Headlines
Top 10 Kano stories of November, 2019
By Mukhtar Yahya Usman
Parents of abducted Kano children deserve arrest–Emir Sanusi
Emir of Kano Muhammad Sanusi II had said that parents of the nine Kano children who were abducted, forcefully converted to Christianity and sold in Anambra state, deserved to be arrested by the police for “criminal negligence.”
Mr Sanusi, who broke his silence on the issue for the first time, had said when the abductions were first reported to him at his palace, he had asked his aides to find out from the Kano Police Command if there was any law on negligence.
The Emir spoke at the 2019 public campaign on drug abuse organized by League for Societal Protection Against Drugs Abuse (LESPADA) held in Kano.
Kano court dissolves 4 emirates created by Ganduje
A Kano High Court dissolved the four first class emirates carved out of the Kano emirate by the Kano state government.
KANO FOCUS recalls that Kano state governor Abdullahi Ganduje had on May 8, assented to a law establishing Bichi, Karaye, Rano, and Gaya emirates.
However, the court presided by Justice Usman Na’Abba had declared the law as null and void.
Mr Na’Abba had ruled that the Kano state House of Assembly did not follow the proper procedures in making the law.
My comments on Kano abducted children were deliberately twisted–Emir Sanusi
Emir of Kano Malam Muhammad Sunusi II has complained that his recent comments on the abduction of native Kano children by Igbo kidnappers, were deliberately misinterpreted by journalists.
Kano Focus reports that Mr Sanusi had November 9, 2019 sparked controversy after he accused parents of abducted children in the state of “criminal negligence”, with many people describing his comments as “insensitive”.
However, reacting to the controversy, Mr Sanusi had said his comments were deliberately misinterpreted by journalists.
He spoke while receiving the Commander-General of the state Hisbah board Sheikh Muhammad Harun Sani Ibni Sina, who had paid him a visit at his palace.
“So, you have to understand. We know journalists and we have already said it that our comments will be deliberately twisted and misinterpreted and that was what happened. Even these latest comments I am making will be misinterpreted,” he had said.
Kano gov’t seizes Emir Sanusi’s N250m land, pays monarch N4.5m compensation
The Kano State Government seized a plot of land worth N250 million belonging to the Emir of Kano Muhammad Sanusi II and approved a peanut N4.5 million as compensation to the monarch.
There is a brewing crisis between Governor Abdullahi Ganduje and the emir, which culminated in whittling the influence of the latter by creation of four additional emirates and first-class emirs in Bichi, Rano, Karaye and Gaya.
A Kano High Court had last week nullified the law that created the emirates and the emirs, triggering fears that the judgement might trigger the simmering crisis.
Ganduje appoints new commissioners
Kano state governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje inaugurated 21 commissioners after six months without a cabinet.
The governor swore-in the commissioners and assigned portfolios to them less than 48 hours after their screening by the Kano State House of Assembly.
Mr Ganduje held his first state executive council meeting just hours after inaugurating the new cabinet members.
Appeal Court upholds Ganduje’s election
The Kaduna division of the Court of Appeal upheld the March 23 election of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje as the governor of Kano State.
In its ruling, the appellate court dismissed the appeal filed by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate Abba Kabir Yusuf, challenging Mr Ganduje’s election victory.
Kano Focus recalls that on October 2, 2019 chairman of the Kano Election Tribunal, Justice Halima Shamaki had dismissed the petition filed by the PDP and Mr Yusuf for lack of proof.
Kano Assembly cuts break to consider Education Development Support bill
The Kano state House of Assembly resumed its plenary session to consider a bill for the establishment of an Education Development Support Board.
KANO FOCUS recalls that the Assembly had gone on break on November 07, to resume on December 16.
However, the Assembly Clerk, Abdullahi Alfa said the House will resume to consider the bill.
The bill was approved by the Kano state Executive Council in a meeting held at the Government House, Kano.
Yusuf Maitama Sule varsity to start medicine course next year
Yusuf Maitama Sule University, Kano (YUMSUK) has revealed that it would commence degree programme in medicine and surgery (MBBS) by 2020.
The Vice Chancellor of the university Professor Mustapha Ahmad Isah disclosed this while defending the university’s budget before the Kano Assembly Committee on Higher Education.
Mr. Isah had said the institution is set to enroll its first set of medical students in the next academic session, Kano Focus reports.
He said the sum of N3 billion was budgeted for the university in order to renovate the site for the purpose of the medical programme.
Swiss foundation honors Kano journalist
The Fetisov Charitable Foundation based in Geneva, Switzerland has shortlisted Kano-born journalist Abdulaziz Abdulaziz for its international journalism award.
KANO FOCUS reports that Abdulaziz Abdulaziz of the Premium Times was shortlisted in the Outstanding Investigative Reporting category for his series of stories that led to the resignation of former minister of finance, Kemi Adeosun.
Mr Abdulaziz had exposed how Ms Adeosun skipped the mandatory one year national service and used a forged exemption certificate to secure public service appointments illegally.
Kano blogger accuses PPRO of human rights violations
A Kano based blogger, Bashir Bashir Galadanci has petitioned the state police command to investigate its public relations officer over alleged abuse of office and violations of fundamental human rights.
Mr Galadanchi had accused Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, of illegal detention, torture, and coercing him into making a false confession.
KANO FOCUS recalls that Mr Galadanci was arrested on September 11 for allegedly divulging police internal information on social media without authorization.
In a videotaped confession that went viral, Mr Galadanci apologized to the police command and alleged that he was sponsored by a former PPRO to tarnish the image of the Kano state police command.
Nasiru Yusuf
A Twenty year-old man, identify as Safiyanu Mustapha has drowned inside pond in Gaida, Kumbotso Local Government Area of Kano State.
Kano Focus gathered that circumstances surrounding Mustapha’s death was still under investigation.
The Public Relations Officer, Kano State Fire Service, Saidu Muhammed who confirmed the development to Kano Focus on Tuesday, said the victim was rescued and later confirmed dead.
Mr Muhammad said, “We received a distress call at about 07:50am through Malam Kabiru Hashimu in Gaida, Kumbotso Local Government area notifying us of the incident.
“Upon receiving the information, we dispatched our team to the scene of incident who discovered that it was a man of about 20 years, by name Safiyanu Mustapha that fell inside a pond.
“Victim was rescued and later confirmed dead.
“We handed the corpse to the village head of Challawa, Alhaji Yahaya Zangina for funeral.
“Cause of incident is under investigation,” Muhammad said.
Nasiru Yusuf
The federal ministry of agriculture and rural development has registered over five hundred thousand farmers in Kano state.
Kano Focus reports that the minister of agriculture Sabo Nanono revealed this on Monday, while flagging off the National trans – boundary aerial pest control exercise held at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport,Kano.
The minister said the ministry has so far registered over five million farmers in the country.
He maintained that the President Buhari administration has initiated many interventions in agricultural sector to cushion the impact of COVID-19 pandemic and ensure socio-economic development.
He explained that the 2020 dry season control of migratory pests is conducted in 12 front line states to address the challenge being face in the sector over the years.
“The federal ministry of agriculture and rural development has so far registered over 5 million farmers in the country country out of which over 500,000 are from Kano. The data gathered would help in proper documentation and ensure smooth running of agricultural activities.
“Due to the destructive effects of these pests especially on cereal crops, the federal government through the federal ministry of agriculture and rural development has been inundated with requests by state governments to carry out aerial and ground control operation against the pests in order to salvage the expected rice bumper harvest,” Nanono said.
He however acknowledged the tremendous contribution of Kano state government to the development of agriculture adding that with cooperation among stakeholders all obstacles that will endanger food and nutritional security can be eliminated in the country.
In his address the governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje said the control of migratory pests that attack and destroy cereals particularly rice, millet and wheat is meant to prevent loss of the crops.
According to him, the measure is in line with the federal and state government policy of agricultural transformation aimed at boosting production for food security and economic stability.
The governor represented by his deputy Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna said “Control of Quelea birds results in increase in yield of many crops per hectare and quantity of various agricultural produce we export as well as ensure safer and higher productivity.”
While appreciating the effort of the federal government for conducting aerial operation against the migratory birds in Bagwai, Bebeji, Bunkure, Garun Malam, Kura, Makoda, Rano and Warawa, the governor advised the federal ministry of agriculture and rural development to provide nets to the farmers, destroy roosting sites and ensure use of resistant varieties of the affected crops.
The Governor and the Minister later inspected the Flight demonstration of aerial pest control by AZMAN Group at the airport.
Nasiru Yusuf
Kano State House of Assembly has approved Abdullahi Ganduje’s request to access N20 billion loan from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and United Bank for Africa (UBA).
Kank Focus reports that the assembly approved the request during its plenary on Monday after the Speaker, Abdulazeez Garba Gafasa read the letter received from Ganduje seeking their consent to access the loan.
After a series of deliberations, the lawmakers unanimously agreed and approved the request.
Shedding more light to newsmen on the facility, the Majority of the assembly, Kabiru Hassan Dashi said the loan was to cover up the economic breakdown occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hassan-Dashi added that the assembly considered the governor’s request after having challenges to access it from the capital market due to worsening economic conditions.
Similarly, during the plenary, a member representing Kunchi/Tsayawa constituency, Garba Ya’u Gwarwai apologised to the assembly on behalf of the five of them suspended on March 2020.
Kano Focus recalled that the five lawmakers were suspended by the house for allegedly causing a rowdy session, But the lawmakers ran to court, and the court ordered for their reinstatement.
According to Ya’u Gwarmai, “we are apologizing in order to allow for peace to reign in the assembly, therefore I am apologizing on behalf of my other colleagues.”
AIDS DAY: Kano Hisbah arrests 32 prostitutes, 12 HIV positive
20 year old man drowns in Kano pond
FG registers 500,000 farmers in Kano – Nanono
Kano Assembly approves Ganduje’s request of N20b loan
20 primary schools lock horn in spelling bee competition in Kano
Kano Assembly directs Ganduje to recruit 15,000 teachers
Sheikh Abdulwahab calls FG, ASUU to end university strike
KUST to begin part-time Degree
Kano gets one-day commissioner of education
