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Tag: kwankwaso

  • NNPP: Crisis looms as Yusuf, Kwankwaso squabble over SSG, Commissioner

    NNPP: Crisis looms as Yusuf, Kwankwaso squabble over SSG, Commissioner

    The crisis seems to be brewing between Gov. Abba Yusuf of Kano State and his political godfather, Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso, with the former allegedly refusing to sack two top government functionaries as directed by the latter.

    NAN gathered in Kano on Tuesday that the affected functionaries are the Commissioner for Information, Baba Dantiye and Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr Abdullahi Bichi.

    The source said Kwankwaso was uncomfortable with Bichi’s refusal to take instructions from him in handling some of his official duties.

    It was also gathered that the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) national leader wants Dantiye to be replaced with a social media influencer whom he considered more competent to manage the ministry and image of the state government.

    Sources close to the governor said Yusuf would rather have a one-to-one discussion with Kwankwaso over the issue than to act on his ‘orders’.

    NAN further gathered that a group known as “Abba Tsaya Da Kafarka,” meaning, ”Abba,Wake Up And Assert Yourself” has emerged, in support of Yusuf.

    According to sources close to the group, it has become important for Yusuf to stop behaving like an errand boy.

    The source said the group believed that Kwankwaso hand-picked most of the government’s political office holders, including the commissioners.

    NAN checks also found that members of the National Assembly on the platform of the NNPP recently met with Yusuf and urged him to assert his independence.

    Similarly, Alhaji Hamisu Dumgurawa, chairman NNPP in Kano State, has announced the suspension of the SSG and Alhaji Muhammad Doggon, Commissioner for Transport from the party.

    He said that the two principal officers were suspended over alleged ant-party activities.

    When contacted Kwankwaso said he was in line with the actions of the party chairman, adding that as a loyal party man, he would not contradict the party leadership.

    “I will not say anything more since the party chairman has already addressed it”, he said.

  • Rep Doguwa replies Kwankwaso over criticism on Tinubu

    Rep Doguwa replies Kwankwaso over criticism on Tinubu

    Rep. Ado Doguwa (APC-Kano state) has disagreed with the Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso over the rating of President Bola Tinubu’s performance in the 16 months in office.

    Doguwa registered his disagreement with Kwankwaso, the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in the 2023 general elections, while addressing newsmen in Abuja on Friday.

    Kwankwaso, while speaking at a political gathering in Kano state, reportedly said that “Nigerians, especially Northerners, are tired of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and would change it in the 2027 Presidential election.”

    Reacting, Doguwa who is the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), said that Tinubu is laying the foundation for a prosperous Nigeria.

    Doguwa, who represents Tudun Wada/Doguwa Federal Constituency of Kano state, said that Kwankwaso lacks the moral authority to speak for the people of the North.

    “As we all know, President Tinubu is not leaving any stone unturned in his quest to return our country to the path of progress and prosperity for the benefit of all.

    “President Tinubu reduced the debt service ratio from 97 per cent to 68 per cent and kept our foreign reserve at $37 billion.

    “Only this week, the Economic Stabilisation Bills have been transmitted to us in the National Assembly to stimulate our productive capacity and create more jobs and prosperity in the country.

    “In the area of security, he said the government has eliminated over 300 Boko Haram and bandit commanders, including Kachalla Halilu Sububu, who terrorised the people in Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina and Kaduna for over five years.

    “A fresh air is already permeating the North West in view of the onslaught against these bandits. Our people are now returning to their farms,” he said.

    Doguwa, a ranking lawmaker of the house, said that Tinubu took over the mantle of leadership in the country 16 months ago when the economy was in terrible shape in all spheres.

    He said that since assuming office on May 29, 2023, Tinubu had been working genuinely to correct the fiscal misalignments, the bane of the country’s economic downturn.

    Under President Tinubu, Doguwa said that the country had attracted foreign direct investments worth more than $30 billion in 16 months.

    He said President Tinubu had paid a forex backlog of $7 billion and cleared the ways and means of over N30 trillion he inherited from the last administration.

    The lawmaker expressed optimism that in a few months, the hardship being faced in the country will fizzle out as the president’s numerous interventions bear fruits.

    Doguwa commended Tinubu for establishing the North West Development Commission which will  hasten the reconstruction and rebuilding of the geopolitical zone, which he described as the  food basket of our country.

    He said that Kwankwaso’s rating of the Tinubu-led federal government was a sign that the defeated NNPP’s candidate had not recovered from the loss.

    Doguwa said that irrespective of Kwankwaso’s comments, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano state is poised to unseat the NNPP government in the state come 2027.

  • Kwankwaso’s prophecy to Tinubu: Nigerians will snub this Government in 2027

    Kwankwaso’s prophecy to Tinubu: Nigerians will snub this Government in 2027

    The presidential candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso, has said that it has become glaring that Nigerians will take their frustration out on this present administration at the polls in 2027.

    The former governor of Kano State, made this prophecy while receiving some members of the ruling All Progressives Congress who decamped to NNPP said Nigerians will push for a change in 2027.

    The new party members are defectors from Dala, Kiru and Gwale local government areas at his Miller Road residence in Kano.

    According to the former Kano State governor, Nigerians, especially those from the northern region of the country have suffered enough to continue with the Tinubu-led administration.

    “Nigerians, more specifically northerners, have suffered enough and no amount of pressure or intimidation will change their minds.

    He further called on Nigerians to rethink the policies and activities of the current dispensation and make their decisions ahead of the next election.

    He added, “It has now become clear that the APC-led government is clearly against the poor masses and will never change.

    “It is now clear that regardless of their beliefs and plans to use the security agents and INEC in the forthcoming elections, it will not be possible as Nigerians are tired and will surely struggle for change,” Kwankwaso said.

  • APC rebukes Kwankwaso over palliative distribution criticism

    APC rebukes Kwankwaso over palliative distribution criticism

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State has criticised Dr Rabi’u Kwankwaso, a chieftain of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), for condemning the Federal Government’s method of distributing palliatives to the needy.

    In a statement, APC Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, said the Federal Government was committed to reducing hunger in the country, but the NNPP government in Kano was frustrating these efforts.

    He said that President Bola Tinubu has approved several palliative measures for the poor households and vulnerable individuals, but those assigned to distribute them were allegedly diverting the resources.

    Abbas cited instances of senior NNPP government officials being allegedly involved in the diversion of palliatives.

    He cited the instance of the Managing Director of the State Agricultural Supply Company (KASCO), Dr Tukur Dayyabu Minjibir, who was found allegedly selling grains belonging to the state government.

    He also mentioned the arrest of a Senior Special Assistant to the Cabinet Office, Tasi’u Al’Amin Roba, for allegedly diverting the state’s palliatives.

    The APC chairman called on Kwankwaso to instruct his anointed governor to investigate these incidents and ensure that the perpetrators account for the missing palliatives and face prosecution.

    He also criticised Kwankwaso for saying that the distribution exercise was solely left to the APC.

    Abbas pointed out that the reconstituted committee by the Federal Government included members from the various political parties, including the NNPP, PDP and IPAC.

    He stated that the bipartisan committee worked out detailed modalities for the distribution of palliatives.

    Abbas said it was to prevent diversion and ensure that the beneficiaries were truly the needy members of the public.

    He also defended the posting and reposting of Directors of the Department of State Service, saying it was a decision made by Tinubu to ensure that only diligent heads of security agencies were posted to Kano.

    The APC chairman observed that throughout the two-term administration of Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje, Kano remained relatively peaceful, with no incidence of violence.

    Abbas opined, ”But the prevailing insecurity in the state is the handiwork of the NNPP government, which encouraged and supported violent youth.”

  • Ahead 2027, political reengineering as PDP confirms Atiku, Obi, Kwankwaso in talks to back a candidate

    Ahead 2027, political reengineering as PDP confirms Atiku, Obi, Kwankwaso in talks to back a candidate

    Ahead 2027, the three leading opposition figures in Nigeria are discussing the possibility of a merger to salvage Nigerians from hunger and widespread insecurity ahead of the 2027 presidential election, a spokesman for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said on Monday.

    PDP deputy national spokesman Ibrahim Abdullahi stated this on a national TV programme on Monday.

    He said the three opposition candidates in the last election – PDP’s Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) – would put personal interests aside and form a formidable alliance to defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) come 2027.

    Abdullahi said that had his party’s past leadership managed conflicts well, high-ranking chieftains like former Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike, Kwankwaso and Obi would still be full-blooded members of the PDP and the party would have defeated Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last election.

    He said, “We’ve lost Kwankwaso, we’ve lost Peter Obi, all of these people, imagine if they are in the party, we will have gone to win the elections.

    This APC said they defeated us with one million plus (votes), just one of these names that I mentioned would have covered that gap for us and we would have been in power today and certainly Nigerians would not have been confronted with this despair and despondency in the land.”

    Asked if the PDP is trying to get Obi, Kwankwaso, Wike and others back into the party, Abdullahi said, “Sure, discussion is ongoing. You will see Peter Obi discussing with Atiku, you will see Peter Obi meeting with (Nasir) El-Rufai. Party management is a very difficult thing and we are doing the best in the quagmire that we have found ourselves. Rest assured, there would light at the end of the tunnel. We have learnt our lessons in a bitter way.”

    In the 2023 presidential election, Tinubu, came out tops in 12 of Nigeria’s 36 states, and secured significant numbers in several other states to claim the highest number of votes — 8,794,726, almost two million votes more than his closest rival — Atiku Abubakar of the PDP.

    Atiku, who has ran for president six times, got 6,984,520 votes, while Obi, a first-time contestant, secured an unprecedented 6,101,533. Kwankwaso, former Kano State governor, finished fourth, claiming victory in his state — Kano. He secured 1,496,687 votes.

    Interestingly, Obi and Kwankwaso were PDP members months before the last poll but cited irreconciliable difference as reasons they exited the party.

  • Kano Perm. Sec., Kwankwaso’s nephew arrested over alleged drug scam

    Kano Perm. Sec., Kwankwaso’s nephew arrested over alleged drug scam

    The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission has arrested five persons, including Alhaji Mohammed Kabawa, Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, over an alleged multi-billion naira drugs supply scam.

    Also arrested by the commission was the chairman of the state branch of  Association for Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Alhaji Abdullahi Bashir, who is also the Chairman Tauroni Local Government Area (LGA).

    Similarly, the anti-graft agency arrested the Managing Director of Novomed Pharmaceuticals, Garba Kwankwaso, the nephew of the NNPP National Leader, Sen. Rabi’u Kwankwaso, in connection with the alleged scam.

    The suspects were accused of connivance to award a contract to Novomed for the supply of drugs to 38 LGAs government areas in the state, thus violating public procurement laws.

    Preliminary investigations revealed that each of the 38 LGAs paid N9.150 million to Novomed for the procurement of drugs but the drugs were not supplied.

    “We have 44 LGAs in the state and they succeeded in collecting N9.150 from 38 councils for supply of the drugs that were not supplied

    “The findings also revealed that all the suspects are cooperating with the commission’s investigation team”, a source close to the case told NAN.

    The Public Relations Officer of the commission, Kabiru Kabiru, confirmed the arrests, adding that the investigation was ongoing.

    Kabiru said the commission was working to unravel the full extent of the alleged scam and bring those responsible to justice.

    He also confirmed that the suspects were in the commission’s custody as at the time of filing this report.

  • 2027: Atiku, Obi, Kwankwaso told to form merger

    2027: Atiku, Obi, Kwankwaso told to form merger

    Salihu Lukman, former national vice chairman (North-west) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has urged opposition leaders such as Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to step up and lead the reform of Nigeria’s democracy. He called for the formation of a functional political party capable of rescuing the nation.

     

    Lukman also suggested that sidelined APC leaders, including former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and ex-Governors Rotimi Amaechi, Kayode Fayemi, Ibikunle Amosun, Nasir El-Rufai, and Rauf Aregbesola, should collaborate with opposition leaders to restore Nigeria’s path to democratic development.

     

    In a statement titled “#EndBadGovernance Campaign: What Next?” issued in Abuja on Sunday, Lukman criticized President Bola Tinubu’s government for failing to address the country’s pressing issues, which were exacerbated by the removal of petroleum subsidies and the floating of the Naira’s exchange rate.

    He noted that these policies have led to inflation and increased hardship for Nigerians, who face daily challenges of hunger and preventable diseases.

     

    Lukman emphasized the importance of integrating the #EndBadGovernance message into the structure of any party aiming to rescue Nigeria. He warned that failing to do so would hinder efforts to challenge and defeat the current APC government in 2027.

     

    He called on opposition leaders to utilize the rising anger in the country to create a functional political party distinct from the APC, PDP, LP, and NNPP. He urged the mobilization of Nigerian youth to pressure the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register new parties meeting statutory requirements, suggesting that there appears to be an undeclared moratorium on new party registrations.

     

    Lukman criticized the Tinubu administration for excessive spending amid widespread poverty and hunger, contributing to the country’s volatile situation. He called on committed democrats to mobilize Nigerians towards reforming democratic structures and warned that ignoring the grievances of Nigerian youth could lead to violence and chaos.

     

    He concluded by urging opposition leaders to build the necessary democratic structures to connect with all Nigerians and earn their trust.

  • Kano NNPP rejects Yusuf’s suspension, Kwankwaso’s expulsion

    Kano NNPP rejects Yusuf’s suspension, Kwankwaso’s expulsion

    The Kano State chapter of the All Nigeria Peoples Party(NNPP) has rejected the suspension of Gov. Abba  Yusuf from the party by a faction of the National Executive Committee of the party, describing it as illegal.

    The party also dismissed the expulsion of the leader of the party and its presidential candidate in the 2023 General Elections, Sen. Rabi’u Kwankwaso by the same group.

    The party described the suspension as “laughable”, insisting that it was carried out by some expelled members of the NNPP.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the NNPP Chairman in the state, Alhaji Hashimu  Dungurawa, sounded the rejection while briefing newsmen in Kano on Monday.

    He also alleged that those that effected the suspension and expulsion were sponsored by some undisclosed ‘outside forces.’

    Recall that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of a faction of the party had affirmed the six-month suspension of Yusuf and the expulsion of Kwankwaso from the party.

    The resolution of the party was contained in a communique issued on Sunday, jointly signed by Umar Jibril and Omolara Johnson, following the NEC meeting held on May 27.

    Dungurawa also described the purported suspension and expulsion as “unserious and of no consequence to the party, whatsoever.”

    He wondered how an alleged sponsored group of expelled members of the party could suspend  Yusuf who is the only Governor of the NNPP in the country and expel  Kwankwaso, its National Leader, describing the action as “absurd.”

    According to him,the leadership of the party genuinely mandated by members across the country would not be distracted by the action of the sponsored group.

    He said, ”it is focused on developing the NNPP to continue to provide good governance to all Nigerians.

    ”The NNPP as a party, remains strong, winning more members across the country, in spite of the evil machinations of outside forces.”

  • NNPP Youth leader dismisses EFCC’s investigation against Kwankwaso

    NNPP Youth leader dismisses EFCC’s investigation against Kwankwaso

    The National Youth leader of the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP), Auwal Musa, has described the EFCC investigation on the former Kano State Governor, Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso, as a political witch-hunt.

    He told NAN on Thursday in Kaduna that the action was instigated by some political rivals to tarnish Kwankwaso’s image.

    “I challenge EFCC to come out with facts on the allegations, otherwise, we consider it as an attempt to witch-hunt and victimise him,’’ he said.

    The leader further argued that there was no justification for EFCC to commence investigation of Kwankwaso from 2015 to 2023 as a former Governor and leader of NNPP.

    “ Why did the EFCC wait this long to investigate him , nine years after leaving office and also why investigate party affairs,’’ Musa asked.

    According to him, investigating an ‘honest and hardworking’ person like Kwankwaso will only amount to a waste of time.

    “Go to Kano and see what he did as a governor, check his records as a  Defence Minister, and a Senator,’’ he said.

    Musa urged EFCC to disregard any petition written against Kwankwaso by any politician or any associate.

    On NNPP crises, the youth leader said the party had resolved all its internal crises including the power tussle among its officers at the local, state and national levels.

    “We have recently conducted elections into various offices in 13 states of the country successfully,’’ he said.

    He added that the party had also made changes in its logo and structurally designed a method of campaign ahead of the 2027 elections.

    “It is our hope that the NNPP will give a surprise outing and will win national and state seats in the coming elections.

    “Nigerian youths are ready to make serious changes in the national political scene.

    ”We’ll take over government and salvage this country from maladministration,’’ he said.

  • Court stops EFCC from arresting Kwankwaso, seven others  

    Court stops EFCC from arresting Kwankwaso, seven others  

    The Kano High Court sitting at Audu Bako Secretariat has stopped the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from arresting, detaining, harassing, intimidating or inviting the 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and seven others.

    Justice Yusuf Ubale Muhammad who ruled on the application made by the NNPP, Dr Ajuji Ahmed, Dipo Olayanku, Ahmed Balewa, Chief Clement Anele, Lady Folshade Aliu, Eng. Buba Galadima and Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, granted the order upon reading the motion exparte dated and filed on June 5, 2024.

    He said;

    “An interim order of injunction is hereby granted, restraining the respondent, either by itself, it’s agents, representatives, cronies, or whosoever acting on It’s behalf, from arresting, detaining, harassing, intimidating, inviting, or in any way infringing on the fundamental rights of the applicants, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice already filed.

    “It further ordered that both the interim order granted, the motion on notice and all other processes in this suit shall be served on the respondent timeously and before the adjourned date.”