Headlines
Buhari goofed on June 12 – Junaidu Muhammad
Nasiru Yusuf
A second republic parliamentarian Junaidu Muhammad has faulted President Muhammad Buhari’s declaration of June 12 as a Democracy day in Nigeria.
Mr Muhammad who represented Kano municipal federal constituency in the House of Representatives during the second republic said this in an exclusive interview with Kano Focus.
According to him both May 29 declared by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Buhari’s June 12 are irrelevant to the attainment of democracy in Nigeria.
“The declaration of June 12 as Democracy day is entirely irrelevant. “The crux of issue is that, the former president (Obasanjo) came and celebrated his own coming to power, and declared it as democracy day.
“Now another President (Buhari) under pressure has now decided to change it to another day.
“Both exercises are irrelevant because they are irrelevant to the attainment of democracy in Nigeria.
“Nigeria was democracy before both Obasanjo and Buhari became president.
“And both of them were involved in truncating our democracy. “Buhari was part of the group who came to power under Murtala, he was the governor of Northeast, later minister of petroleum and chairman of NNPC.
“Obasanjo was also part of that group who came to power in 1975 under Murtala.
“Later both of them got involved in politics, and as a result both became presidents,” he said.
Why not 1st October?
The politician argued that October 1st would have been the best day for celebrating democracy in Nigeria, as it was the day the country got its independence from the British government.
This according to him is more legitimate, as it is not the choice of military or any government in power, but democratically elected representatives.
“But the idea that June 12 is the actual date of election is neither here nor there.
“Because we are talking of June 12 of 1990s, we got independence in 1960.
“That was over thirty years ago when we had a strong measure of democratic governance.
This cannot be denied. It is historically verifiable,” Mr Junaidu said.
June 12 is a fraud
On the candidature of late MKO Abiola and Bashir Tofa in June 12 election, Mr Muhammad described them as military protégés who were installed to enable soldiers continue exercising power from the background after they step aside.
He argued that, the military plan failed, because the election was massively rigged and their favored candidate performed poorly, hence, they annulled the election.
On the proponents of June 12 election agitation, Dr Muhammad said no responsible person will beat his chest and claim to have won the election due to his hard work and political strategy.
He noted that, it is a fruitless effort and a waste of time to engage in counter argument on the validity or otherwise of June 12 election.
“The idea that some group of educated elites like NADECO or whatever they call themselves decided to now claim ownership, and promoted NADECO agitation into some kind of massive political stardom is mischievous and misguided.
“Because once you look at the result of the election, the people who actually delivered the alleged winner of the June 12 election were not the people of Southern Nigeria.
“It is the people from other parts of the country who voted him and enabled him to be claimed as the winner of the election.
“As far as I am concerned only a bloody fool will say oh, we won the election or even celebrate the outcome of the election as a result of their hard work or their agitation or their political maneuvering. “And those who want reply them are also equally wasting their time because the outcome of June 12 annulled election does not in any way confer any legitimacy to any politician or political party now in existence or those who tried to step aside.” Mr. Junaidu said.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Nafisah Yusuf Hassan, a magistrate in Kano State, has been recommended for appointment as a judge of the Kano State High Court by the National Judicial Council (NJC).
KANO FOCUS reports that Hassan is among four judicial officers from Kano State recommended for elevation to the High Court bench out of 28 candidates selected nationwide.
The other nominees are Halima Yahuza Ahmad, Abdullahi Abdulsalam Bature and Musa Ibrahim Umar.
The NJC disclosed the recommendations in a statement issued by its Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, following its consideration of candidates for judicial appointments across the country.
The council said all recommended candidates were expected to be sworn in by their respective state governors without delay.
Hassan’s recommendation follows her years of service in the Kano State judiciary, where she has reportedly distinguished herself through diligence, professionalism and careful handling of cases.
She has been commended for her commitment to judicial ethics, diligence and fairness in the discharge of her responsibilities, achievements that contributed to her career progression within the judiciary.
Her elevation is part of a broader development in the Kano State judiciary, with four magistrates from the state successfully scaling the selection process for appointment to the High Court.
The four nominees were reportedly assessed during the selection exercise and demonstrated strong professional competence, while their service records were found to be free of adverse remarks.
Their recommendation marks a significant step in their judicial careers and is expected to strengthen the judicial workforce in Kano State upon their formal appointment.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Accountability Forum on Education (K-SAFE) says it has tracked nearly 1,000 education projects across the state as part of efforts to promote transparency, accountability and effective service delivery in the education sector.
KANO FOCUS the coalition’s Co-Chair, Dr Auwalu Halilu, disclosed this on Wednesday during an advocacy visit to the Kano State Ministry of Public Procurement and Project Monitoring.
Dr Halilu said K-SAFE had monitored projects in more than six local government areas, covering interventions implemented by the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Kano State Senior Secondary Education Management Board and Local Education Authorities (LEAs).
He explained that the monitoring exercise involved physical inspections and documentation of projects through photographs, videos and geographical locations.
According to him, reports of the findings had been submitted to relevant ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), highlighting projects that met required standards and those requiring further attention.
He cited Rimin Gado Local Government Area, where the coalition tracked more than 80 education projects, adding that it planned to extend the exercise to all 44 local government areas of the state.
The K-SAFE Co-Chair said the visit was aimed at presenting the coalition’s activities to the ministry and exploring areas of collaboration in procurement and project monitoring.
He called for the inclusion of civil society organisations in procurement and monitoring processes, particularly tender board activities and field inspections, to strengthen independent oversight and provide them with firsthand information on government projects.
Dr Halilu also requested the ministry’s support in organising capacity-building programmes for civil society organisations on procurement procedures, due process, project standardisation, monitoring and evaluation.
He said such training would enhance civil society organisations’ understanding of procurement regulations and the technical requirements guiding project implementation.
Responding, the Commissioner for Public Procurement and Project Monitoring, Dr Nura Iro Ma’aji, welcomed the delegation and acknowledged the coalition’s contributions to supporting the state government’s efforts in the education sector.
He expressed the ministry’s readiness to collaborate with K-SAFE through information sharing and other relevant engagements to strengthen accountability and ensure compliance with due process.
“From our side, we are ready to work together because we know what they have been doing to support Kano State Government in the education sector,” he said.
Dr Halilu further disclosed that the coalition and its partner organisations had carried out the monitoring exercise without financial sponsorship, describing it as a demonstration of their commitment to transparency and accountability.
He reaffirmed K-SAFE’s commitment to sustaining engagement with relevant government agencies, civil society organisations and the media to strengthen oversight of education projects across Kano State.
Ibrahim Khalil
Government Secondary School (GSS) Army Day Bukavu has emerged champion in both the male and female categories of the maiden Kano State Secondary Schools Tug of War Competition.
KANO FOCUS reports that the school clinched the double victory at the competition, which ended on Wednesday at the Kano Pillars Stadium, Sabon Gari, Kano.
Governors College finished as runners-up in the male category, while Government Girls College (GGC) Kano secured second position in the female category.
The competition was organised by the Kano State Tug of War Association in collaboration with the state Ministry of Education, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Kano State Sports Commission.
The maiden championship brought together secondary school students to promote teamwork, discipline, unity and sportsmanship, while raising awareness about the dangers of drug abuse.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Vice Chairman of the Kano State Tug of War Association, Jamilu Uba Adamu, described the competition as a successful initiative that had achieved its objectives.
He commended the Ministry of Education, Sports Commission, NDLEA, Gongoni Company Limited and MAGZO Pharmaceutical for supporting the event, particularly through the provision of T-shirts and Pocari Sweat drinks.
Also speaking, the Secretary of the Kano State Tug of War Association, Bashir Muhammad Sulaiman, who represented the Executive Chairman of the Sports Commission, Muhammad Tukur Babangida, reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to developing grassroots and school sports.
He said the initiative would help identify and nurture young sporting talents across the state.
The closing ceremony was attended by a member of the Kano State Football Association Board, Rilwanu Idris Malikawa Garu, representatives of the Ministry of Education, NDLEA, the Sports Commission and other stakeholders in the sports sector.
The organisers congratulated the winning schools and commended all participating institutions and partners for contributing to the success of the maiden edition.
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