Headlines
Kano COVID-19: Ganduje’s N15bn request and the question of reputation management
By Hon. Umar Haruna Doguwa
Reputation management does not start and end at making someone popular, but protecting his or her personal integrity in the eyes of the public.
Many scholars in the field of sociology and communication have taken their time to explain the complexity of human perception as it relates to how people develop and maintain a mindset of other fellow human beings.
I have decided to take this bold step to publish this write-up on the ongoing fight against the global pandemic disease of corona virus also known as covid-19 with a sole aim of explaining the shallow approach given by Kano state governor Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
I am eminently qualified to speak on the governor as his former colleague when both of us served as commissioners during Kwankwaso’s administration and I am one of the key figures that brought in his administration in 2015 under the platform of All Progressive People’s Congress being the pioneer elected chairman of the party in Kano state between 2014 and 2017.
So I have worked closely with Governor Ganduje more than many politicians within the state.
Let me begin by extending my heartfelt condolences to the good people of Kano who lost their loved ones due to the corona virus pandemic in the state.
I have decided to put down this piece of write up as Kano has became the epicenter of covid-19 disease in northern Nigeria, unlike other state governors who have been up and running, providing the preliminary tools/equipment in preparation of the arrival of the pandemic into their states, Governor Ganduje has shown a deliberate nonchalant attitude towards fighting the disease at the state level.
The governor rather, saw the pandemic as a window of opportunity to garner resources for a reason best known to him, strategically, Ganduje set up a shadow structure, looking beautifully upright and ahead of the arrival of the pandemic, appointing his deputy as the head of Covid-19 State Response Team with his first daughter Dr. Amina Ganduje as the defector technical lead of the team.
I have been reliably informed that the activities of the committee depend largely on what the governor’s daughter consented upon, the meeting proceedings were nothing other than observing what Dr. Amina Ganduje has interest on, sometimes, meetings cannot hold if she is not available and she is the one briefing the governor on every activity of the committee.
Probably, because of this nepotism and self-centredness, scores of frontline health workers are currently infected by the covid-19 disease in Kano.
One can easily perceive an agenda, knowing well who Governor Ganduje is, it is predictable that it’s the business as usual but not doing the needful for the fight against covid-19 in the state.
As an administrator, Governor Ganduje knows the constitutional ways to harness resources internally through budget virement that is as simply done through a letter to the state assembly requesting change of some line items in the fiscal document to allow insertion of new items that can cater for the activities of corona virus.
Instead, the governor decided to pursue the federal government to give him N15b.
Unfortunately, his reputation has kicked the bucket in the public glare, the federal mercy he enjoyed to rig election and manipulate the judiciary to scale through the daylight robbery of the 2019 elections is no longer of help to him this season.
He constituted a fundraising committee, in good time, but the potential donors prefer to contribute in kind because of the governor’s previous records and bad reputation of handling state resources.
There is a popular Hausa proverb that says “Ba a bawa Kura ajiyar nama” meaning “meat is not safe at the hand of a carnivore”.
It is not a surprise that the fund raising committee could not yet announce the total amount realized, because potential donors were afraid to give in cash.
Umar Doguwa writes from Kano, Nigeria
Aminu Abdullahi
The former Emir of Kano has on Monday paid a courtesy visit to Sultan of Sokoto Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar lll.
Kano Focus reports that the pictures of the visit were published on a Facebook page linked to former Emir named ‘Sanusi ll Dynasty’.
Though the reason of the visit was not stated, but the former Emir has paid similar visit to Lamido of Adamawa in his capacity as leader of Tijjaniyya sect in Nigeria.
Emir Muhammad Sanusi ll
Aminu Abdullahi
Kano State Government has expressed commitment to revive the long existing relationship with Pakistan.
KANO FOCUS reports that Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje gave the assurance on monday while receiving the Pakistani High Commissioner to Nigeria Muhammad Tayyab Azam at the Government House.
Ganduje represented by his deputy Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna said Kano endowed with lots of potentials is open for people to come and invest, particularly those from Pakistan.
“We are happy for showing commitment towards reviving the long relationship between us. I can remember the partnership we have in the engagement of Pakistani teachers in our schools which has yielded a lot today.”
“Even in the area of agricultural mechanization we have partnered with Pakistan especially in the supply of tractors to our farmers,therefore I feel if we continue to explore agriculture it will be beneficial to both Kano and Pakistan”.
The Governor also commended Pakistan for showing interest in reviving the bilateral relationship with Kano State.
In his remarks the Pakistani High Commissioner Muhammad Tayyab Azam described the visit to Kano as historic and important being the first state he visited since assuming office.
“I know the importance of Kano as hub of business in Nigeria, after Lagos Kano is next where there is business opportunity”.
“There was a time in Kano when most schools have many Pakistani teachers..my aim is to bring back that relationship”.
He however pointed out that Kano and Pakistan have similarities in both values and culture therefore it is important to deepen the relationship so as to sustain the partnership in the areas of health and agriculture as that will create opportunities for our people towards boosting the economy.
The High Commissioner was accompanied during the visit by Pakistani Consul General in Kano Ahmed Ibrahim Yakasai.
Aminu Abdullahi
The Arewa Consultative Forum ( ACF) has resuscitated it Kano State chapter and nominated a 14- member Interim Executive Committee to run its affairs for the next six months.
Kano Focus reports that the Forum has mandated the new leadership to organise a general congress that may elect a new council.
A statement issued on Monday by the publicity secretary of the Forum Bello Sani Galadanchi reported that at the inaugural ceremony presided by a member of ACF Board of Trustees, Halliru Akilu, the non- partisan voluntary organization also nominated delegates to its National Executive Committee ( NEC) engagements.
Akilu, a retired Brigadier- General, tasked the new leadership to work in unity, and restore all ACF organs and activities for the betterment of our society.
He stressed that the ACF which is apolitical, believes in the unity of the country, but aspires to see the glory of the north restored, and the economic fortunes of the region tapped for the greater benefit of our people and the nation as a whole.
In his acceptance speech, the new Chairman of the ACF Interim Committee, NaShehu Hassan Abubakar thanked the congregation for finding him worthy of the enormous responsibility.
Abubakar, a retired Air Vice Marshall (AVM) assured the ACF National body and people of Kano State of his determination to steer the ship creditably, selflessly and in strict compliance with ACF desire to improve the lot of our people, as well as agitate for their rights.
Other committee members nominated at the ceremony include Aishatu Yakubu Maijama’a (Deputy Chairperson); Shehu Aliyu (Vice- Chairman); Muhammad Mustapha Yahaya (Secretary); Sani Bala Tela (Assistant Secretary); Rabia Hussein Adamu (Treasurer); and Mairo Bello (Assistant Treasurer).
Others are Mahadi Sadiq Abubakar, (Financial Secretary); Hafsat Namadi Bebeji (Assistant Financial Secretary); Bello Sani Galadanchi (Publicity Secretary); Tanimu Ibrahim Getso (Assistant Publicity Secretary); Kabir Mukhtar (Legal Adviser); Muhammad Kabir Haruna (Assistant Legal Adviser); and Azimi Namadi Bebeji (Auditor).
The inaugural ceremony attracted Youth and Women wings of the ACF whose members were nominated into both the executive committee and the NEC.
Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) is apolitical and socio-cultural association of leaders in Northern Nigeria formed in 2000 to protect Northern interest in the political scene.
Photo News: Emir Sanusi visits Sultan of Sokoto
Kano to revive bilateral relationship with Pakistan
ACF revives Kano chapter
Childhood killer diseases: NGO gets $29m grants to reach 1m caregivers
Abinda ya hadani da lauyoyi na-Sheikh Abduljabbar Kabara
Ganduje pardons woman convicted of killing husband
Kano – Kaduna rail line will be completed in 18 Months – CCECC
Social joints increase rate of divorce in Kano – Imam
Kano govt postpones schools resumption to September
