Headlines
183 Kano civil society groups dissociate from call for Emir Sanusi’s dethronement
Nazifi Dawud
A coalition of 183 civil society and community based organizations under the aegis of the Kano Civil Society Forum (KCSF) have dissociated from an alleged demand by some unidentified groups for the deposition of Emir of Kano Muhammad Sanusi II, by Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
Kano Focus reports that Mr Ganduje, through his chief press secretary Abba Anwar had on Thursday confirmed receiving a letter from purported “civil society groups” calling on him to dethrone the Emir for alleged disloyalty to the government.
“Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State has received a letter from a coalition of 35 civil society groups urging him to, in the interest of protecting the sanctity of the rule of law, and the mandate given to him by Kano electorate, as a matter of urgency, start the process of dethroning the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II,” the statement reads.
Mr Anwar said the letter was signed by one Ibrahim Ali, who reportedly spoke on behalf of the unnamed 35 civil society groups.
“The letter was signed by Comrade Ibrahim Ali, chairman of the coalition, which continues that, ‘Soon afterward, the same law which repeals all the existing Emirate Councils Laws, and consolidates it in the Kano State Emirate Council Law 2019, was again been challenged first by the purportedly five king makers from one of the emirates established by the said law,” he had said in a statement.
However, on Friday, the KCSF in a statement signed by Ibrahim Wayya Rano, its spokesperson dissociated itself from the call for the emir’s deposition, calling for the arrest of Mr Ali, the signatory to the letter sent to Mr Ganduje.
“It is disheartening that, some politically motivated and faceless individuals, would claim to be acting on behalf of a coalition of civil society organizations in Kano, who were alleged to have called on the Governor for the dethronement of the Emir of Kano Mallam Muhammadu Sanusi II.
“Should these apparition group genuinely represent the civil Society organizations, their energy must have centered onpromoting peace and unity, promotion of good governance, socio-economic development, promoting the welfare and wellbeing of the good people of Kano, and ensure a peaceful co existence of our dear state, but not the other way round.
“It is on this note, we want to categorically lay bare and detach ‘Kano Civil Society Forum’ from the position of this unregistered, faceless and quarks Civil Society organizations, who proved from the content of their statement, to be unskilled, anti peace and politically sloppy,” the group said.
Read the full KCSF statement below:
KANO CIVIL SOCIETY FORUM (KCSF)
Open letter to the Executive Governor of Kano State and Security
Agencies
20th Dec. 2019
His Excellency,
The Executive Governor of Kano State
Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, OFR.
Government House,
Kano.
RE-DETHRONE SANUSI NOW, KANO CIVIL SOCETY ORGANIZATIONS TELLS GANDUJE:
KANO CIVIL SOCIETY FORUM (KCSF) DISSOCIATES ITSELF FROM THE ABOVE CAPTIONED STATEMENT EMINATING FROM SOME FACELESS AND FAKE ORGANIZATIONS – AND CALL ON THE KANO STATE GOVERNOR DR. ABDULLAHI UMAR GANDUJE TO DISREGARD IT.
Our attention has been drawn to the above subject matter in the daily post of 18th December, 2019 and has also been mischievously circulated on both conventional and social media.
Your Excellency sir, let us for the record briefly introduce the Kano Civil Society Forum (KCSF) to you, once again. The Kano Civil Society Forum (KCSF), is the key umbrella body of over 183 different Civil Society and Community based Organizations operating in Kano State, associating under a common platform with the aim of achieving human rights protection and promotion, promotion of democracy, good governance, policy change, health, peace, justice, Security and sustainable development in Kano State and Nigeria at large. Kano Civil Society
Forum (KCSF) is a registered forum with all relevant bodies including, Corporate Affairs Commission.
The forum has also for long been recognized and associating with all security agencies in the State.
It is disheartening that, some politically motivated and faceless individuals, would claim to be acting on behalf of a coalition of civil society organizations in Kano, who were alleged to have calledon the Governor for the dethronement of the Emir of Kano Mallam Muhammadu Sanusi II. Should these apparition group genuinely represent the civil Society organizations, their energy must have centered onpromoting peace and unity, promotion of good governance, socio-economic development, promoting the welfare and wellbeing of the good people of Kano, and ensure a peaceful co existence of our dear state, but not the other way round.
It is on this note, we want to categorically lay bare and detach ‘Kano Civil Society Forum’ from the position of this unregistered, faceless and quarks Civil Society organizations, who proved from the content of their statement, to be unskilled, anti peace and politically sloppy.
It is our collective and unapologetic position that, the two exalted personalities in the State, which are the Executive Governor of Kano State Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, and the Emir of Kano Mallam Muhammadu Sanusi, are two important leaders we hold in high esteem and equally respect. It is our un-repentant belief that, should the two leaders work in unity and harmony, and placing the interest of the Kano People above all other interest, Kano would surely remain peaceful, prosperous and developed.
Consequently, in the spirit of increasing development challenges of the state,it is a common knowledge in the public domain that, Kano is one of the most hit State with the menace of Almajiris, increasing rate of poverty, mortality rate, malnutrition, drug abuse,unemployment and educationally backward. Many development indices and practical statistics have placed Kano state high, and which is in dire need of down to business governance through multi-talented leadership skills to practically salvage the State from sinking.
This is a hard nosed demand that requires total dedication, commitment, focus, steadfastness, as well as total avoidance of any distraction.
Consequently every bit of energy is required to accomplish the tasking mandate of the Kano People within the stipulated and constitutional tenure of an elected leader, thus Your Excellency, such lowly distraction sponsored by some anti Kano people and anti peace, in the name of fake coalition of civil society organizations, should not be entertained by a responsible Government like yours.
It is on this note, we wish to emphatically draw the attention of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, that:
1. The faceless individuals who claimed to be a coalition of civil society organizations in Kano, are neither part of us nor share any of their opinion or position on the call to dethrone the Emir of Kano, Mallam Muahammdu Sanusi II.
2. The statement alleged to be signed by one Ibrahim Ali, who claims acting as the Chairman, Coalition for Civil Society Organizations is not known to us and therefore does not represent our forum.
3. The call by this so called coalition of the civil society organizations is evil, destructive, selfish, anti Kano people, and Anti Peace.
4. His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kano State, shall apply acumen and his vast skills of life experience and a sense of maturity to find an amicable way to resolve the lingering emirate creation bits and pieces in Kano, to end the altercation between the Governor and the Emir of Kano Mallam Muhammadu Sanusi,
5. We also make a clarion call to His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kano State Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, to do everything possible within his powers as a KANO LEADER, to end the lingering stage show on the Emirate Council creation and reconcile with the Emir of Kano Mallam Muhammadu Sanusi II, to cut short the drama of some gluttonous and egotistical people who take advantage of the situation and cash on it, for personal gains. Kano deserves a purposeful leadership devoid of any distraction, and the unity of our state should take the centre stage in the priority development scale.
We therefore urge the DSS and other security agencies to fish out one Ibrahim Ali, the signatory to the letter addressed to the Governor and investigate the Civil Society coalitions, he claimed to represent, for misguiding and impersonation. Ideally, civil society organizations are meant to be non-governmental organizations that should be pre-occupied on the promotion of peace, unity, justice and economic development.
We also urge His Excellency the Executive Governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Gunduje, to channel his active energy towards promoting good governance, socio-economic development of the state and building peace and unity which are the dividends of democracy that all citizens are yearning for at this present time.
We call on those sowing seed of discord to desist from it, it is destructive and have never helped any state or nation to develop and grow.
We urge His Excellency to shun away from people who are hell bent to create rift and misconstruction between the Governor and his fellow brother Mallam Muhammad Sanusi II, the Emir of Kano.
We pray to God for continuous protection and prosperity of our dear State.
Long live Kano State!
Long live Nigeria!!
Ibrahim Waiya M. K. Adam Rano
President PRO
Headlines
Abdulaziz unveils project inspection initiative, trains APC social media inflluencers at Arewa media summit
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Media and Public Enlightenment, Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, has unveiled a regional project inspection initiative aimed at showcasing key development projects in Northern Nigeria, while urging journalists and social media influencers to uphold ethical communication and combat misinformation.
Speaking on Monday at the maiden Arewa Media Summit in Kano, organised by his office, Abdulaziz said the gathering was conceived to strengthen dialogue between government, citizens and the media through accountability, responsibility and ethical communication.
He said effective governance depends on transparency, responsible civic engagement and a professional media that serves as a bridge between leaders and the people through factual and balanced reporting.
The presidential aide also cautioned social media influencers, who command large online audiences, to verify information before publication and avoid content capable of creating division, particularly as the country approaches the 2027 general elections.
According to him, more than 100 All Progressives Congress (APC) social media communicators were trained ahead of the summit to enhance their capacity to communicate government policies, programmes and achievements effectively.
Abdulaziz also unveiled the Gani Ya Kori initiative, a regional project inspection tour designed to spotlight landmark projects executed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Northern state governors that have received limited public attention.
“The initiative will help ensure that citizens are adequately informed about development projects and government interventions across the region,” he said.
The summit also featured a keynote address by the Minister of Information and National Reorientation, Mohammed Idris, who urged journalists and social media influencers to deny bandits and terrorists the publicity they seek.
“The media has an indispensable role in denying violent extremists the publicity they seek while promoting unity, resilience and hope,” the minister said.
He stressed that democracy flourishes when government remains transparent, citizens participate responsibly and the media performs its constitutional role with professionalism, fairness and integrity.
Idris observed that while the digital revolution has transformed communication by making every smartphone a broadcasting platform, it has also accelerated the spread of fake news and disinformation capable of undermining national unity and public confidence.
Declaring the summit open, Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf called on other states to emulate Kano’s Special Reporters Initiative, through which more than 150 young people have been deployed to ministries, departments, agencies and the state’s 44 local government areas to strengthen government communication and public enlightenment.
KANO FOCUS reports that the summit attracted journalists, broadcasters, filmmakers, digital content creators, academics, policymakers and communication professionals from across Northern Nigeria to deliberate on the theme, “Government, Citizens: Accountability, Responsibility and Ethical Media Practice.”
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Government says it has executed 1,508 development projects worth more than N928 billion across the state’s 44 local government areas since Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf assumed office, with about 80 per cent of constituency projects awarded between 2023 and 2025 already completed.
KANO FOCUS reports that the Commissioner for Public Procurement, Projects Monitoring and Evaluation, Comrade Nura Iro Ma’aji Sumaila, disclosed this during an international press briefing on the administration’s infrastructure development programme.
According to Comrade Sumaila, the projects cover critical sectors including roads, urban renewal, education, healthcare, security and other social infrastructure.
He said 799 of the projects have been completed, while 709 are at various stages of execution. He added that the state is also implementing 619 constituency projects through members of the Kano State House of Assembly.
The commissioner noted that about 80 per cent of the constituency projects have been completed. However, he said some projects remain unfinished because of rising construction costs caused by inflation.
He said the government has submitted a request to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for an upward review of contract sums to enable contractors complete the affected projects.
Breakdown of projects
Comrade Sumaila said the administration spent over N169 billion on urban renewal projects, including road rehabilitation, drainage construction and other metropolitan infrastructure.
He said another N118 billion was committed to constructing five-kilometre roads in 38 local government areas to improve connectivity across the state.
According to him, the government also awarded contracts worth over N6.8 billion for the construction of Kano State Neighbourhood Watch security divisions in 36 local government areas.
He added that rural infrastructure projects covering education, healthcare and other social interventions across the 44 local government areas account for contracts valued at more than N397 billion, while other ongoing projects have a combined value of about N255 billion.
Commitment to transparency
The commissioner said the Ministry of Public Procurement, Projects Monitoring and Evaluation would continue to ensure compliance with due process and technical standards in the execution of government projects.
He said the ministry’s mandate includes monitoring projects to ensure value for money and prudent utilisation of public resources.
According to him, the administration’s investments in infrastructure are intended to improve mobility, strengthen security, expand access to education and healthcare, improve water supply and stimulate economic growth across the state.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Kano State has emerged as the highest-ranked sub-national government in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for education spending, according to the latest Sub-National Education Spending Index developed by the University of Paris.
KANO FOCUS reports that the ranking places Kano State first among 209 first-level sub-national governments across 15 ECOWAS member countries, underscoring the state’s growing reputation for prioritising investment in education.
According to the published index, Kano topped the rankings with an overall S-WAESI score of 87.21, outperforming other leading regions, including Dakar and Saint-Louis in Senegal. Lagos State was the second Nigerian state on the list, ranking 16th overall.
The assessment evaluated states and regions using the S-WAESI (Sub-National Weighted Aggregate Education Spending Index) methodology, which measures government commitment to education through indicators such as actual education expenditure, spending per student, budget execution, education priority, transparency and evidence-based reporting.
The methodology assigns 35 points to actual education spending, 25 points to spending per student, 20 points to budget execution, 10 points to education priority and 10 points to transparency.
The report indicated that Kano excelled largely due to its strong actual education spending and budget execution, making it the best-performing sub-national government in the region.
The ranking covered states, regions, districts and municipalities across Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Togo, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Cabo Verde.
Kano State Accountability Forum on Education (K-SAFE) said the recognition reflects Kano State Government’s sustained investment in expanding access to education, improving school infrastructure and strengthening educational planning and budget implementation.
KANO FOCUS reports that the achievement is expected to further boost the state’s profile as a leader in education reform within West Africa and provide additional momentum for ongoing efforts to improve learning outcomes across the state.
The latest ranking comes amid renewed attention on education financing across ECOWAS, with experts increasingly emphasising transparent budgeting, efficient resource utilisation and sustained public investment as critical drivers of quality education.
Gov. Yusuf appoints Dr. Aminu Magashi co-chair of Kano anti-drug abuse task force
Gov. Yusuf tasks media on truthful reporting, patriotism
Kano launches free 48-hour emergency treatment scheme for accident victims, other critical cases
K-SAFE hails Gov. Yusuf as Kano tops ECOWAS education spending ranking
Abdulaziz unveils project inspection initiative, trains APC social media inflluencers at Arewa media summit
Kano ranks best in ECOWAS on education spending index
Kano recruits over 16,000 teachers, begins 10-year education reform plan
Kano emerges top beneficiary as World Bank rewards states with $27m for reforms
Kano delegation participates in international labour conference in Geneva
