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Tag: Nasir El-Rufai

  • Nasir El-Rufai: 2023 Presidential Election – The Hysteria of zoning, By Emmanuel Ado

    By Emmanuel Ado
    “In war, you can only be killed once,but in politics many times.”
    Winston Churchill

    Where it a war, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, the Governor of Kaduna State would long have been history, but would most certainly be remembered for his great exploits in the several battles he would have gallantly led his men in. Unfortunately in politics, not just Nigerian politics where El- Rufai by “accident” has found himself a major player, he has been murdered, assassinated and summarily executed several times over,but he lives to be killed again and again. Though El-Rufai lives, the worse is definitely is yet to come considering that supporters of Bola Ahmed Tinubu have erroneously concluded that he is the “stumbling” block to the presidential ambitions of their godfather.

    To the average supporter of Bola Tinubu , El-Rufai is “supposedly” opposed to zoning of the presidency to the South-West,solely because of him and they are ready to bet their life on what is a “conspired falsehood”, pushed by forces that think El-Rufai can be intimidated into silence. Never mind that of late, in what clearly is an after thought “sophisticated political strategy” , the narrative has shifted from what truly speaking is a South-West project – a Bola Tinubu presidential ambition- to being described as an entire South project,following the dawning reality that it lacks the muscle to go it alone. But the strategy that can’t fly,as Tinubu has committed so many political sins that would be difficult to explain away. The problem when a man has been around for so long and has been behaving like the Lord of the Mano- there will always be many toes that he would have trampled upon.

    In the coming days,weeks and months as Nigeria delicately heads towards 2023, there would be an intensification of the “Demonize El -Rufai” project. By 2021 going by the work plan of his political “opposites” ,the demonization and demoralization phase should have been completed and El-Rufai mortally wounded, that he wouldn’t be in any position to run,that’s in the event that he had the intention to. What makes the intensification of the concerted attack funny, is that it’s in spite of El-Rufai’s vehement denial , that he harbours no presidential ambitions,and that he is very contented with his present assignment as governor of the third biggest state, which he is also combining with a doctorate degree programmme.

    There is absolutely no doubt that Nasir El-Rufai’s political “problems” are politically engineered by some powerful forces and they have to do with his rather blunt position on issues of National development and integration, borne out of deep nationalism that can’t ever be questioned. Unfortunately some of those opposed to El-Rufai predictably resort to a campaign of vilification, rather than challenge him with facts. The tragedy is that due to lack of political knowledge, in spite of supposedly “rising level” of education and increased availability of information, the public lacks the capacity to properly evaluate “misinformation” spurn almost on daily basis about El-Rufai by mischief makers who perceive him as a deadly threat to be crushed and so twist his statements as they assiduously work to annihilate him politically. The ways of politicians are confounding,because having consistently tried in the last few years to politically destroy him and failed,common sense dictates that they give up.

    Following the public presentation by Comrade Salihu Mohammed Lukman,the Director- General of the All Progressives Congress(APC) Governors Forum of his book “Power of Possibility and Politics of Change in Nigeria”, an insider account of how some legacy parties – the Action Congress of Nigeria(ANC),a faction of All Progressives Grand Alliance(APGA), the All Nigeria Peoples Party(ANPP) and the Congress for Progressive Change(CPC) against all odds merged into the APC and defeated what El- Rufai describes as a “determined incumbent” – President Goodluck Jonathan, there has been a mass hysteria that a visitor would think Nigeria is in a state of war.

    It’s a credit to the power of El-Rufai’s thoughts and convictions that his contribution Prologue 11 “Defeating A Determined Incumbent -The Nigerian Experience” – to the seminal work that contains many other critical issues like Party Funding and Scope for Internal Democracy, The Nigerian Public Service: A Paradoxical Reality, The Challenges of Ethno-Religious Divide and APC Initiatives and APC Roadmap and The Future of Democracy in Nigeria “, that it’s his contribution that has provoked wide discourse, even though more for what it didn’t contain, than what it actually contains – a confirmation of the deep political ignorance and that information most often is evaluated with bias.

    Femi Makinde of The Punch newspaper who definitely hasn’t read the book,but who nevertheless out of “Rational Ignorance” devoted an entire page in the 17th August,2019 edition to “inform” the world that “El-Rufai’s savaged call for zoning triggers break-up fears.” The determination of Makinde to crucify El-Rufai is beyond any iota of doubt, especially the great length he went to make his tale by moonlight believable by alluding to the image of El-Rufai as that of a controversial figure,a tag that some section of the media and vested interests have tried and failed to weave around him.Makinde’s tale is built on a foundation of falsehood that “the governor is not new to controversy” and building on this fallacy embarked upon the demolition of El- Rufai,towards a determined end.

    There is no doubt that the issue of zoning of political offices especially the presidency, is emotional and would any day, and any time generate heated debate. But the debate about zoning can be provoked by the media without attributing to Nasir Ahmad El- Rufai what he didn’t canvass in his contribution to the “Power of Possibility and Politics of Change in Nigeria.” Makinde outrightly lied and peddled falsehood against the person of El-Rufai,when he asserted that “The suggestion of Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir el -Rufai, that zoning of the presidency and other key political offices should be de-emphasised in future elections especially that of 2023 has elicited some reactions”, because El-Rufai never mentioned zoning and the 2023 elections.

    Before I reproduce the key submissions of Nasir El- Rufai,it’s absolutely important to address two issues; one is the nature of the man named Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, but popularly known as Nasir El – Rufai and the truly amazing nature of Nigerians. El-Rufai has variously been described as “controversial”, for not beating about the bush,”foul mouthed” for jibes at his political opponents and “heartless” for the bold decision to restore the Abuja master plan. It’s good to note that after him,Abuja has deteriorated because those after him for fear of being tagged controversial have refused to do the needful. For certain El- Rufai will speak his mind on any issue, no matter whose ox is gored and doesn’t colour things – in one word he as constant as the northern star.And there are abundant evidences that confirm that he speaks the truth. For instance in the “The Accidental Public Servant”,he named names and the “games” they played during the Olusegun Obasanjo years , but to date not one libel suit has been instituted against him speaks volume.

    Nigeria is a paradox,just as Nigerians are truly amazing. The average Nigerian wants to eat his cake and have it and he sees absolutely nothing wrong in that. The other astonishing fact is that most times the position of an average Nigerian are defined by sheer expediencies – what he/she stands to personally gain or his “people”- no long term strategic thinking,nor thoughts about common good. On the political front, same Nigerians who clamour that zoning of political offices should be entrenched in the constitution, are vehemently opposed to quota system,an affirmative action that seeks to establish fair access to employment opportunities to all constituent parts of the federation. We must be clear about what we want- a united,just and prosperous country – otherwise every section should hold onto its advantage.

    El-Rufai’s three (3) key submissions as contained in his contribution “Prologue 11 – Defeating A Determined Incumbent -The Nigerian Experience”,reproduced here for the benefit of Nigerians who Makinde had set out to mislead are; “Even with our success in the 2015 elections, there is room for improvement. Barriers to political equality, such as our seemingly entrenched though informal rule for zoning candidacies according to regions of origin, need to be deemphasized and ultimately abandoned in favour of an emphasis on qualification, competence and character.” El – Rufai’s thoughts which are perceptive,clearly argued,insightful and unambiguous didn’t in anyway mention the 2023 Elections,nor indicate in anyway that in 2023 the presidency shouldn’t be zoned to the South. The key words are “deemphasized” and “ultimately abandoned”. But Makinde falsely attributed to El-Rufai “alien thoughts”, to achieve determined political objectives. He certainly owes not just El-Rufai, but his readers an apology for misleading them,because the implications when the Makindes’ of this world concoct lies against politicians are dire, especially the lasting damage to the trust of people in politics and politicians.

    Considering the attendant problems that political parties face in Nigeria, due to the problem of funding and which has provided godfathers,especially governors the leeway to control the parties, one would have thought that the suggestion by El-Rufai on the funding of parties would have generated interest considering that it will help put the parties on a solid foundation. Hear El-Rufai “The financing of political parties, candidates and campaigns remains opaque and by various oligarchs and so-called political godfathers. Many African countries are marked by savage inequalities, and a handful of individuals have the wherewhithal to hold the process hostage. We must work towards funding political parties via capped and fully disclosed donations and annual dues payable by every registered party member.” A governor providing the template of how their hold on the parties can be checked,in what can be termed class suicide is unheard of,but this didn’t catch fancy of hack writers because it’s not in the interest of their paymasters, to ensure that the parties belong to the people like the African National Congress(ANC). If the ANC where to be funded by former Presidents Mbeki and Zuma,there is no way the party would have forced them out of office. It’s matter of facts like this that that make some people tag El-Rufai controversial.


    Finally, El-Rufai canvassed for the entrenchment of the rule of law,as opposed to the rule of power. The rule of law is clearly the ideal,because stands for the supremacy of law over the supremacy of the will of an individual. Advancement of the rule of law is central to his submission,which again is reproduced for be benefit of the readers; “In addition, improved processes and promotion of the rule of law are an imperative if politicians are to stop resorting to self-help–instigating violence and engaging in ethnic and religious mobilisation.” Again those who have formed their opinion about El-Rufai from the likes of Makinde, an enthusiastically blind hatchet writer will find it difficult to believe he would articulate such views. But the truth is that El-Rufai is a democrat.

    The likes of Shehu Sani who is reportedly working for Tinubu’s presidential ambition have latched onto the big fat lies of Makinde for mischief purposes. Shehu Sani it must be noted, would jump at any opportunity to demonize El-Rufai who ensured his resounding defeat in the march 2019 elections. So when Shehu Sani declares that power must rotate to the South-West and not the South-East, it’s important that Nigerians take his statements with a pinch of the salt, because he is working for an interest – that of his friend- Bola Ahmed Tinubu despite his denials.

    Like I argued earlier , Nigerians are confused about what they want.And Nasir El – Rufai is absolutely right that after 20 years of zoning, that there is a compelling need to deemphasis zoning and enthrone merit. It’s conversation that Nigerians must have,if not today certainly tomorrow,whether some interests in mortal fear of El-Rufai orchestrate outrages that are “contained” to a particular class.

    If the South- West is honest that zoning of the presidency is between the North and South,the question that it must answer -one way or another- is why is it not throwing support behind the the South- East,the only zone in the South that hasn’t produced a president? The South-West needs to convince the South-South,and most especially the South -East that it’s not guilty of the same crime of political “domination” , it’s alleging against the North. He who goes to equity must go with clean hands- and on this issue is it going to equity with clean hands? This is an albatross the South-West must in sincere honesty and good conscience deal with.

    The former Minister of Works Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe,is absolutely right that the north “may” still retain the presidency. But what he didn’t add, is that it will largely be due to the political miscalculation of the South-West,especially its astounding political shortsightedness,its winner takes all stance that played out in 2019, like adding the Speaker House of Representatives, to a portfolio that already has the Vice President – that’s certainly a huge blunder and should be a source of worry. Another strategic blunder is the vicious media war it has unleashed against El-Rufai, whose State in terms of voting strength can’t be ignored. It’s difficult to understand what the Tinubu camp hopes to achieve with its scorched earth strategy of demonizing El-Rufai, which confirms persistent political ignorance.

  • Opposition plot to cause mayhem vindicates Buhari, el-Rufai

    By Emmanuel Ado

    Last December Governor Nasir El Rufai the Governor of Kaduna State working on credible intelligence reports of plots by people believed to be “opposition elements” to precipitate crisis in at least 4 Local Government Areas of Kaduna state had aggressively embarked on an interactive session with the various communities to alert them of the plot and to avert it.

    The plot is believed to be part of the larger strategy of the opposition to achieve the defeat of Muhammadu Buhari, and of Nasir El-Rufai the governor of kaduna State one of the leading lights of the All Progressives Congress(APC) in the 2019 General Elections.

    The other strategy includes the outright “purchase” of voters cards by the Isa Ashiru the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP).

    The project is being undertaken in the guise of a financial empowerment Programme by the Hon. Isa Mohammed Ashiru Voters Mobilization Volunteers.

    The minister of information Lai Mohammed had equally alerted Nigerians of the plot.

    According to the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, mercenaries were being mobilized to cause mayhem during the next elections in order to instigate constitutional crisis with a view to installing an interim national government.

    According to Mohammed, “desperate opposition is orchestrating widespread violence with a view to truncating the elections, thus triggering a constitutional crisis that could snowball into the establishment of an interim government”.

    Before the alarm by the minister of information the National Security Adviser (NSA) to President Muhammadu Buhari, Babagana Monguno, in a disquieting address, had informed the 36 state governors under the aegis of the Nigeria Governor’s Forum (NGF), in a crucial meeting that the forthcoming elections face the risk of being marred by violence.

    The newly appointed Inspector-General of Police, Muhammed Garba, also attended the meeting.

    The events in Kajuru Local Government Area were at least 66 fulanis were killed seem to have vindicated the government.

    But for the swift intervention of Governor Nasir El-Rufai the country would have been engulfed in a crisis.

    At least 135 persons are still missing after the attacks which was intended to precipitate a reprisal attack by Muslims against christians.

    The plotters are working on the hope that the crisis would spread to other parts of the country.

    According to security sources the scale of the mayhem the Kajuru crisis would have precipitated would have made the riots of 2000 following moves to introduce the Sharia legal system in Kaduna state a child’s play.

    By coincidence Isa Ashiru, the PDP governorship candidate was the Majority Leader of the Kaduna State House of Assembly when the bill for the introduction of the Sharia legal system in the state was moved.

    More than 2,000 people reportedly died in the crisis and properties worth billions of naira destroyed in the conflict.

    The five Local Government areas being targeted by the opposition elements are Kargarko, Sanga, Kachia , Kauru and Kajuru – political strongholds of the APC.

    The security sources confirmed that the plot was to have been implemented towards end of January 2019 just days to the presidential elections and that of the National Assembly which were scheduled to hold on the 16th February 2019, and that of the governorship and state House of Assembly elections which were to hold on 2nd march,2019.

    “The information is credible and as security agencies we are happy we brought the twin events to the attention of the state security council and the governor acted with admirable dispatch on the security threats, because in 2011 the state had witnessed violent protests after the presidential elections in which several people were killed and properties destroyed,” said the source.

    Governor Nasir El-Rufai had in December and January abandoned his campaign for reelection and focused attention to thwart the plot.

    The visible measure being the extensive Consultative Town Hall meetings in Kaswan Maigani in Kajuru Local Government Area, where the crisis between some traders last year had led to killings which later spilled over to some parts of the state.

    The governor had also visited Kargarko, Sanga, Kauru and Kachia Local Government areas on Peace mission.

    The governors message to the various communities was the need to ensure peaceful coexistence.

    He had further assured the communities that the government on its part will continue to be fair and just to all parts of the state.

    While urging the people to be extra vigilant,he had charged them not to take laws into their hands.

    “Report any threat to peace to the law enforcement agencies and the traditional rulers,who will take appropriate actions” he said

    On the purchase of voters cards by the Hon. Isa Mohammed Ashiru Voters Mobilization Volunteers in the guise of financial empowerment, the security agencies are treating it as an electoral crime.

    “It amounts to disenfranchisement of Nigerian citizens. They don’t understand that the issues go beyond attempting to defeat the president or the governor. It’s treason. We want to deal with the larger threat to peace before going after those buying up voters cards,” security sources confirmed.

    Forces opposed to Governor Nasir El -Rufai ,including the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, the Senate president Bukola Saraki want him defeated in the elections,but the indications are that he will defeat the PDP candidate,in spite of picking a Muslim as his deputy.

     

  • BREAKING: 130 persons killed in Kaduna, not 66 – El-Rufai

    The Kaduna state Governor, Nasir El-Rufai has said that the actual number of persons killed last Friday in Kajuru Local Government Area of the state was 130 and not the 66 he said.

    Governor el-Rufai, had, last Friday, raise the alarm that unknown gunmen had killed 66 persons in the area. But, addressing State House correspondents on Tuesday, the governor said that based on the security briefings he has received, that the actual number of those killed was 130 and not 66.

    Governor El-Rufai also described those doubting the killings as “grossly irresponsible.”

    On the eve of the earlier scheduled general election, the governor had said that 66 persons were killed by unknown attackers. Many people had doubted the Governor over the report. But coming out from a security meeting he convened, attended by the governors of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, as well as the security chiefs, said he gets security briefings daily to know the situation in and around Kaduna, adding that, “I work only on that basis.”

    Governor El-Rufai had earlier in a report, said that, “Only irresponsible and insensitive people can recklessly dismiss the deaths of members of a community with whom they have no contact.”

    He also noted that, “the latest report shows that over 130 were killed, not even 66.” He therefore restated his earlier resolve that, “The government of a state cannot be detained by parochial, ethno-religious, partisan or electoral calculations from doing its duty to provide security, confirm incidents of security breaches, take steps to reassure affected communities and ensure that perpetrators are arrested and brought to justice.”

    In a statement issued by his spokesman, Samuel Aruwan, two days ago, after the governor was led on the spot assessment of the area by the GOC 1 Div, the state commissioner of police and other security chiefs, he had warned that the state government cannot allow itself to be hamstrung by any consideration while performing her responsibilities.

    The statement had partly read thus: “Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has visited the scenes of the Kajuru killings.

    The governor was accompanied on the trip by Major-General Faruk Yahaya, GOC 1 Division of the Nigerian Army, Air Cmdr. I. Sani of the Nigerian Air Force, Police Commissioner, Ahmad Abdurrahman and State Director of the SSS, A.I. Koya. The chairman of Kajuru local government council, Cafra Caino, also joined the governor on the visit.

    “The Kaduna State Government notes the concerted and apparently coordinated efforts by bigoted busy bodies to deny the Kajuru killings, or to minimise the casualty figures, and the specious arguments being deployed in this despicable quest.

    The Kaduna State Government condemns in the strongest terms attempts to politicise the killings. “Only irresponsible and insensitive people can recklessly dismiss the deaths of members of a community with whom they have no contact.

    Private individuals and unelected actors cannot be allowed to reduce weighty matters of state security to the province of their limited networks, inexperienced lenses and narrow agendas.

    “The government of a state cannot be detained by parochial, ethno-religious, partisan or electoral calculations from doing its duty to provide security, confirm incidents of security breaches, take steps to reassure affected communities and ensure that perpetrators are arrested and brought to justice.”

  • 2019 elections: Gov. el-Rufai calls for festival of democracy

    Governor Nasir El-Rufai has urged the people of Kaduna state to make the 2019 elections a festival of democracy.

    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports the Governor stated this in a State Broadcast on the 2019 Elections on Friday.

    The full speech of the broadcast reads: “The 2019 general elections present a chance for our people to play their role as masters and choosers. With your vote, you choose the parties and candidates in whom you wish to entrust our commonwealth, your livelihoods and future prospects for the next four years.

    “Voting is a serious responsibility, a solemn obligation and a right that was earned by sacrifice and struggle in many polities. Choice is at the heart of democracy, and I urge you all to go out on election day and freely cast your vote the way you want.

    “In the last few months, you have listened to the various parties and candidates make their case. The campaigns for the presidential election, with all the spectacle and substance, are now over, as the law prescribes. It is time for serious decisions by every eligible voter. I wish to assure all residents of our state that the Kaduna State Government will protect the right of everyone to express their decision at the ballot box in free and peaceful conditions.

    “The government is determined to ensure that the elections are conducted as a festival of democracy. That means that there is no room for violence, intimidation, voter suppression or any unlawful activity. Nothing and nobody will be allowed to impair the ability of any citizen to freely cast their vote.

    “The security agencies, led by the police, will be properly deployed across the state to protect the right of every citizen to vote. The police will be assisted by personnel from the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Nigerian Immigration Service, the Nigerian Customs Service, the Federal Road Safety Commission and the Kaduna State Traffic Law Enforcement Agency.

    “The government wishes to stress that all personnel of the police, and other agencies that are deployed for official election duty will wear proper identification tags. Orderlies of officials are not on election duty, and should therefore not be seen in uniform on election day.

    “During the elections, the Nigerian Armed Forces will be in the background, but on standby to assist in any circumstances that threaten to overwhelm the police. Similarly, the military has been deployed in areas that have recently been menaced by bandits to secure these places and protect the rights of their residents to vote, all these in line with their rule of engagement.

    “It is important to declare that there is no security-related role in the election for civilian volunteers. All volunteers, including those of the Kaduna State Vigilance Service, should be content with voting and returning home, like every citizen of Kaduna State.

    “All residents of Kaduna State are hereby reminded that the laws of this country forbid the wearing of any party insignia, poster or banner of any sort on election day. It is an offence to wear in public the vest of any political party after campaigns have ended.

    “To assist citizens to properly report any electoral disruptions, as well as suspicious or illegal activity, the following helplines have been opened at the State Security Operations Room: 09034000060 and 08170189999. Do not hesitate to call any of these numbers to lodge reports on voting day.

    “Fellow citizens, it is your democratic right to vote, and freely cast your ballot for the party of your choice. There is no reason to be afraid to exercise your right. Nobody will be allowed to use their status or power to intimidate, frighten or threaten you for doing your duty as a citizen. All residents of Kaduna State, wherever they reside, are free to vote according to their convictions.

    “Fellow citizens, let us shun any form of violence. Let us promptly report any threat or suspicions of unlawful activity.

    “Elections are a moment to celebrate choice. Let us all come out to vote and do our duty to make the election a peaceful exercise”.

     

  • Gov El-Rufa’i mourns late Sen. Aruwa

    Gov. Nasir El-Rufa’i of Kaduna State has described late Sen. Mukhtar Aruwa as a philanthropist who contributed immensely to the development of sports, agriculture and politics during his life time.

    This is contained in a statement issued on Sunday in Kaduna by Mr Samuel Aruwan, media aide to the governor.

    Aruwa died at about 4:00 am on Sunday in Kaduna.

    “I received the news of Senator Mukhtar Ahmad Aruwa’s death with sadness. Our thoughts are with his family and we pray Allah to grant him Aljannah Firdausi.

    “He was a senator and a philanthropist par excellence who assisted our people in different sectors.”

    The governor added that the deceased had made significant contribution to football when he established the Ranchers Bees Football Club that produced many stars “like Daniel Amokachi, Tajudeen Oyekanmi, Abubakar Balarabe and some of the Babayaro brothers,

    “He was also into farming where he employed many people and helped to develop several communities in our state.

    “He was a member of Kaduna State Elders Committee and participated in several peace initiatives including the Kaduna State Peace and Reconciliation Committee of 2011.”

     

  • Segun Onibiyo explains alleged hate speech made against Buhari, el-Rufai

    Segun Onibiyo, Presenter and Producer at Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), has explained alleged hate speech made against President Muhammadu Buhari and Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai.

    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports Segun gave the explanation in a statement lodged at a Kaduna Police station, following his arrest last week for allegedly making malicious posts on Facebook about the late Agom Adamawa curfew in Kaduna state.

    He denied making any malicious posts against President Buhari, Governor el-Rufai or any other persons, stressing that he understands full well the implications of attacking public figures.

    Segun’s statement to the Police reads: “My name is Onibiyo, Segun Mike Gbenga, born on the 20th of August, 1974 in Ife-Olukofun, Yagba East Local Government Area of Kogi State. I am the 3rd in a family of 7. I grew up in Kaduna where I went to school – Kaduna Polytechnic and studied Mass Communication.

    “I am married with 2 children and I currently work as a presenter/producer with the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria from 2012 till date. My parents are late Elder Jeremiah ABoyomi Onibiyo and Mrs. Roseline Onibiyo.

    “I have read line for line the malicious, injurious (allegations) post made against me about posts on the late Agom Adamawa curfew in Kaduna and others attacking the person of his excellency, the governor of Kaduna State, Mallam NAsir El-Rufai, the President of the federal republic, general Muhammadu Buhari and others.

    “I wish to state categorically that I have nothing to do with the post. My Facebook account with the name SMG Onibiyo was hacked pre-2015. I had since reported same to Facebook and while I could not recover the account, I opened another in the name Segun Onibiyo, which was equally hacked. I had since stopped using Facebook in those aforementioned names and instead continued the use of 2 other accounts – MrJejeSupreme and Miongs Communications – as medium of facebooking.

    “I am a journalist and understand full well the implication of attacking public figures or individuals in private or public space. I may have my opinion on issues but I will never in any way attack anyone in such injurious manner, especially on Facebook or anywhere else.

    “I want my name cleared for any form of attack on personalities as I do not have access to the FB account where these allegations were posted. Family members and friends have always called to ask if I sent them pictures and even pornographic image, which I have always explained I did not. I am an upright individual and family and friends can attest to my character, even on my program on radio – Oga Jeje.

    In conclusion, once again, my account SMG Onibyo was hacked pre-2015 and I have since then moved on and not on Facebook in that name. I reported the hack to Facebook but not to any security agency as I did not envisage the threat it could pose”.

     

  • Kaduna Assembly passes 2019 appropriation bill

    The Kaduna state House of Assembly has passed the state 2019 appropriation bill with an increase of about N1.5 billion bringing the total figure to N157 billion.

    Gov. Nasir El-Rufai had on Aug. 15, presented a budget of N155 billion to the house for consideration.

    While presenting the budget for the third reading before the passage, the Speaker Alhaji Aminu Shagali said the sum of N62 billion which represents about 40 per cent is for re-current expenditure, while N94 billion which is about 60 per cent is for capital expenditure.

    Speaking shortly after the passage, Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Ahaji Ahmed Mohammed said the increase was due to additional requests from Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) for funding.

    He explained that some of the requests were considered at end of the budget defence exercise adding that the additional fund would also be use to carter for oversight duties which covers both re-current and capital expenditures.

    He assures residents of the state that the house was committed towards ensuring that the budget is properly implemented.

  • Why Hadiza Balarabe is Gov. El-Rufai’s running mate for 2nd term

    Why Hadiza Balarabe is Gov. El-Rufai’s running mate for 2nd term

    Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has announced the selection of Dr. Hadiza Balarabe as his running mate for the 2019 general election.

    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports the choice of Dr. Hadiza Balarabe as running mate continues Malam Nasir El-Rufai’s deliberate policy of promoting women.

    There are five female commissioners in his 14-person cabinet, a feat not attained even by governors that had much larger cabinets. This is the first time in the history of Kaduna State that a major political party will select a woman as running mate.

    The incumbent Deputy Governor, Arc. Barnabas Yusuf Bala, opted to go to the National Assembly and has since emerged as the APC’s candidate for the southern Kaduna senatorial district.

    Dr. Hadiza Balarabe is the current Executive Secretary of the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Development Agency, a position she has held since February 2016.

    In that role she has overseen the Kaduna State Government’s programme to revitalise and strengthen primary health care as the core of health service delivery in the state.

    Under her watch, the state is renovating and equipping 255 primary health centres with tools to assist better antenatal services and safer delivery. The agency has also helped expand vaccine coverage to protect children across the state.

    Prior to joining the Kaduna State Government, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe was Director of Public Health in the FCT. She studied Medicine at the University of Maiduguri, and graduated in 1988. She was a Senior Registrar at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital before joining the services of the FCT in 2004.

    Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, who was born in 1966, is from Sanga local government which is located in the southern Kaduna senatorial district.

     

  • Presidency to El-Rufai: You are on your own

    The Presidency has distanced President Muhammadu Buhari from a letter in circulation, which alleged that the President had authorized Gov. Nasir el-Rufai to “deal with traitors and disloyal members of APC, especially Sen. Shehu Sani.
    Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, made this known in a statement in Abuja on Sunday.
    According to the presidential aide, the president is not aware of any such letter, let alone authorising anyone to deal with any party member.
    The statement read: “The presidency wishes to distance President Muhammadu Buhari from a letter currently in circulation, which alleges that the President had authorized a governor or anyone else for that matter to deal with traitors and disloyal members of APC, especially Senator Shehu Sani.
    “We wish to confirm that the president is not aware of any such letter, let alone authorising anyone to deal with any party member.
    “Given President Buhari’s record, it is inconceivable that he would usurp the role of the party leaders and instruct anyone to punish a party member.
    “In the light of above, we would like to appeal to the general public, especially members of the press, to ignore false or unauthorised information intended to attribute to the president any action which is not in line with his character.’’
    It would be recalled that Gov. El-Rufai of Kaduna State had last week visited the Presidential villa twice over political developments in his state.
    El-Rufai, who vehemently opposed the decision of the APC National Working Committee (NWC) to clear Sen. Shehu Sani as the sole candidate in the race for APC-Kaduna Central, said the fate of the senator “lies in the hands of the party delegates in the state”.
    The national body of the APC had on Sunday reiterated that Sani remained its only senatorial candidate from Kaduna Central.
    The Acting National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Yekini Nabena, confirmed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja.
     

  • Kaduna needs $65.5 bn to address infrastructural challenges – El-Rufai

    Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai says it will require up to 65.5 billion dollars to address the state’s infrastructure challenges over the next 30 years.

    El-Rufai stated this on Wednesday at the unveiling of the infrastructure master plan, 2018-2050, during the 3rd edition of the state investment forum in Kaduna.

    He stressed that the long term infrastructure master plan summarised the infrastructure target of the state aimed at providing job opportunities and making lives better for the people.

    “The breakdown of the future infrastructural developments between now to 2050, include, the transportation sector which would require N8 trillion while N5.1 billion would be required annually in the education sector to build about 9,006 schools including tertiary institutions.

    “Other sectors include, the health system which would require N158 billion, while N100 billion yearly is targeted for the water sector; agriculture would require N53 billion, and 5,000 housing units would be developed annually all within the time frame of 2018-2050,’’ the governor said.

    According to him, the administration had attracted investments into the state in the last two years, with 79 percent coming from outside the country.

    “Due to the low percentage of domestic investment, we have decided to focus more on domestic investment, we need to attract businesses in Kaduna by providing skilled workforce,’’ he said.

    The governor stated that, “to encourage domestic investment in the state, government’s first priority is to build human capital by engaging in different activities where the young people are willing to be employed in businesses.’’

    El-Rufai reveals that the government expects some of the investments would bear fruits before the next edition of the summit.

    He listed the investments to include Vilisco Textile Park, Arfa Dairy Farms and Ranches, Kaduna Automobile village, Green Economic Zone, Solar Power Project, Dangote-PAN Assembly Plant among others.