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Tag: Ganduje

  • 2023: Disagreement between Northern, Southern governors over zoning unfortunate – Ganduje

    2023: Disagreement between Northern, Southern governors over zoning unfortunate – Ganduje

    Kano State governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has said the disagreement between the northern and southern governors over the issue of presidential zoning is unfortunate and should never have happened.

    The governor said the issue of power shift is purely a political parties’ affair and not the business of state governors.

    He also reiterated that ranching remains the only solution to the herders/farmers clashes in the country.

    Ganduje spoke his mind on Friday in his address to mark Nigeria’s 61st Independence Anniversary held at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano. He also spoke to reporters in Government House, Kano, after the Independence parade.

    The governor, who said he was not happy with some of his counterparts for abusing one another over the issue of power shift as regards 2023 general election, advised that the unity of the country was paramount to all Nigerians.

    He said: “I will like to use this opportunity to call on the governors, the elite, religious and traditional leaders and all Nigerians to come together and be united, and ensure our unity grows from strength to strength.

    “The current disagreement between the northern and southern governors is unfortunate and it is not necessary.

    “The governors were elected not to divide Nigeria but to keep Nigeria one for progress and development. It is unfortunate that the two divides are exchanging uncomplimentary languages to each other; this is not civilised and is most unfortunate.”

    He called on the chairman of the Nigeria Governor’s’ Forum (NGF), Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, to convene a meeting where all the governors will apologise to one another and reconcile for the peace of the country.

    Ganduje said: “The other issue causing dichotomy is the issue of power shift.

    “The constitution did not mention that power shall shift from north to south, but it has been a tradition by political parties in Nigeria to zone the presidency. And the zoning is a strategy by political parties to win election.

    “If you think power shift will bring you votes to win elections, you have not offended the constitution. If you think you can retain leadership of this country forever and win election, the constitution is not offended. So I think this issue should be left to political parties to resolve. Not we governors to have two opposing groups.”

    Governor Ganduje also kicked against open grazing, describing it as a crime. He pointed out that apart from the crisis brought by open grazing which often result in killings, the worst crime is that the herders are deprived the opportunity of acquiring western education or at least Islamic education.

    Ganduje said: “Another issue that has brought dichotomy is the issue of open grazing. Each state has the power to make laws and there is diversity in each of these states.

    “What is a problem to one state may not be a problem to another state. So, states have the powers with their state assemblies to make laws.

    “I have been saying it, it is unfortunate that this issue of open grazing has brought a lot of controversies.

    “Like I earlier said, trekking from the northern part of this country to the middle belt down to the south, to me is not acceptable, because the children will not be able to have education.

    “To me, it is criminal. Will the education system follow them along the routes from north to central to southern parts of this country? Can any educational system agree with that?

    “The other issue is that some of these herdsmen are from other West African countries. And because of climatic change, they move down to northern parts of this country to the Middle Belt and to the South with thousands of cattle and with arms.

    “Should that be acceptable to Nigeria? Can’t we take it to the ECOWAS, since it is creating problems?

    “So I think it is better to develop the ranching system where the herdsmen are confined to a place where they can have animal husbandry in the modern system.

    “That is why at the Dansoshiya Forest here in Kano we are creating the Ruga system where we provide water, housing units, markets, veterinary clinic, educational system and schools for the children so that they can also enjoy social developments like any other person in Nigeria.

    “I think that is the answer because now the issue is that as I have been saying herdsmen have not succeeded in killing poverty and poverty has not succeeded in killing herdsmen, because a man with thousands of cattle cannot be called a poor man; he moves with a mobile bank.

    “But there is no doubt somebody who treks from the north to the south cannot be called a rich man, looking at his shoes and his body you will understand.”

  • Ganduje presents staff of office to Emir of Bichi, Nasiru Ado-Bayero

    Ganduje presents staff of office to Emir of Bichi, Nasiru Ado-Bayero

    Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, on Saturday, presented Staff of Office to the Emir of Bichi, Alhaji Nasiru Ado-Bayero, as the second Emir of Bichi.

    Bichi was among the newly created emirates by Ganduje’s administration.

    Other newly created emirates were Rano, Gaya and Karaye, in addition to the existing Kano Emirate Council.

    The Emir, on Friday, married off his daughter to the son of President Muhammadu Buhari, Yusuf.

    Speaking after presenting the staff of office to the Emir, Ganduje said the state government appreciated the contributions, being rendered by traditional institutions in promoting peace and stability in the state.

    Ganduje said the contributions made by traditional institutions, made the administration to create the additional emirates, with a view to extending development to grassroot areas.

    He urged the Emir and other Emirs in the state, to continue to assist the government in providing security for lives and property.

    The governor urged the Emir to remain a father to all his subjects without discrimination.

    In his acceptance speech, the new Emir, promised to be just and fair to all people in the emirate.

    Ado-Bayero urged the people of the emirate to intensify efforts in enrolling their children into the basic education system.

    He called on government and other development partners, to continue to contribute their quota in addressing desertification.

    ‘I am calling on people to plant trees, enroll their children in schools and report suspicious persons to the traditional institutions and relevant security agencies for prompt action,” he said.

    NAN reports that the emir was presented with traditional instruments of office.

    The event was attended by ministers, state governors, traditional rulers, members of national and state assemblies.

  • 15 corpses recovered, four missing as flood washes away trapped bus

    15 corpses recovered, four missing as flood washes away trapped bus

    At least 19 people have been confirmed dead in the Doguwa Local Government Area of Kano State after the bus they were travelling in was washed away by flood.

    It was gathered that the sad incident occurred on Friday following a downpour in the area.

    The Village Head of Doguwa, Alhaji Yusif Doguwa, who confirmed the incident, said so far, 15 corpses had been recovered, while search had been intensified to recover the remains of the other four victims.

    Doguwa said the vehicle was washed away by the flood after its engine went off in the middle of a bridge.

    He stated, “The engine of the vehicle ceased working and the bus stopped abruptly, and before the driver could be ignited again, the flood had washed away the vehicle together with the passengers.

    “We have not found any survivors so far even though the search is still ongoing.”

    He noted that the bridge was submerged by flood following a downpour witnessed on Friday.

    When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the State Emergency Management Agency, Ali Garko, also confirmed the incident.

    He said the state government had sent a delegation under the leadership of the Executive Secretary, SEMA, Saleh Jili, to commiserate with the families of the victims.

     

  • Kano Govt. to follow blasphemy case to logical conclusion — Ganduje

    Kano Govt. to follow blasphemy case to logical conclusion — Ganduje

    Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State said his administration would follow the blasphemy case involving Sheikh Abduljabbar Nasiru-Kabara to the logical conclusion.

    He stated the government’s position when he paid Sallah visit to the leader of Qadiriyya Movement, Sheikh Khalifa Qaribullahi Nasiru-Kabara at Qadiriyya House, Kano.

    The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Malam Abba Anwar, disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Kano.

    “We are very grateful that we are following the right steps on the situation.

    “And the state government will continue to monitor the situation very well, up to its logical conclusion,” Anwar quoted the governor as saying.

    Ganduje commended the cleric and other scholars for the role they played during the debate.

    “We are commending you for the role you played; it is indeed amazing that Islamic scholars did well during the debate.

    “They displayed genuine Islamic knowledge,” Ganduje said.

    The governor also promised to assist in completion of Sheikh Nasiru Kabara Islamic Centre at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

    Earlier in his remarks, Khalifa Nasiru Kabara, commended the governor for the role he played in protecting the dignity of the Prophet Muhammad.

    “We are all thumbing up for the great work done, may Allah reward you,” he said.

    He also thanked the governor for the visit which he had made a yearly event.

    It would be recalled that Kano State Government dragged Sheikh Abduljabbar to an Upper Sharia Court for alleged blasphemy and incitement.

    The court adjourned the case till July 28 and ordered that the accused cleric be remanded in Correctional Service custody.

  • Dollar Video: Kano High Court orders Ganduje to pay publisher, Daily Nigerian N800,000

    Dollar Video: Kano High Court orders Ganduje to pay publisher, Daily Nigerian N800,000

    The Kano State High Court on Tuesday ordered Governor Abdullahi Ganduje to pay N800,000 to the Publisher of Daily Nigerian, Ja’afar Ja’afar, as cost for expenses incurred in a court case the governor instituted over the controversial dollar bribery video.

    Ganduje had sued Ja’afar and Daily Nigerian newspaper for releasing the video clips showing the governor stuffing his pockets with wads of dollars suspected to be a kickback from a contractor.

    The governor through his counsel demanded Jaafar pay him N3 billion for defamation of character.

    He, however, filed an application through his counsel, Offiong Offiong, on June 28 seeking to discontinue the court case.

    When the matter was called on Tuesday, the counsel to Ja’afar, U. U. Eteng, and M. B. Azumi, counsel to Penlight Media Limited, publishers of Daily Nigerian, did not object to the application to discontinue the case but demanded N400 million as part of terms to discontinue the suit.

    While Azumi asked for N300 million damages for wasting their time and putting the reputation of his client in jeopardy, Eteng demanded N100 million.

    They also demanded an apology to be published in national dailies and a pre-action letter.

    The judge, Suleiman Na-mallam, in his ruling granted N400,000 each to Mr Ja’afar and his company, Penlight Media Limited, publishers of Daily Nigerian newspaper.

    He, however, was silent on the prayer by defendants to make a public apology in national dailies.

  • Technology needed to fight ‘next level’ crime in Nigeria – Governor Ganduje

    Technology needed to fight ‘next level’ crime in Nigeria – Governor Ganduje

    Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State said on Wednesday that the introduction of technology in addressing the security challenges in the country was necessary if the fight is to be won.
    “Since crime has gone to the next level in Nigeria, strategy too has to go to the next level,” he said, while receiving the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, in Kano.
    The governor said it was in consideration of that reality that the state government installed CCTV in some strategic places in Kano, to secure the lives and property of people.
    “We have installed CCTV all over the metropolitan city, and now laying optic fibre to complement the satellite services.
    “We also have trackers, and at the major entrance of Kano metropolis, we built security dometories where we have a number of security agents manning the major entrances,” he said.
    The governor also said the government established Ruga project at Dansoshiya forest that share border with Katsina State.
    According to him, herdsmen have now settled there, as such it will be difficult for any bandit to make the forest his home.
    “Coming to one of the biggest forests in the country, Falgore forest, we established military training ground and it is now working,” he said.
    Earlier, IGP Baba had told the governor that he was in the state in connection with the passing out ceremony of Cadets of Nigeria Police Academy Wudil, Kano.
    He commended the state government for its effort in providing security agents with enabling environment to secure lives and property.
    He explained that it was when there was security that there would be peace, hence the need for the all stakeholders to join hands to secure the state
  • APC slams one year suspension on federal lawmaker for ‘insulting’ Gov Ganduje

    APC slams one year suspension on federal lawmaker for ‘insulting’ Gov Ganduje

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano Municipal local government, on Thursday affirmed the suspension of the House of Representatives member from Kano Municipal federal constituency, Sha’aban Ibrahim Sharada, who was earlier suspended by the ruling party in his Sharada ward.

    The APC said it has suspended the lawmaker for one year for allegedly insulting Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and other APC chieftains, an act the party said was creating chaos and turmoil in Kano State.

    The letter of suspension was signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the Party in Municipal local government, Alhaji Sani Abubakar Maifata and Kamilu Saidu Bala, respectively.

    Copies of the suspension letter were sent to the governor, the state chairman of APC, police and DSS.

    “We affirm the Suspension of Sha’aban Ibrahim Sharada who was suspended at his ward level for 12 months, for his open attack and castigation of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and other APC stalwarts,” Maifata said.

    Maifata and Bala explained that, after receiving a letter of Sha’aban’s suspension from APC supporters of Sharada ward, they set up a seven-man disciplinary committee and gave them seven days to investigate and report back on the subject matter for possible decision to be taken.

    According to reports, the lawmaker did not honour the invitation at the ward, where he was to be judged of his action.

    He was however, found guilty of the charges against him.

    “After going through their reports and evidence attached to the suspension letter by the ward executives, the committee confirmed that Sha’aban Ibrahim Sharada has been found guilty of all the charges against him.

    “He is guilty of assassination of the characters of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and party executives at the Ward, Local and State levels.

    “The assertions by Sha’aban Ibrahim Sharada may instigate chaos and Turmoil in the State which may disrupt and distract the positive missions of Governor Ganduje.

    “They may also derogate the dignity of the party executives to their subjects in addition to party loss of supporters at the grassroots level.

    “We hereby affirm the suspension of Sha’aban Ibrahim Sharada for the period of 12 months, during which he will not interfere in any of the affairs or activities of the party at all levels,” Sha’aban’s suspension letter reads.

  • I started politics in 1978 but not ready to resign nor retire in 2023 – Gov Ganduje

    I started politics in 1978 but not ready to resign nor retire in 2023 – Gov Ganduje

    Seventy-one-year-old Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje says he will remain politically active after the expiration of his second term in 2023.

    The Kano State governor has spent a total of 43 years in politics, having started in 1978.

    Although Ganduje was not categorical on whether or not he would contest another election, he said his eyes would be wide open for the good of the country.

    The governor stated this while fielding questions from reporters on the Democracy Day celebrations in Kano on Monday.

    Asked if he would toe the path of his Katsina State counterpart, Aminu Bello Masari, who recently said he would quit politics in 2023, Ganduje replied: “Maybe he (Masari) is tired. I am not.

    “I am not tired anyway; neither will I resign nor retire from politics. You know I have been in politics since 1978. In 2023, my eyes will still be open,”.

    On the jostle to succeed him by some people, including those in his cabinet, the governor declared: “Our party (All Progressives Congress) delegates will choose my successor when the time comes,”

    ”You asked of qualities; if I tell you the qualities I want from my successor, you will be able to make a computation, matching the qualities of the aspirants, then you will say that is the anointed one. Delegates will do that.”

    Ganduje also said delegates would pick the presidential candidate for the ruling party.

    On completion of projects before May 29, 2023, Ganduje said: “We inherited many capital projects. Some are being completed and some are still ongoing. We are not neglecting any.

    ”We are determined to complete all the projects we started. We shall complete all the projects, except those that cannot be completed because of their nature, and government is a continuum.”

  • Bandits grouping in Kano’s forest, may attack us son – Ganduje

    Bandits grouping in Kano’s forest, may attack us son – Ganduje

    Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State has hinted that bandits are planning to attack the state.

    Ganduje alleged that bandits are gathering in forests across the state, possibly to plan attacks.

    He raised the alarm during a meeting with the Chief of Army Staff, Maj. Gen. Farouk Yahaya in Abuja.

    Disclosing that the bandits are grouping in Falgore forest, Ganduje urged the Nigerian Army to hasten to work in the forest.

    Ganduje said: “My visit here today is to condole with the Nigerian Army over the death of the former Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru and ten other officers.

    Zamfara Police kill 30 bandits after slaughter of 10 villagers

    “It was painful, it was untimely and sorrowful but we are consoled that they died in active service to the nation. I am also here to seek the help of the Nigerian Army to sustain the peace in Kano State; bandits have converted some forests in the state into hideouts.

    “We are building houses, schools and hospitals for the herdsmen in some of the forests but we want the Army to commence activities at the Falgore forest.”

  • Those who underrated Ganduje now full of regrets – Garba Shehu

    Those who underrated Ganduje now full of regrets – Garba Shehu

    Alhaji Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant on Media to President Muhammadu Buhari says those who underrated Kano State’s Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje are now full of regrets.

    Speaking at the opening of the 2021 Biennial Convention of the Nigerian Guild of Editors on Monday in Kano, Shehu said the state had recorded lots of development, commitments and reconciliation under Ganduje’s leadership

    “People should come and learn from Kano State,’’ Shehu said.

    He explained that Nigerians needed to be reassured that governments at all levels were working assiduously to end insecurity to ensure safety of lives and property.

    Shehu appealed to editors at the convention to continue to promote peace and unity through their media reportage.

    He challenged the editors to also exploit their critical roles in bridging the gap between the government and the public, especially in terms of information dissemination.

    “I think it is time we look inward to see how we can stop the spread of fake news, negativity and rumours.

    “I think we should also use this opportunity to remind ourselves of our responsibility to improve on media roles.

    “My appeal to my colleagues here is that let us see the country more in terms of a glass that is full rather than glass that is half empty,’’ Shehu said.