Headlines
Election rigging, poor governance breed insecurity in the North – Junaidu Muhammad
Nasiru Yusuf
A former member of House of Representatives in the second republic, Junaidu Muhammad has attributed the spate of insecurity in Northern Nigeria to election rigging that brought irresponsible leaders.
The former parliamentarian said this in an exclusive interview with Kano Focus on the security challenges ravaging the region.
He observed that Northerners have for long tolerated to be cheated by constituted authorities in the region.
Mr Muhammad argued that Northerners should be bold and get courage to fight injustices meted against them.
Bad governance
“First and foremost, the issue is not just the question of security, is the issue of governance.
“We have been very, very irresponsible in the way we allowed ourselves to be governed particularly in the Northeast and Northwest.
“We are freemen who are behaving like slaves.
“We have had election rigged several times in most parts of the country particularly in the North.
“I believe people should have the courage to fight when they feel they have been cheated – whether by people from outside the region or their respective zones,” he said.
The politician cum activist observed that the country has been experiencing insecurity for a long period of time due to injustice by those who hold power.
Mr Muhammad said he does not respect those who accepted injustice over generations especially in the Northwest and Northeast.
“As far as I am concerned, there are heroes and villains in every struggle.
“To me a hero is a kind of person who is not prepared to accept injustice, who is prepared to put his own life on the line in order to liberate himself.
“If you allow people to be cheated all the time, and you believe some people have divine rights, they have been decreed by God to come and cheat you, and you think that is virtue, go ahead and do whatever you want to do, don’t involve me,” Mr Muhammad said.
Need for sacrifice
The parliamentarian who described Kano as the most politically advanced state in Sub-Saharan Africa recalled how late Malam Aminu Kano mobilized people to stand firm against unjust leaders.
He said Kano, Kaduna, Katsina and Jigawa states have attained their present status due to the struggle of late Aminu Kano who brought change against the status quo.
Mr Muhammad advised citizens to take their fate in their hands by identifying capable persons who can lead them to emancipate themselves from the bond of irresponsible leadership.
“We have a historical precedent; Aminu Kano did a struggle for 40 years.
“He was able to mobilize the kind of people who are mostly uneducated rural peasants and he engineered the change which made Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa and Katsina states where they are today.
“I have to tell you in the case of Kano, Kano in terms of political awareness, is the most politically advanced area in the whole of Africa South of the Sahara.
“If people are not prepared to be mobilized, if they are not ready to sacrifice, if they have slave mentality, there is nothing you can do about them.
“The question now is to find out from the people whether they are the ones who are not interested in the struggle or they are waiting for leaders from heaven or somewhere else to come and lead them. “But if they are determined, there are always leaders who will emerge and who will give them the necessary political leadership,” Mr Muhammad advised.
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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