Headlines
Kiru-Bebeji polls: We did our best to help Kofa–Abdullahi Abbas

Mukhtar Yahya Usman
Abdullahi Abbas, chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Kano chapter has said the party did its best to help its candidate, Abdulmumin Jibrin Kofa, win the by-election in his Kiru-Bebeji constituency but voters rejected him.
KANO FOCUS reports that Mr Kofa was defeated by his main rival Datti Ahmed Yako of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the polls which held last Saturday.
Declaring the results, the returning officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Abdullahi Arabi said Yako scored 48,601 votes to defeat Kofa who pulled 13,507 votes.
Speaking on the outcome of the election, Mr Kofa said he had accepted the results, even though he had alleged that the exercise was characterized by violence, rigging and other irregularities.

But in an exclusive interview with KANO FOCUS, Mr Abbas said APC leaders in the state had campaigned vigorously for Mr Kofa in all the “nooks and crannies” of Kiru and Bebeji local government areas but people didn’t want him to return.
‘Architect of his own failure’
“He brought his failure upon himself. He knelt before us because he wanted us to help him win the election.
“He wanted us to beg people because he has created a lot of problems in his constituency during the years he had represented them,” Mr Abbas said.
“We tried our best with the Kano state governor (Abdullahi Umar Ganduje), we entered all the nooks and crannies in Kiru and Bebeji to ask people’s forgiveness and beg them to vote for him. That’s why he got even little vote he scored, but I assure you his people don’t want him to return,” he added.
‘Democracy, not anti-party’
The party chairman also dismissed allegations that the APC stalwarts in the state ganged up against the former lawmaker over his alleged support for Mr Ganduje’s opponent Abba Yusuf during the 2019 governorship polls.
“We just exercised democracy and allowed people to vote for who they want. This shows you we are democratic people.
“Sincerely speaking we are unhappy for losing the constituency, but we cannot force people to vote for somebody they don’t like,” Mr Abbas said.

Headlines
Kano Governor sets up mobile courts to tackle phone snatching

Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Governor, Yusuf Abba, has approved the formation of mobile courts to ensure prompt prosecution of phone snatchers in the state.

KANO FOCUS reports that a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, said that the mobile courts would work with the Special Joint Task Force to try people caught.
Yusuf said that major streets in the metropolis had been lit up after eight years of darkness as the lamps were switched off.
“The return of street lights is part of the efforts by the new administration to tackle robbery, phone snatching and other criminal activities, especially in metropolitan Kano.
“The ongoing exercise started penultimate Tuesday and will continue until every part of the state is saved from darkness that provides cover for criminals and political thugs,” he said.

Headlines
Abba Kabir Yusuf asks Fuel Marketers to reverse to old price

Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Kano state Governor, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf has urged petroleum marketers to reverse the prices of petroleum goods to its old rate in order to lessen the current hardship experienced by the general public.

KANO FOCUS reports that the appeal is contained in a statement issued by Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the chief press secretary to the governor.
The governor said he is aware that the marketers still had old products in stock that were supposed to be sold at the previous pricing.
“To reduce the needless hardship on the state’s citizens, the marketers should exercise some restraint and quickly reopen all filling stations with available products in stock to sell at the former price.
“As a concerned Governor, I am disheartened to see our dear People of Kano suffering as a result of an unjustified fuel hike, and the situation must be stopped right away,” the governor said.
Kano, according to governor, is the commercial hub for the country’s northern region as well as certain countries in West Africa, and its bustling populace continues to enjoy favorable business conditions.
The Governor urged the good citizens of Kano state to maintain their composure and uphold the law because the government is always prepared to make sure that people are doing their affairs conveniently.

Headlines
Abba Kabir Yusuf appoints Rahila Mukhtar to head KSCHMA

Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has announced the appointment of Rahila Mukhtar as executive secretary of the Kano State Healthcare Contributory Management Agency (KCHMA).
KANO FOCUS reports that this is contained in a statement by his chief press secretary Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa on Thursday.
Yusuf also approved the appointment of Garba Bichi as managing director of the Kano State Water Board, Hassan Danbaffa as managing director of the Kano State Road Maintenance Agency (KARMA), Ibrahim Yakubu as managing director of the Kano State Urban Planning and Development Authority (KNUPDA) and Abdulkadir Abdussalam as the accountant-general.
KANO FOCUS reports that the government said a date for their swearing-in would be announced soon to enable them to assume the new responsibilities.
