Headlines
Apologize to Pantami or risk the wrath of Allah–JIBWIS warns Kwankwaso
By Nazifi Dawud
The national leadership of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah wa Iqamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS) has called on Rabiu Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano state to apologize over the humiliation of Sheikh Isa Ibrahim Pantami, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, by members of his Kwankwassiya movement.
Kano Focus reports that Pantami, who is also a prominent Islamic Scholar, was booed, heckled and jostled on Tuesday by Mr Kwankwaso’s supporters at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airpot (MAKIA) in Kano, while he was returning to Abuja.
It was learnt that the minister came to Kano for a condolence visit to Sha’ban Ibrahim Sharada, a member of the House of Representatives who lost his father recently.
While he was about to board a flight to Abuja, Sheikh Pantami met with a crowd of Kwankwassiya members, who were also at the airport to see off the 242 students who were sponsored to India and Sudan for postgraduate studies by the Kwankwassiya Development Foundation.
It was gathered that upon seeing Pantami, some of the Kwankwassiya supporters started shouting ‘bamayi, bamayi’, meaning “we are not in support, we are not in support”, at him just as others pulled his clothing and bumped against him.
While the episode lasted, a particular youth was caught on camera, trying to force a red cap–a key symbol of the Kwankwassiya movement–on Pantami’s head from behind.
The minister has not yet responded to the incident.
However, in a statement, Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau, National Leader of JIBWIS, expressed sadness over the incident, saying the minister who has spent most of his life teaching the Qur’an and its interpretation, does not deserve the kind of humiliation meted to him.
Sheikh Lau also advised Mr Kwankwaso, leader of the Kwankwassiya to publicly apologize to Sheikh Pantami as well as to Nigerian Muslims for the behavior of his supporters, warning that Allah’s wrath awaits anyone who would dare to injure the dignity of Islamic scholars, “who are inheritors to prophets.”
“Our noble Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) has told us that anyone who respects and upholds the dignity of scholars that memorize the noble Qur’an, has also respected and upheld the dignity of Allah. Also, the humiliating treatment meted to Pantami has also contravened Nigerian laws, because as a minister, he is a member of the Federal Executive Council (FEC),” he said.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The government has introduced new guidelines for fee increment.
Kano State Government has prohibited private and voluntary schools from arbitrarily increasing fees and forcing parents to purchase materials directly from the schools.
KANO FOCUS reports that Executive Secretary of the Kano State Private and Voluntary Institution’s Board( KSPVIB,) Comrade Baba Abubakar Umar, gave the warning in an interview with journalists.
The Executive Secretary said that some schools have been taking advantage of parents through hidden charges and exorbitant fees.
He said to address this issue, the board has introduced new guidelines.
According to him, “Schools must convene a Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) meeting to discuss any fee increments”.
He also stated that school must then write to the board seeking approval for the increase, attaching the attendance sheet from the PTA meeting.
He added that”At least two-thirds of parents must be present at the PTA meeting”
Comrade Abubakar dated that, the board has received complaints from parents who were charged excessive fees or amounts different from what was initially agreed upon.
He therefore disclosed that despite the current economic situation, schools must be realistic and fair in their charges.
“The board will work with relevant authorities to prosecute schools that operate illegally or evade taxes”
He however maintained that the board is committed to ensuring that schools provide safe learning environments and employ qualified teachers.
“Parents are encouraged to report any schools with substandard teaching or unsafe conditions”
Comrade Abubakar emphasised that, new census forms will be distributed to private and voluntary schools to ensure accurate data collection and effective monitoring. Saying that the board remains open to dialogue and discussions with schools willing to comply with the law.
He commended Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for his commitment to education, allocating 30% of the state’s budget to the sector and declaring a state of emergency.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has reported that two people have died and two others were injured following the collapse of a two-storey building in Noman’s Land, Fagge Local Government Area of Kano.
KANO FOCUS reports that the NEMA Coordinator, Kano Territorial Officer, Dr. Nuraddeen Abdullahi, who confirmed the incident on Thursday, said the agency received a distress call around 2:00 a.m. from a Good Samaritan about the building collapse.
Dr. Abdullahi stated, “The agency received a distress call today at about 2:00 a.m. from a Good Samaritan that a two-storey building collapsed in Noman’s Land Quarters, Kano.”
He further said, “Upon receiving the information, we quickly dispatched our rescue team to the scene.”
Dr. Abdullahi added, “Four persons were rescued by our team—a husband, wife, and two children. Unfortunately, the two children were confirmed dead, while the couple were rushed to the Armed Forces Specialist Hospital, Kano, for treatment.”
The NEMA Coordinator also noted that search and rescue operations were still ongoing to find any persons trapped in the building.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Kano students from Kano are the top applicants of the student loan scheme, data from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund has revealed.
KANO FOCUS reports that NELFUND, in a data chart posted via its official X handle, @nelfnigeria on Friday, highlighted the number of applicants per state of origin.
According to the data chart, students originally from Kano State topped the list of applicants with 17,122 applicants; Borno followed suit with 13,798 applicants while Benue had 11,754 applicants. The three states were the only states with over 11, 000 applicants.
The implementation of the student loan scheme is President Bola Tinubu’s flagship project in the education sector.
Barely a month after his inauguration as president, Tinubu signed the Access to Higher Education Act, which creates a legal framework for granting loans to indigent or low-income Nigerians to facilitate the payment of their fees in Nigerian tertiary institutions.
The law, reenacted earlier this year, created the Nigerian Education Loan Fund.
NELFUND is saddled with the responsibility of handling all loan requests, grants, disbursement, and recovery.
The fund, according to the act, is to be funded from multiple streams and will engage in other productive activities.
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