Headlines
Kwankwasiyya leaders under probe over alleged Pantami humiliation
By Nazifi Dawud
Key leaders of the Kwankwasiyya movement in Kano state have been invited by the Kano State Police Command to answer questions over the alleged humiliation of Sheik Ali Pantami, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications and a top Islamic cleric at the Kano airport.
Kano Focus recalls that Pantami was booed, heckled and jostled by youths suspected to be members of the Kwankwasiyya movement, loyal to a former governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, while returning to Abuja through the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) after a condolence visit to Kano.
Following public outcry and condemnation of the incident, chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Kano, Rabiu Suleiman Bichi, promptly denied that the Kwankwasiyya group was behind the alleged humiliation of the minister.
He accused political opponents of using the red cap–a key symbol of the Kwankwasiyya movement–to attack Mr Pantami in order to tarnish the group’s image and that of the PDP–the main opposition party in the state.
On Friday however, the state police command, through its spokesperson, Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, said it had invited Mr Bichi, Aminu Abdussalam, the Kano PDP deputy governorship candidate and Dr. Yunusa Dangwani, director-general of the PDP campaign organization in Kano.
Mr Kiyawa, a deputy superintendent of police, said the opposition members, who are also top guns in the Kwankwasiyya group, were invited to shed light on the possible involvement of their members in Mr Pantami’s humiliation.
He added that the three PDP chiefs were invited and interrogated by the Police Commissioner, Ahmed Iliyasu, alongside the Director of Department of State Services (DSS) in Kano, to establish the intent of the unruly behaviour of their supporters.
The police spokesperson warned that anyone found culpable in embarrassing Mr Pantami would be punished in accordance with the law.
โโThe Police invited the PDP stalwarts in the state in connection, with the mob action attempt on the minister at the Airport in Kano. In attendance were the Chairman of PDP in Kano, Suleiman Bichi; PDP Deputy Governorship candidate, Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam; and the DG, Governorship campaign, Haruna Dangwani. They were interrogated by the CP himself, alongside the Director, DSS in Kano. They were invited and quizzed about the ugly incident that happened at the Kano airport, last week Monday,” Mr Kiyawa said.
However, the PDP officials reportedly denied playing any role in the incident, insisting that they had warned their supporters against causing any trouble while at the Kano airport to see off the 242 students that were sponsored for postgraduate studies abroad.
Headlines
Kwankwaso mourns former Radio Kano, ARTV boss Adamu Getso
Ibrahim Khalil
Former Kano State Governor and national leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has expressed sadness over the death of former Managing Director of Radio Kano and Abubakar Rimi Television (ARTV), Alhaji Adamu Ibrahim Getso.
KANO FOCUS reports that Kwankwaso, in a condolence message posted on his Facebook account on Sunday, described the late Getso as a seasoned broadcaster and accomplished media professional whose contributions to public communication and media development left a lasting impact on Kano State.
The former governor recalled that Getso served with distinction as Managing Director of ARTV and later as Managing Director of Radio Kano during his two tenures as governor of the state.
According to Kwankwaso, the deceased played a significant role in advancing public information dissemination and strengthening the media sector in Kano.
โHis immense contributions to public communication, media development, and the overall progress of Kano State will be remembered for generations,โ he stated.
Kwankwaso extended his condolences to the family of the deceased, the people of Getso community in Gwarzo Local Government Area, the government and people of Kano State, and members of the media profession.
He prayed for Almighty Allah to forgive the shortcomings of the late media administrator, grant him eternal rest in Al-Jannah, and give his family and loved ones the strength to bear the loss.
Adamu Getso, a respected broadcaster and administrator, served in key leadership positions within Kano State-owned media organisations and was widely acknowledged for his contributions to the growth of broadcasting in the state. His death has continued to attract tributes from political leaders, journalists, and members of the public.
Headlines
Governor Yusuf Mourns Former CTV 67 Managing Director, Adamu Getso
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has expressed deep sorrow over the death of former Managing Director of CTV 67 Television, now known as the Abubakar Rimi Television (ARTV), between 2000 and 2003, Alhaji Adamu Ibrahim Getso, who passed away on Saturday after a brief illness.
KANO FOCUS reports that the governorโs condolence message was conveyed in a statement issued by his spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa.
Governor Yusuf described the late Getso as a distinguished broadcaster, seasoned administrator, and dedicated public servant who devoted his life to the advancement of journalism, public enlightenment, and the promotion of societal values through the media.
According to the governor, the deceased was widely respected for his honesty, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to public service, qualities that earned him admiration from colleagues, government officials, and members of the public.
The governor recalled that after his appointment as Managing Director of CTV 67 Television, Getso served as the Managing Director of Radio Kano, between 2011 and 2015.
During his tenure, the late media administrator made significant contributions to the growth and development of television broadcasting in Kano State, Governor Yusuf noted.
He further stated that Getso later served as Managing Director of Radio Kano from 2011 to 2015, where he provided exemplary leadership and implemented reforms that strengthened the stationโs position as one of the leading public broadcasting organisations in Northern Nigeria.
On behalf of the government and people of Kano State, Governor Yusuf extended his condolences to the family of the deceased, the management and staff of Radio Kano and ARTV, the Nigeria Union of Journalists, and the wider media community.
The governor prayed for the repose of the deceasedโs soul and asked Almighty Allah to forgive his shortcomings, reward his good deeds with Aljannatul Firdaus, and grant his family, friends, former colleagues, and loved ones the strength to bear the loss.
KANO FOCUS reports that the death of Adamu Getso has been described by many as a significant loss to the media industry in Kano State and Nigeria at large, given his decades of service and contributions to the development of broadcasting.
Headlines
NNPC donates MRI machine to Dala orthopaedic hospital
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The NNPC Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of NNPC Limited, has donated a state-of-the-art 1.5 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine to the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Dala, Kano State, in a move aimed at improving access to advanced diagnostic healthcare services.
KANO FOCUS reports that the MRI system was commissioned and officially handed over during a ceremony held at the hospital premises in Kano on Thursday.
According to a statement issued on Friday by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Limited, Andy Odeh, the intervention is part of the companyโs commitment to strengthening healthcare infrastructure and expanding access to quality medical services across Nigeria.
The statement noted that the facility would significantly enhance the diagnosis and treatment of orthopaedic, neurological, trauma-related, musculoskeletal, and gynaecological conditions.
Before the donation, patients requiring advanced MRI diagnostic services often faced challenges, including long-distance travel, lengthy waiting periods, and delays in treatment due to limited availability and high costs.
Speaking at the event, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, represented by the Managing Director of the NNPC Foundation, Mrs. Emmanuella Arukwe, said the donation aligns with the companyโs broader objective of contributing to national healthcare development.
โAt NNPC Limited, we are intentional about ensuring that our social investments are impactful, sustainable, and beneficial to the communities we serve. Through the NNPC Foundation, we will continue to implement interventions that create measurable social value across Nigeria,โ she said.
Arukwe described the intervention as timely, noting that it would help address challenges associated with inadequate healthcare infrastructure, limited medical equipment, and the growing demand for specialised medical services.
Also speaking, the Executive Vice President, Business Services of NNPC Limited, Mrs. Sophia Mbakwe, represented by the Executive Director, Programme Management at the NNPC Foundation, Mrs. Rose Okonkwo, said the company remained committed to improving the lives of Nigerians beyond its core oil and gas operations.
She said the donation reflected NNPC Limitedโs determination to deliver sustainable and impactful interventions, particularly for underserved and vulnerable populations.
โBy this intervention, NNPC Limited aims to strengthen healthcare delivery and improve the quality of life of the people of Kano State, the North-West region, and all Nigerians who depend on the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Dala, for specialised medical care,โ she stated.
Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, commended the NNPC Foundation for the donation, describing it as a major milestone in improving healthcare services through early and accurate diagnosis.
He noted that access to advanced diagnostic equipment would contribute significantly to better patient outcomes and improved healthcare delivery in the state and beyond.
In his remarks, the Chief Medical Director of the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Dala, Dr. Isa Nurudeen, expressed appreciation to NNPC Limited for the intervention.
He said the MRI machine would have a transformative impact on the hospitalโs operations and significantly improve the quality of specialised healthcare services offered to patients.
The event was attended by officials of NNPC Limited, management and staff of the hospital, government representatives, healthcare professionals, community leaders, and other stakeholders.
