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Kano COVID-19: Ganduje’s N15bn request and the question of reputation management

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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

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EndBadGovernance protest: Kwankwaso slams police over arraignment of minors

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Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim

 

Former Governor of Kano state, Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has condemned the recent arraignment of 67 minors by the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja for allegedly participating in the #EndBadGovernance protest.

KANO FOCUS reports that Kwankwaso voiced out his concern in a statement shared on his X handle on Friday

Expressing shock at the development, the NNPP leader voiced grave concern over the treatment of the children.

Kwankwaso highlighted their malnourished condition and urgent need for medical care.

“These children, who are clearly malnourished and in need of medical attention, have been subjected to a cruel experience when they should be in school.

“The arraignment of such a large number of minors in their states is highly unusual and undermines every tenet of human rights and dignity,” he added.

He stressed that it is the government’s responsibility to protect vulnerable groups from harm.

He stated, “As leaders, it is our duty to protect the most vulnerable among us, particularly children, women, the elderly, and the needy. The
government should not be at the forefront of this violation.”

Speaking on the stringent bail conditions set for the minors, he said, “It is absurd that a teenager is required to find ₦10 million and a Grade 15 civil servant as bail surety.”

Citing the Child Rights Act of 2003, he noted, “Section 11 protects the dignity of every child and shields them from any physical, mental, or emotional injury, abuse, neglect, or maltreatment.”

Calling for immediate action, he urged authorities to reconsider the charges.

“I request that the relevant authorities immediately review these charges so that the minors can return to their families and become responsible citizens,” he urged.

He also called on the Federal Government “to address the challenges of banditry, kidnapping, Boko Haram, lack of stable electricity, and harsh economic policies rather than incarcerating children.”

Earlier, at the Federal High Court in Abuja, some minors arraigned over the #EndBadGovernance protest collapsed in the courtroom, many appearing visibly malnourished after three months of incarceration.

Following their arraignment, Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja granted bail to the #EndBadGovernance protesters, setting each bail at ₦10 million, totalling ₦760 million.

Each defendant is required to have two sureties. The judge specified that one surety must be a Level 15 civil servant, and the other must be the defendant’s parent.

The sureties are also required to submit letters of last promotion, letters of appointment, and valid identification to the court.

They must provide verified addresses, passport photographs, international passports, and swear an affidavit of means.

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Amnesty International demands release of detained #EndBadGovernance protesters

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Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim

 

The human rights group Amnesty International has condemned the continued detention of 76 #EndBadGovernance protesters, who were arraigned at the Federal High Court in Abuja Friday.

KANO FOCUS reports that the Nigeria Police arrested over a thousand protesters nationwide in August, following protests held between the 1st and the 10th of August 2024, demanding an end to the hardships and hunger caused by the policies of the Tinubu administration.

Among the 76 protesters arraigned were some minors, who appeared visibly malnourished after spending months in detention. One of the minors collapsed in court before being provided with biscuits and water.

Amnesty International stated that the attempt to charge the minors with treason demonstrated “the government’s utter disregard for the rule of law,” while also calling for their immediate and unconditional release.

“Amnesty International condemns President Bola Tinubu’s government for the continued detention of minors who participated in the August #EndBadGovernance protests. The attempts to subject these minors to a sham trial over alleged ‘treason’ demonstrate the government’s utter disregard for the rule of law. Authorities must release them immediately and unconditionally,” they stated.

The group also highlighted cases of unlawful arrests involving 12 minors in Katsina during the protests, as well as 43 others facing charges of treason at the Federal High Court in Abuja. They warned that the Nigerian authorities were escalating their efforts to deprive people of their right to peaceful protest through unlawful detentions and sham trials.

It stated, “In Katsina, at least 12 children under 16 years old were detained merely for being on the streets during the #EndBadGovernance protests. These children, with their entire lives ahead of them, are now at risk of being tried on fabricated charges.

“The unlawful detention of these minors, subjecting them to traumatic experiences for exercising their right to peaceful protest, is unacceptable. The government must release all of them immediately and unconditionally.”

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Sunusi Bature Aims to Eradicate Sickle Cell Births in Kano by 2034

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Mukhtar Yahya Usman

In a determined push to eliminate sickle cell disease in Kano State, Malam Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, spokesperson for the Kano State Governor, has set an ambitious target: no child born with sickle cell by 2034.

Announcing this commitment during the foundation-laying of the Sadiq Maddibo Memorial Quranic Centre in Dawakin Tofa, Bature outlined the state’s focused approach to tackling the disease.

He revealed his collaboration with the sickle cell community to launch a comprehensive advocacy program aimed at eliminating sickle cell births across Kano.

“With careful planning and a unified strategy, we can make sickle cell births a thing of the past in Kano State, insha’Allah,” Bature said.

Central to this vision is the Kano Pre-Marital Law, which mandates genetic screening for couples, ensuring that marriages between carriers are avoided.

This law, supported by local religious leaders, aims to curb the genetic transmission of sickle cell disease.

Bature, who lost a son to sickle cell complications and has another child currently battling the condition, highlighted the devastating effects of the disease.

“Sickle cell is more dangerous than HIV,” he stated.

“It is our collective responsibility as citizens, advocates, and leaders to spread awareness and prevent high-risk marriages.”

Reflecting on his late son Sadiq’s lifelong struggle with sickle cell, marked by thousands of hospital visits and treatments, Bature stressed the critical role of pre-marital genetic testing in safeguarding future generations.

“This is a preventable tragedy,” he urged, calling on all residents to comply with the state’s mandatory testing to create a brighter, healthier future for Kano’s children.

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