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Top stories that dominated Kano in 2018

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January – March

Kwankwaso’s visit to Kano aka “Zuwan Mahadi Kano”

Kwankwaso and Ganduje

Kwankwaso and Ganduje

The early months of 2018 were dominated by the factional crises within the ruling APC in Kano between the Kwankwasiyya and Gandujiyya factions. The opening salvo was the proposed visit by Kwankwasiyya leader Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso ostensibly to inaugurate the factions’ candidates for the local government elections scheduled to take place in February.

On 2nd January, Kano state governor was reported to be welcoming the senator while warning that he will not tolerate security breach. On 10th January commissioner for special duties Abdullahi Abbas instructed loyalists to stone the “political Satan” of Kano in a direct allusion to Kwankwaso.

The following week, six Kwankwasiyya loyalists including Walidi Abbas younger brother to Abdullahi Abbas were injured at a wedding on January 14. The next day police arrested the commissioner, his two children Sani and Abbas for alleged complicity in the attacks.

Walid-Abbas

Walid Abbas: Injured in Kwankwasiyya Gandujiyya clash.

On January 26, the commissioner of Police Rabiu Yusuf advised Kwankwaso to shelve the visit. According to the commissioner, the move was to avert expected clashes with Gandujiyya loyalists.

In a similar vein, Gandujiyya faction announced plans to hold successive rallies in Bichi, Gwarzo, Kwanar Dangora and Wudil from starting from January 28th. The Kwanar Dangora event was conveniently scheduled for the 30th of the month when Kwankwasiyya adherents were expected to troop into Kano from Kaduna.

Rabiu Kwankwaso insisted that he would be visiting Kano on the set date and alleged that the commissioner of police had been comprised by Abdullahi Ganduje. However, a day to the event, Kwankwaso shelved the visit citing the intervention of elders.

The matter was on 1st February, tabled before the senate by Isah Hamma Misau (APC, Bauchi Central) but the two other senators from Kano, Kabiru Gaya (APC, Kano South) and Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano North) asked for the issue to be treated as a family matter. Kwankwaso refused to comment.

Underage voting in Kano election

Underage voting in Kano

Montage of children voting in Kano LG elections.

On Saturday 10th February Kano state Independent Electoral Commission KANSIEC conducted local government chairmanship and councillorship elections with the ruling All Progressives Congress APC winning all 44 local government chairman and 484 councillors seats.

While declaring the results at a press conference at KANSIEC Headquarters, the Chairman of the commission, Garba Ibrahim Sheka, said 25 political parties, including the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), participated in the election with ruling All Progressives Congress winning all the seats.

However, video footage from the election showed some children casting ballots contrary to provisions of the electoral laws.

Sequel to calls from election observers, civil society groups, human rights groups and activists on the alleged underage voting, the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC set up a committee to investigate the allegations.

The INEC report debunked the allegations saying that there was no any incident of underage voting and the pictorial depictions of childhood voters represented a clear manipulation of images to create a fake story.

The report asserts that some of the images presented as children voting were actually children on the queue for food at an Internally Displaced Persons camp in Borno State.

Fatima Ganduje’s Wedding

Fatima Ganduje

Fatima Ganduje showing her dance moves.

On Saturday March 2, 2018 Kano state received prominent personalities, including President Muhammadu Buhari, as they attended the wedding Fatiha of governor Abdullahi Ganduje’s daughter, Fatima and her groom, Idris Ajimobi son of Oyo state governor.

The wedding created an uproar due to the flamboyant display of wealth by the couple’s parents and open show of affection by the couple themselves. Mr. Buhari was flayed by critics for attending the event even as bloodletting continued unabated in many states across the nation as a result of herdsmen/farmers clashes.

A week before the wedding the Ajimobi clan including the first lady, their daughters and a few northern first ladies visited Kano State Government House to present the bride’s trousseau.

The bride-to-be received 27 customized Louis Vuitton travel boxes from her in-laws. While the contents of the LV boxes cannot be ascertained, each designer travel bag is estimated to cost about $5,000.00.

Another part of the story that attracted public censure were the skimpy dresses and crazy dance steps of the bride as well as videos and pictures of the couple cuddling and kissing in public.

An Islamic scholar Ahmad Gumi criticized the wedding by warning the people of Kano to be cautious of the “wrath of God” lest He inflicts them with the same type of crisis plaguing Borno State.

April – June

KUST students’ protest

The second quarter of 2018 was dominated by a students, protest in one of the Kano state owned universities.

In May 2018 the Senate of Kano State University of Science and Technology (KUST), Wudil, ordered students of the university to proceed on a two-week mid–term break following a violent demonstration.

KANO TODAY recalls that, on Wednesday May 2, 2018 hundreds of students launched an overnight protest to convey their displeasure over the circumstances surrounding the death of their colleague, one Faruk Abubakar, who died while swimming at River Wudil.

KUST-Wudil

KUST students protest.

Three students of the University had gone to the river to swim and had ran into problems in the exercise, which resulted in the death of one of them as well as exposed the rest to a life- threatening situation.

During the protest, the students set up bonfire, barricaded the roads and damaged some property belonging to the university.

A month after the protest the Senate on June 22, 2018 ordered the students to pay N17,000 before resuming their studies.

According to the senate, N13,000 was the penalty for damages caused while N4,000 was to be used to test each student’s mental health before resuming to school.

An uproar followed the decision with most stakeholders crying that the universal application of the fine on all students was unfair and the sum was too expensive.

After the intervention of Kano state governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje the penalty fees was reduces to 13, 000 instead of 17,000.

July – September

Political cross carpeting – Kwankwaso/Shekarau

The third quarter of 2018 saw a switch of political allegiances involving the two main political gladiators in Kano state, former governors Rabiu Kwankwaso and Ibrahim Shekarau.

On July 24 Kwankwaso decamped to PDP after failing to get the support of APC national leadership in his feud with incumbent governor Abdullahi Ganduje. He was welcomed by Shekarau initially as they met in the latters’ house in Asokoro, Abuja on 28th July.

Aside being a serving senator, Kwankwaso has in his political kitty, nine members of the House of Representatives (who defected with him), Kano deputy governor, Hafiz Abubakar, about ten members of the Kano House of Assembly and thousands of Kwankwasiya members spread across Nigeria.

This made the PDP to dissolve the Kano state exco of the party and appoint a caretaker committee headed by Kwankwasiyya leader Rabiu Suleiman Bichi.

Kwankwaso-and-Shekarau-after-the-meeting-in-Abuja

Sheakarau welcoming Kwankwaso to PDP.

PDP leaders Shekarau and Aminu Wali resisted the move while the presidency and APC wooed Shekarau leading to his decamping to the APC. On September 7th Shekarau joined APC where he was welcomed by the party chairman Adams Oshiomhole and given Kwankwaso’s senatorial seat. He however lost some of his supporters who elected to stay with Kwankwaso.

During the PDP primary elections Kwankwaso contested and lost the presidential ticket of the party. His son-in-law and former commissioner Abba Kabir Yusuf emerged as the party’s governorship. In protest, Shekarau’s lieutenant Salihu Sagir Takai left PDP for the PRP where he clinched the governorship ticket.

Other Kwankwasiyya loyalists decamped from the PDP and returned to the APC. These include Hafizu Abubakar, Ganduje’s former deputy governor, Bala Gwagwarwa, former APC national treasurer, Aminu Dabo, former Managing Director Nigeria Ports Authority as well as Muazu Magaji, former special adviser to president Goodluck Jonathan.

The case of former deputy governor Hafizu Abubakar deserves special mention. He resigned his position in allegiance to Kwankwaso and joined PDP on August 7th only to leave for the PRP on November 1st in protest of Kwankwaso’s alleged highhandedness. Abubkar tried to get the PRP gubernatorial ticket but was defeated by Takai. On December 20th he returned to the APC after a meetng with president Muhammadu Buhari. Meanwhile Ganduje had already sworn-in Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna as new deputy governor on September 19th.

KNHA and the return of Rurum

Rurum and Atah

Rurum: In. Atah: Out.

Kabiru Alhassan Rurum, member representing Rano constituency in the Kano state house of assembly returned as speaker in July 2018 after resigning in 2017 following corruption allegations.

He replaced Yusuf Abdullah Atah representing Fagge constituency who was removed for alleged incompetence and other offences.

Earlier in May, the House was thrown into a crisis when 24 members attempted to impeach the speaker without meeting the required 27 signatories to form the 2/3 majority to impeach the speaker.

The assembly complex was shut down by the police and members were barred from entry. However, following an intervention by the state governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje the situation was resolved with the removal of other principal officers except the incumbent speaker.

As part of the compromise, Rurum emerged as deputy speaker paving the way for his later elevation to the position of speaker.

October – December

Ganduje Bribe videos

The most outstanding story in the last quarter of the year is the expose by DAILY NIGERIAN online newspaper accusing governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of collecting bribes amounting to $5 billion from contractors.

The paper claimed to have in possession 15 video clips showing Ganduje collecting the bribes from an unidentified contractor. DAILY NIGERIAN released three videos showing the governor pocketing vast wads of American dollars in what was said to be bribe payments from public works contractors. Three other clips were released online by anonymous sources.

Ganduje bribery video

A screenshot of one of the Ganduje bribe videos.

Following the publications, Kano State House of Assembly constituted a seven-man committee to investigate the authenticity of the video. DAILY NIGERIAN publisher Jaafar Jaafar appeared before the committee but governor Ganduje sent the commissioner of Information Muhammad Garba to represent him. He denied all allegations against the governor. On November 5th, the committee was however ordered by a Kano state high court to stop the investigation.

Ibrahim Magu chairman of the EFCC parried journalists’ questions about the videos at a press conference in Abuja on November 12 but acknowledged that the commission is investigating the issue when confronted by a London-based Nigerian lawyer Audu Bulama Bukarti.

Also in an interactive session with Nigerians in Paris, president Muhammadu Buhari said his government was verifying the videos and would take action if they are found to be genuine. He however went ahead and praised Ganduje for being a very responsible governor for completing projects started by his predecessor.

On November 15th, Ganduje sued DAILY NIGERIAN and its publisher for libel claiming a damage of N3 billion. In a related development, an anti-corruption advocacy group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) sued Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari in December before a Lagos High court for failure to order the probe of the allegation against Ganduje.

Kano Pillars lost Aiteo Cup final

On 24th October 2018 Kano Pillars football club had its most disastrous outing in the year as it lost the Aiteo cup final to Enugu Rangers.

Kano Pillars gave away a three-goal lead allowing Enugu Rangers to win the cup on penalties after the game held at Stephen Keshi stadium Asaba, Delta state capital ended 3-3 at regulation time.

The first goal of the encounter came in the 5th minute of play when Pillars skipper Rabiu Ali, found space between two Rangers defenders to slot in from close range. The dominant Pillars got their second goal in the 20th minute from Alhassan Ibrahim while the third goal came in the 47th minute when Pillars striker Nwagua Nymar took advantage of Rangers defensive blunder to slot home from close range.

Kano Pillars lost Aiteo Cup

Enugu Rangers recovering against Kano Pillars.

The flying antelopes bounced back, when midfielder Kelvin Itoya powered home a stunner from outside of the 18-yard box as they went on the rampage, after two Pillars players got injured in a space of 15 minutes and were stretched out of the field.  Chidera Ezeh gave Rangers great hope as he scored the second goal in the 82nd minute. In the 92nd minute of extra time, Ajani Ibrahim beat a helpless Pillars defender to level the game at 3-3. The game went directly into penalties.

Pillars duo of Rabiu Ali and Jimoh Ismaila lost their penalties, while Rangers scored all its four penalties, ending the game 4-3 to lift the trophy.

 

 

 

 

 

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Kano Assembly passes bill to establish state security Corps

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Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim

 

The Kano State House of Assembly has passed a bill to establish a state-owned security corps, granting it the authority to bear arms, prevent crimes, and make arrests across the state.

 

 

KANO FOCUS reports that the passage of the bill followed extensive deliberations, particularly on a controversial clause that prohibits members of political parties from heading the security agency.

 

Majority Leader of the House, Lawan Husaini Dala, emphasized that the legislative body conducted a thorough review of the bill to ensure it serves the best interests of all sectors in the state.

 

He further explained that the law mandates that the leadership of the security outfit be entrusted to a non-partisan indigene of the state.

 

According to Dala, the new law aims to enhance security operations in Kano, with security personnel empowered to “bear arms, make arrests, prevent crimes, and apprehend offenders.

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KSCHMA to integrate family planning into health contributory scheme

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Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim

 

 

Kano State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (KSCHMA) is planning to integrate family planning services into the scheme. 

 

KANO FOCUS reports that the agency in ollaboration with the Society for Family Health organised a highly technical workshop in Kaduna Wednesday in that regard.

 

The workshop will also review the benefit package being offered by the Agency while also look at ways to include MNH innovations in the benefit package and finalise a clear actionable plan for immediate implementation and alignment with MAMII to reduce maternal mortality in Kano.

 

KANO FOCUS reports that Family Planning services and commodities have recently been identified as one of the ways that can grossly affect and reduce maternal mortality in Kano State and KSCHMA is fully aligned to work in tandem with efforts of the Kano State Government, the SMOH and other partners to see a remarkable reduction in Maternal Mortality.

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Dangote refinery exports two cargoes of jet fuel to Saudi Aramco in Saudi Arabia

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NESG says FG Must Support Domestic Industries to Achieve a $1 Trillion Economy

 

Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim

 

Dangote Petroleum Refinery recently achieved a significant milestone by successfully exporting two jet fuel cargoes to Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest oil producer and a leading integrated oil and gas company globally.

 

 

KANO FOCUS reports that Saudi Aramco is the official Saudi Arabian Oil Company, which is a majority state-owned petroleum and natural gas company that is the national oil company of Saudi Arabia.

 

President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, revealed this on Tuesday during a visit by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), team to both Dangote Fertiliser Limited and the Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos.

 

Dangote said exporting products to the global markets, especially Saudi Aramco, was because of his refinery’s world-class standards and advanced technologies.

“We are reaching the ambitious goals we set for ourselves, and I’m pleased to announce that we’ve just sold two cargoes of jet fuel to Saudi Aramco,” he said.

 

Since its production began in 2024, the Dangote refinery has steadily increased its output, now reaching 550,000 barrels per day.

 

While commending Aliko Dangote for establishing the $20 billion refinery – the largest single-train refinery in the world – NESG Chairman, Mr. Niyi Yusuf, stated that Nigeria needs more investments of this calibre to reach its $1 trillion economy goal.

 

“To achieve a $1 trillion economy, much of that must come from domestic investments. I joked during the bus ride that while others are dredging to create islands for leisure, you’ve dredged 65 million cubic tonnes of sand to create a future for the country. This refinery, fertiliser plant, petrochemical complex, and supporting infrastructure are monumental,” he said. “My hope is that God grants you the strength, courage, and health to realise your ambitions and that in your lifetime, a new Nigeria will emerge.”

 

Yusuf emphasised that such local industries are essential to Nigeria’s industrialisation and will help foster the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). He added that the NESG would continue to advocate for an improved investment climate to attract entrepreneurs, boost development, ensure food security, and address insecurity.

 

He lamented that Nigeria has become a dumping ground for foreign products and stressed that the country must support its entrepreneurs to become a global player. “It’s inconceivable that a nation of over 230 million people, with an annual birth rate higher than the total population of some countries, is still dependent on imports to feed its citizens.”

 

Yusuf also praised Dangote’s bold vision for making Nigeria self-sufficient in several key sectors.

 

“The NESG is grateful, and I believe the nation is as well. This refinery represents the audacity of courage. It takes immense effort to do what you’ve done and still be standing and smiling. Thank you for inspiring us and showing that nothing is impossible. You’ve transformed Nigeria from a net importer of petroleum products to a net exporter,” he said. “We’ve all read Think Big, but this is truly about thinking big. The message is clear: the private sector can bring about real change.”

 

Yusuf, alongside NESG board members and stakeholders, toured the refinery and fertiliser plants, lauding the level of investment, technology, and sophistication of young Nigerian engineers running world-class laboratories and central control units. He acknowledged Dangote’s perseverance and success in overcoming numerous challenges.

 

Dangote, in his response, reiterated the importance of the private sector in national development, asserting that Nigeria’s challenges could largely be overcome by providing gainful employment to its people.

 

He stated that the concept of a free market should not be used as a pretext for continued import dependence, highlighting that both developed and developing nations, including the USA and China, actively protect their domestic industries to safeguard jobs and promote self-sufficiency. Dangote also cited the example of the Benin Republic, where cement imports are restricted as part of a deliberate strategy to protect local industries, despite the proximity of his Ibese plant.

 

“The President is a personal friend, and my Ibese plant is just 28km from Benin, yet they refuse to allow imports to protect their local industries, most of which are grinding plants,” he remarked.

He further emphasised that the government stands to gain substantially when the private sector flourishes, noting that 52 kobo (52%) of every naira Dangote Cement generates goes to the government.

 

Dangote also pointed out the significant challenges involved, in setting up industries in Nigeria, particularly the substantial capital investment required due to the lack of infrastructure. He stressed that investors are often forced to take on responsibilities for essential services such as power, roads, and ports – services that should be provided by the government.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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