the assembly for the greater development of the state”
“For eight years I was the deputy governor, and we have been together with virtually all of you for the past sixteen years, so am familiar with the antics of the assembly and issues of internal democracy”
“I’m happy to hear that you are solidly behind the party in the state, National level and the president particularly at this moment of trial”
In his remarks, the Speaker, Kabiru Alhassan Rurum expressed their loyalty to the Ganduje’s administration and reaffirmed that, the assembly members would continue to work with the Governor for the peace and progress of the state.
Rurum assures the Governor that, there shall be no defection by members of the house as efforts are been made to win over the six Kwankwansiyya loyalists to their fold.
He further reiterated their loyalty and support for the Ganduje’s second term ambition as well as that of the president Muhammadu Buhari and also pledge their loyalty to APC and its National Chairman, Adam Oshiomhole.
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2019: How Kano will fare without Kwankwaso in APC – Ganduje
The Kano State Governor, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje says the defection of Sen. Rabi’u Kwankwaso and other lawmakers to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) would not affect the chances of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019.
This is contained in a statement signed by Abba Anwar, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor and made available to newsmen on Friday in Kano.
”Their defection will not constitute any problem to our great party, the APC, at all levels. People should keep their eyes (open) to what will happen during election.
“Our dear President has been doing the needful in terms of developing the nation, coupled with his efforts in efficient service delivery.
“Good governance is at its peak and the war against corruption is successfully being waged.
“I want you to go and study the situation on ground in Kano, his (Kwankwaso ‘s) defection does not change the political mood in the state. Nobody cares to be disturbed by their action,” Ganduje said.
The governor said when his predecessor was in the APC his intention was to vie for Presidency adding, “when it appeared to him, in black and white, that there is no vacancy in the Villa, he now decided to leave on his own.”
He said that Kwankwaso should be ready to battle it out at the polls next year.
Ganduje said when Kwankwaso secures a presidential ticket from the party he cross carpets to, then he should wait and see how we will slug it out with him.
He said that when the time comes, the senator would fully understand how popular and loveable President Muhammadu Buhari is.
“Kano will give more votes to our President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 , than what he got in 2015 election.
“From the 2015 election to date, those who could not vote because of age limit, are now grown up, meaning they will now be eligible to vote.
“Therefore, President Buhari stands the chance to get five million votes from Kano State by grace of Almighty Allah,” he said.
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2019: Kano will be a battle ground
By Nathaniel IkyurAn interesting political war will be fought in the ancient city of Kano in the 2019 general elections. And this will be centered around three leading lights in the politics of State.These are the incumbent governor of the state, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, his predecessor, Sen Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and another former governor, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau. The three have had a close working relationship with each other. These relationships may not have been the best in the circumstances but they worked all the same.HERE IS HOW:In his first tenure as governor between 1999-2003, Sen Kwankwaso had an altercation with Malam Shekarau, who was then the Permanent Secretary in the Kano state civil service. That was at the time the public launch of Sharia Islamic legal system in Zamfara State began to gain currency across northern states.Shekarau is a man versed in Islamic tenets. He was said to have defied the directives of the governor to address the Muslim Ummah in the state on the benefits of Sharia as an important part in the lives of Muslims. The governor won’t have it. Pronto, Shekarau was first redeployed and later demoted to a classroom teacher.Luck however smiled at Shekarau in 2003. Even after losing the ANPP gubernatorial primaries to youthful Alhaji Ibrahim El-Amin, aka Ibrahim Little, the Council of Ulama in the state prevailed on the ANPP presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari to get the ANPP national leadership to give the ticket to Shekarau. It was somewhat messy but the Islamic leaders had their way and Shekarau was presented to INEC to fly the ANPP’s governorship ticket where he defeating Kwankwaso.Supporters of Kwankwaso have consistently alleged that Shekarau used his eight years as governor to harass their leader and his supporters thereby widening the enmity between them.In 2011 general elections, Sen Kwankwaso staged a comeback by defeating Alhaji Takai, the ANPP candidate sponsored by Shekarau to win the governorship elections with Dr Ganduje in tow as deputy.By the time the legacy parties merged to form the All Progressives Congress, APC, Shekarau was a key member in the merger arrangements playing vital roles as one of the leaders of the ANPP. Along the line, leaders of the legacy parties decided that state governor’s who decamped should become leaders of the party in their respective states. This didn’t go down well with people like Shekarau, Ali Modu Sheriff from Borno and Attahiru Bafarawa from Sokoto state. They protested and because their grievances were not attended to, they left the party in anger.Shekarau joined the PDP and was appointed a minister by the former administration of Goodluck Jonathan.But three years down the line as a member of the APC, Kwankwaso is unable to hold his membership of the party due to irreconcilable differences with his successor, Ganduje. Reports from Kano shows that the seeming robust relationship between these two former political associates turned sour immediately Ganduje took over power. Much of what may have given rise to this remains speculative except the duo volunteers information.Now, Sen Kwankwaso has rejoined the PDP where Malam Shekarau is one of the key leaders. And the statement credited to Shekarau indicates that much of their grievances will still play out in the coming months as the nation goes to the polls in 2019.The departure from which the duo may give Ganduje an upper hand against their ambitions to be president of Nigeria. It then means that the likelihood of coming together may be a tall dream that may never materialise.The question then remains: will Kwankwaso and Shekarau now close ranks and work together for the success of the PDP in the state against a common foe or will it provide a fertile ground for the APC and Ganduje to maximize the moment and use it’s advantage as party in power and reap from the possible cracks? Time. Just time will provide the answer.And as it stands now, the followership of all these three gladiators should begin to stick to their lanes and discharge their responsibilities accordingly.Ikyur lives in Makurdi -
2019: nPDP marginalisation claims not genuine – Ganduje
…says with or without Kwankwaso Buhari will win Kano effortlessly
Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State on Monday said the marginalisation claims by members of the defunct new Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP)are not genuine.
The governor attributed the agitation by the group as corruption fighting back.
Ganduje told reporters at a news conference to mark the third anniversary of his administration, that people like Senate President Bukola Saraki and House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara should have no reason to complain.
He said: “Some few members of the nPDP (which is not even a group in that nomenclature, because now we are one in the APC) went to the party’s national secretariat and presented a paper that they were marginalised.
“The majority of the defunct nPDP (which I am a member) also went to the national secretariat to mention that those that were there earlier in the name of nPDP were not the true representatives of the nPDP. Also, we indicated that we are not part of those who are being marginalised.
“I will give you an analysis that will show that they are not being marginalised. First of all, the Senate President is from the defunct nPDP, he is now the Senate President; he controls very important Committees in which he singlehandedly approved chairmen of 30 committees – that is not marginalisation.
“You have the governor of Kwara State who is also a member of the nPDP. He has a whole government; how can he say he is marginalised?
“The Governor of Adamawa State is nPDP and he is now a governor. I am from nPDP and I am now a governor. We have most of us from the nPDP who are senators and House of Representatives members.
“You have the Speaker of House of Representatives who is a member of the nPDP and a Speaker under the banner of APC; how can he say he is being marginalized? He controls lucrative committees. He appoints the chairmen and membership of the committees singlehandedly, without interference from the executive. How can he say he is being marginalized?
“So, if you take this issue one by one, you can see that the issue of marginalisation is not there. Therefore, we the majority of the nPDP are disclaiming the allegation and we believe that we are not being marginalised.
“So, I believe that there must be something underground. You know Mr. President is facing a difficult moment; corruption is fighting back. So, you will soon see why marginalisation is coming out now. This is not the issue of marginalization; this is the issue of corruption fighting back. So, you will see what will happen.”
Ganduje also insisted that Kano will mobilise over five million votes for President Muhammadu Buhari in next year’s presidential election even if the former Governor, Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, decides to leave APC.
“Well, we are begging Kwankwaso not to move to another party, but if he decides to go, no problem–that is individual difference; and it cannot affect Buhari’s fortune of getting five million votes from Kano.
“Twice, we were in government in Kano State from another party and twice Buhari won Kano from a different party; and we won our own election.
“So it is not the issue of the former governor taking his paraphernalia to another party. It is the issue of our commitment to win elections. We are not going to say that there will be no obstacle; there will be obstacle, but we will surmount it; so, Buhari will get five million votes from Kano.”