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Tag: kwankwaso

  • Buhari ordered Ganduje to dethrone Sanusi – Kwankwaso

    Buhari ordered Ganduje to dethrone Sanusi – Kwankwaso

    Rabiu Kwankwaso, former Governor of Kano State, on Wednesday alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the removal of Muhammadu Sanusi as Emir of Kano.

    Kwankwaso made the allegation while describing the removal of Sanusi as a sad incident to both Kano State and Nigeria in general.

    Speaking with BBC Hausa, the former governor who appointed Sanusi as the 14th Emir of Kano in 2014 said contrary to claims Buhari had intervened in the Kano emirate crisis.

    He said: “We believe here in Kano that Buhari interferes where he wishes.

    “Kano state government officials have been saying they were directed to dethrone Mr Sanusi ll. Buhari instructed them.”

    The former governor stated that Buhari “doesn’t interfere where his intervention is needed, but interferes on issues he is supposed to be neutral about.”

    Eulogizing the dethroned monarch, Kwankwaso said: “the emir (Sanusi) is a global citizen.”

    The Kano State Government had on Monday dethroned Sanusi as the former Emir Kano.

    Following his removal, the state government immediately named one of the sons of late Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero, Aminu Ado Bayero the 15th Fulani Emir of the state.

     

     

  • Kwankwaso begs Supreme Court to review Kano governorship case

    A former senator, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has asked the supreme court to review the governorship case of Kano state.

    In its ruling last month, the apex court had upheld the victory of Abdullahi Ganduje, governor candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 election.

    Abba Yusuf, Ganduje’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rival, had asked the court to annul Ganduje’s victory but lost from the tribunal up to the supreme court.

    Kwankwaso, a former governor of the state, who is the PDP leader in Kano, led some members of the party from the state to the national secretariat of the opposition party, asking the leadership of the PDP to support the call for a review of Kano governorship election.

    Ibrahim Adam, media aide to Yusuf, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.

    He said Kwankwaso appealed to the national working committee to facilitate the process of the supreme court’s review on the Kano election case.

    He lamented that Kano people were “robbed of their mandate through voter disenfranchisement and manipulation of judicial processes”.

    Responding, Uche Secondus, national chairman of the PDP, who was represented by Suleiman Nazif, his deputy, said the party has taken Kano as the major support base in northern Nigeria and will do everything within the confines of law to protect the its interests in the state.

    Nazif applauded Kwankwaso for his “tenacity” in leading the party to victory in the 2019 governorship election.

    He, however, complained about the “injustice meted out” to Kano people during the rerun election and the way PDP was “sabotaged of victory”.

    “Your Excellency, let me also use opportunity to thank you for your efforts in promoting education not only in Kano but northern Nigeria, we have seen for the first time how a private citizen who is not holding any political office supports the children of the poor to pursue the education,” Nazif said.

    “Sir I will on behalf of the party thank you for sponsoring 370 students to study masters degrees in various universities abroad.

    “I similarly appreciate our amiable governorship candidate in Kano state, Engr. Abba K Yusuf for becoming the most popular candidate in Northern Nigeria. Abba Gida Gida has become a prominent brand beyond Kano state which makes us proud.”

    Earlier, Emeka Ihedioha, a member of the party, who was sacked as governor of Imo in January, asked the supreme court to review the case.

    The apex court had declared Hope Uzodinma of the APC as the duly elected governor. The court has fixed March for the hearing of Ihedioha’s application.

  • Kano Rerun: I’ve retired Kwankwaso from politics, Ganduje boasts

    …Says ex-gov no longer relevant

    Kano State governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, on Friday took a swipe at the immediate-past governor of the state and his estranged political ally, Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso saying the latest outing of the All Progressive Congress (APC) during the just concluded Kano re-run election has retired him (Kwankwaso) from politics.

    Ganduje stated this at the Kano Government House on Friday while receiving the Speaker, Kano State House of Assembly, Hon. Abdul’aziz Garba Gafasa with other principal officers of the House, the state APC Chairman, Abdullahi Abbas and other party leaders and elders, who presented to him the four newly elected state legislators immediately after they collected their Certificates of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    He said the APC’s victory at the election was a clear indication of how Senator Kwankwaso had been retired from politics.

    The re-elected members are from Madobi, Bunkure, Minjibir and Rogo constituencies.

    He especially commended Hon. Kabiru Cunkoso of Madobi Constituency (Kwankwaso’s country home) for roundly defeating the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate there.

    According to Ganduje, “some years back when he (Kwankwaso) was warming up to contest for presidential seat, he boasted that he would retire President Muhammadu Buhari from politics, saying also that he would retire me from politics. But if you look at it now, who then is forced to retire?”

    Condemning Kwankwaso’s style of politics, Ganduje said: “Some political remarks and behaviours of Kwankwaso, particularly during election period are not in order.

    “Our style of politics is calculative and decent. I can therefore not follow his style, that is always castigating without any decorum. We respect people and we see respect and dignity in people. Ours is not like theirs.”

    He called on the elected members, to always respect party leadership and be loyal to the party, adding, “we believe that the supremacy of the party should always be observed with all intent and purposes. You should make sure that, you become loyal party members.”

    On why APC failed to secure the seat of the House of Representatives member representing Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency, he said, “we couldn’t get that seat as a result of the crisis that rocked the party at the constituency. The APC candidate was in conflict with the leadership of the party in the state, in the local government, with the local government administration and even with the electorate. That caused us to lose the seat as a party.

    “But even at that, the winner of the party, who came from the opposition PDP, was on the radio announcing his resolve to work hand in hand with the administration of President Buhari and the Kano State government. This is commendable.

    “Indeed, that was made possible because of the hands of friendship I extended to all people urging them to come and join hands with us and move the state forward in particular and the nation in general. We are happy to see that so many people including the just elected member House of Representatives, from Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency, Ali Datti Yako, heeds to the call.”

    Ganduje also used the occasion to congratulate the father of Kwankwaso, Alhaji Musa Saleh Kwankwaso for being elevated from Majidadin Karaye to the position of Makaman Karaye Emirate, a kingmaker in the emirate, saying, “he deserved the position very well. Our respectful father and an elder statesman. I am congratulating him on behalf of the government and people of Kano State.

    “We pray that Allah gives him all assistance to allow him discharge all his assigned responsibilities very well. Our father is very hardworking and very close to his people. That, among others will help him perform wonderfully well.”

    In his remarks, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Gafasa assured the governor that the House has over two-third of the members as APC. “We are comfortable as we have enough members to back and support any government policies for the overall development of the state, he said, revealing that more members were coming to join the ruling APC in the House. “They too believe in how this administration is fast developing the state. With this, I can say, our governor His Excellency, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, is doing very well for the overall development of the state.”

    The APC state chairman, Abdullahi Abbas commended the electorate for finding the party candidates worthy of being re-elected.

    “The APC will continue to be the best party in any future elections to come. We are determined, through our developmental projects and policies, to continue working towards sustainable development,” he assured.

  • All my life, I have never seen anyone as selfish as Kwankwaso – Ganduje

    Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has described former Governor of Kano state, Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso as a political ingrate and propagandist whose quest is to fulfil his 2023 presidential ambition no matter whose ox is gored.

    Ganduje who spoke at Government House on Thursday, while welcoming the state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Rabi’u Suleiman Bichi who decamped to All Progressive Congress (APC) with thousands of his followers, said the pre-occupation of Kwnakwaso is to use the APC platform to fulfil his presidential ambition, “this is why he is making frantic efforts to come back to our great party.”

    According to him, “I am the encyclopaedia of Kwankwaso. Nobody knows Kwankwaso better than me. I taught him politics even before 1999. As many of you are aware, I won the PDP primaries in 1999. Something happened and I was pacified to become his running mate.

    ” I invested my time and resources to mobilize for him in 1999. I stood by him all through even when we lost election in 2003. But could you believe that when I was campaigning for my election in 2015, Kwankwaso never attended any of my rallies. He never supported me me with a dime. There was no support of any nature from him.”

    He further stated that, “my political relationship with Kwankwaso dated back to the military era. Right from time, I was always loyal to him. But I must confess that in all my life, I have never come across a self-centred politician like Kwnakwaso.

    ” He has the antecedent of imposing himself above the interest of other people. It is Jim and for him alone.”

    According to him, “it was I and Rabi’u Suleiman Bichi that formed the Kwankwassiyya which has eventually collapsed today with this re-union with Rabi’u Bichi. Today, we have removed the heartbeat of Kwankwassiyya.

    ” This is a happy day and a happy moment for me, because once again, I am in the midst of my political associates who we have been together for a very long time. I am used to them, and they are used to me.”

    Ganduje, however, called on the opposition to join hands with him to further develop the state, adding that his ambition is to ensure that democratic dividends are delivered to all the nooks and crannies of the state.

    Speaking during the occasion, the former chairman of PDP, Suleiman Bichi, described Ganduje as a patient, forthright and accommodating politician whose major concern is the development of Kano state and the welfare of the people.

    Bichi who gave reasons on why he joined APC said it was based on the call by President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Ganduje for all-inclusive government.

    He added that “we need a polity where progress and development of the state is above personal and primordial interest. So, we have to cut that trend of unnecessary opposition so as to put the state on the right track of development obtainable in Lagos state.

    ” Your Excellency, all of us you see here joining the APC have decided, after due consultations, to join in the development of the state. Almost everyone that was in the Kwankwassiyya camp is with us here, and we are ready to give you our full support to move the state forward.

    “Among us here are former Commissioners, former Advisers, and many others who have in one way or the other contributed to the development of the state. We have at one point or the other worked with you. If we continue along the part of progressive governance, Kano will surely be ahead of other states in the country.”

    The peak of the event witnessed decampees replacing their red caps with green colours, signifying that they have left not just the PDP, but also the Kwankwassiyya Political Movement.

    Prominent among those who decamped to APC are Hajia Binta Spikin who was the official spokesperson of Kwnakwaso, Hajia Aisha Kaita, former Zonal Women Leader of PDP, Mohammed Ishyaku Tarauni who was a former member of state House of Assembly, Dr. Idris Bala, a prominent Kwankwassiyya leader, among others.

  • Supplementary poll: Kwankwaso speaks on violence, rigging in Kano

    The leader of the People Democratic Party (PDP) in Kano State and serving senator, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct fresh rerun elections in the state.

    He said there were no elections on Saturday in the state.

    Kwankwaso, who spoke on Saturday to journalists at his residence, condemned the alleged role of the police under the command of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG), Anthony Micheal–Obizi, who he said provided back up for thugs to perpetrate violence and massive rigging.

    He said the widespread violence and rigging of the supplementary polls took place in all the 28 local government areas affected by the rerun.

    “It is very sad that elections could not hold today because, by yesterday evening, all the polling units in the rerun areas were overtaken by thugs. Very early morning today, elections were concluded in many polling centres.

    “And even more concerning is the role of the police under the leadership of DIG Anthony Obizie who actually backed up thugs under the leadership of the Kano state government. It is a very sad day for all of us and a very sad day for democracy.

    “There are very few places where elections took place, especially here in the city. But there was no election in the overwhelming places because they were overtaken by thugs. People were going around with ballot papers and result sheets, writing what they wanted and submitted them to the INEC officials.

    “Our prayer is that these elections should be cancelled and re-scheduled so that we can have better, free and fair elections in Kano. I don’t think by all standards, the elections here in Kano can hold water. It is unacceptable and I don’t think INEC can go ahead to count because there is nothing to count,” Kwankwaso said.

     

  • Kano: Ganduje’s aide resigns, joins Kwankwaso in PDP nine days to supplementary poll

    Hashim Dungurawa, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State on Wednesday tendered his resignation

    He tendered his resignation to the secretary to the governor’s office, Usman Alhaji, but did not state any reason for the resignation in the letter.

    “I am writing this letter to formally inform you of my resignation from the office of the SSA Voluntarily, and I thank you for the opportunity given me to serve under your office as SSA,” the politician wrote.

    Dungurawa would later tell journalists he was defecting to the camp of Rabiu Kwankwaso, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader in Kano.

    Recall that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Kano, Abba Yusuf, was ahead of Ganduje of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) before last Saturday’s election was declared inconclusive.

    Yusuf was leading with about 26,000 votes which were less than the about 128,559 cancelled votes in the state.

    A supplementary election will now hold in the affected polling units in Kano on March 23, same as in five other states.

    Speaking to journalists on Thursday, Dungurawa told journalists in Kano that he is joining PDP, saying even the incumbent governor Ganduje was Kwankwaso’s disciple.

    The Kano governor was the deputy to Kwankwaso when the latter was Kano governor. They fell out after Ganduje became the governor of Kano in 2015.

     

  • BREAKING: Court sacks Kwankwaso’s anointed candidate in Kano guber race

    A federal high court in Kano on Monday nullified the primary election that led to emergence of PDP gubernatorial candidate in Kano, Abba Yusuf.

    Recall that, Abba Yusuf, is PDP candidate was anointed for the race by a former Governor of the State, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso.

    Rather, the Court endorsed the candidacy of another aspirant on the platform of the party, Alhaji Ibrahim Al-Amin Little, whose candidacy is opposed by Kwankwaso, the leader of the PDP in Kano State.
    But the party in the state has said the ruling of the court only affects it and not Yusuf.

    It said in a statement shortly after the judgement: “The PDP Kano State wishes to draw the attention of the general public that the High Court judgement concerns only our party and not our candidate.

    “The party has already appealed the judgement while our candidate continues with preparations for the upcoming governorship election.”

  • JUST IN: Five feared dead as Kwankwaso, Kofa supporters clash in Kano

    Five people were feared dead on Thursday at Bebeji Local Government Area of Kano state when supporters loyal to former Governor of Kano state, Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso and former House Committee chairman on Appropriation, Alhaji Abdulmumuni Jibrin Kofa engaged in a bloody clash.

    According to eyewitness account, trouble started when Senator Kwankwaso’s convoy while returning from campaign rally passed through an open space where Kofa and his supporters were praying for peaceful conduct of the general elections.

    It was gathered that Kwankwaso’s convoy disrupted the ongoing prayer session, which resulted in the bloody clash that reportedly led to the death of five people with many others from both sides were injured.

    According to an eyewitness account who pleaded anonymity, “the long motorcade of Senator Kwankwaso which disrupted the prayers was actually the cause of the problem.

    “It was, indeed, a bloody sight. The Kwankwaso people had provoked Kofa’s supporters who were conducting a peaceful prayer session for the peaceful conduct of the elections.

    “I counted five dead bodies which were moved away on a police Hilux Van. Many vehicles were set ablaze; and buildings around the Kofa neighbourhood were also burnt.”

    It was further learnt that both sides were said to have used dangerous weapons, during the bloody clash, which lasted for some hours before Police operatives intervened.

    When contacted, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Wakili Mohammed said he was yet to be fully briefed on the incident.

    “When I am fully briefed, I will call you and give you the full details. For now, I cannot tell you what I don’t know,” he said.

     

     

  • Ganduje gives conditions to receive Kwankwaso back to APC

    Kano state Governor Abdullahi Ganduje on Friday promised to gladly welcome back his predecessor and political rival, Senator Rab’u Musa Kwankwaso should he decides to return to the All Progressive Congress (APC) after the elections.

    He spoke on Friday while receiving Alhaji Ibrahim Na-Kaduna, chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Yalwa Ward in Dala Local Government where Ali Sani Madakin Gini, PDP’s Kano Central Senatorial candidate hails from.

    The governor said: “In APC, we take all as human beings. We treat them with all manner of dignity and respect.

    “That is why we are doing our best to woo new entrants into our fold. Even him (Kwankwaso) we wanted him to come and rejoin our party.

    “When he was planning to come back, he came with a condition that we must support his candidate for the presidency.

    “We told him point-blank that as far as we are concerned there is no vacancy in the Villa.

    “We made him understand vividly clear that we could not support any other candidature apart from that of President Muhammadu Buhari.”

    Ganduje added: “Kwankwaso was only busy doing what he thought were ways to get to President Muhammadu Buhari to tell him that he wanted to stage a comeback.

    “But when he saw the handwriting on the wall clearly, he retreated. This is so because we told our President not to take any serious action and not to even entertain him, until after the general elections.

    “If we accept him before elections, he could beat his chest at the end of it and boast that he made the victory possible.

    “We now said let him rejoin when election is over. That is after the victory come calling.”

    Ganduje explained: “This effort of rescuing Kwankwasiyya followers, which is tagged ‘Operation Tsamar Nama’ is designed to, specifically, help those followers understand the true picture of the predicament they are in. So we are welcoming you for this giant step you have just taken.”

    Na-Kaduna, who was presented to Ganduje by member of Kano representing Dala local Government Area in the House of Assembly, Babangida Yakudima, lamented how Kwankwaso has been insensitive to the plight of his followers.

    According to him: “Kwankwaso is only interested in putting his followers to many troubles and political crises.

    “When such things happen, before you know it, he takes to his heel. How can such a person be a leader?”

    He added: “At a point in time, the North Central Senatorial candidate in PDP, Madakin Gini, had wanted to run away from the Kwankwasiyya group.

    “Plans were on top gear, but all of a sudden, we just heard that he made a U-turn. That he is still with Kwankwaso.”

  • I tried to stop release of Ganduje’s bribery videos – Kwankwaso

    The senator representing Kano Central, Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso, said, yesterday, he was aware of the video which showed Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State allegedly receiving money from some contractors, but did everything possible to stop the release to the public to no avail.

    Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano State, stated this on a live programme on Aminchi FM in Kano. Kwankwaso Senator Kwankwaso said he pleaded with the Publisher of the online newspaper, Daily Nigerian, which released the video, but noted that they refused to heed his plea.

    His words: “I was aware of the video clips before they were released to the public and I pleaded that they should not be released, but they didn’t listen to me.

    NAICOM restructures, creates 20 state branches “I am not happy that the video clips were made public because it is an embarrassment to the state and its people, including myself.”
    News of release of the video, which was recorded in 2017, broke last October after the governor was accused of collecting $5 million described as bribe from some contractors operating in the state, who were said to have recorded the development.

    The governor reacted immediately, denying collecting money from any contractor, even as he said it was a calculated attempt to impugn his person.

    However, the state House of Assembly summoned the Publisher of the online newspaper, Jaafar Jaafar, to appear before an ad hoc committee set up to investigate the incident and submit clips of the video, which he did. The governor was, thereafter, invited by the committee, after he had threatened to sue the online newspaper.

    Instead of appearing before the committee in person, Governor Ganduje sent his Information Commissioner, Mohammed Garba, to stand in for him. He later sued the online newspaper for N3 billion, despite earlier intervention by the House of Assembly that he should not do so.