Nasiru Yusuf 

Deposed Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi ll, said he would be ungrateful to God if he expressed regret or sadness over his removal as emir in spite of positions he occupied in life.

KANO FOCUS reports that Sanusi, who is also the current Khalifah of Tijaniya sect in Nigeria, said this in Abuja on Saturday at a stage play titled “Emir Sanusi: Truth in Time.’’

The play was written by Prof. Ahmed Yerima, a professor of Drama at the Redeemer University and produced by Executive Chairman, Duke of Somolu Productions, Mr Joseph Edgar.

The 14th emir said he has what it takes to contribute to nation building because of his long history of service to the country.

He said he served as Chief Risk Officer at the United Bank for Africa, and at First Bank, and also as CBN governor; as Emir of Kano for six years and Khalifah, Tijaniyya sect in Nigeria.

“I don’t think that God has taken anything away from me. So, I have no regret.

“I turned 61 years last year and in those years, I had the honour of having been the Chief Risk Officer at United Bank for Africa (UBA) and the Chief Risk Officer at First Bank.

“I was Governor of Central Bank, Emir of Kano and now Khalifah, Tijaniyat Movement of Nigeria.

“If I have sadness, then I’m ungrateful. How many people have had the opportunity to be just one of those things?’’ he observed.

Sanusi added that many traditional rulers held leadership positions such as army generals, governors, Nigeria Customs chief and others before their appointment as traditional rulers.

According to him, these traditional rulers gave their bits to serve this country.

“We have a long history of service to this country. My father as first Director- General of Nigeria Intelligence Agency set up the agency in1960, the record is there to see.

“My parents, grandparents and great grandparents gave their lives to build this country.

“We will continue to devote energy to build this country. It doesn’t belong to anyone; it belongs to all of us,’’ Emir Sanusi stressed.

He said if he had a choice between sacrificing his principles and holding on to position, he would give up the position.

“History is always the best judge. The things that I said would happen, that caused me so much trouble, have happened.

“For me, I have absolutely no regret and I will continue to speak and voice my views. I will continue to defend this country,’’ he said.

In his remarks, the playwright, Yerima said what motivated him to write the play was when Sanusi was appointed as Emir, he prayed: “O Allah, let me die on the throne.’’

He said he wanted people to watch how destiny prevailed on Sanusi’s grandfather, Emir Muhammadu Sanusi who spent 10 years before he was removed and Sanusi, the grand son who spent six years before he was also removed.

“Also, they lived and live in a society. So, we want viewers to see the society’s attitudes towards their service to humanity,’’ he said.

The producer of the play, Edgar said it was the 14th edition produced by Duke of Somolu Productions.

“With a budget in excess of N40 million, this production is truly historical,’’ he said.

Edgar thanked the more than 35 sponsors of the play who took over 50 per cent of the budget for their support.

Emir Sanusi was dethroned as Emir of Kano in March 2020 by Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, citing “total disrespect to lawful instructions from the Office of the Governor’’.

Nasiru Yusuf

A group under the auspices of Non State Actors Consultative Forum, NOSACOF has challenged lawmakers plotting the  impeachment of President Muhammadu Buhari not to blame the President for the growing insecurity and economy challenges among others bedevilling the country but blame themselves for being part of the problems and watch the situation deteriorate to current level.

KANO FOCUS reports that the convener of NOSACOF, Abdulrazaq Alkali while addressing newsmen on the plot to impeach the President, said they know that Buhari is weak and has failed, but the NASS have also failed to carry out their roles of oversight function due to their incompetency to find lasting solution to the menace.

Alkali however maintained that the impeachment plot was ochestrated by aggrieved ruling party, APC members who lost their seats in the party primaries.

According to him, “We the members of Non State Actors Consultative forum (NOSACOF) feel a sense of responsibility to lend our voice on this issue in defence of democracy and the unity of Nigeria.

“The economic and security challenges bedevilling Nigeria as a nation have got worse in recent months. More and more Nigerians have fallen below the poverty line, and terrorism by bandits and faceless terrorist acting against defenceless citizens have continued with little resistance from the Nigeria’s security apparatus. Inflation is on the rise, and citizens are finding it very difficult to keep up cost of living. There have been a lot of fingers pointing, as well as accusations and counter accusation between citizens and the government as well as between warring ethnic nationalities. It is indeed a very trying time for Nigerians!

“Amidst all these turbulence, legislative chambers in Nigeria are most at times full of dramas due to the incompetent behaviour of some the legislators, a dangerously new twist have started

to untold in the National Assembly, where some members of the opposition and some disgruntled members of the ruling party are making moves for the impeachment of President Muhammadu Buhari and fuelling accusations and sentiments against the president and his team in order to get backing from Nigerians. However, in doing so, they have failed to look at the failures of both national assemblies (house and senate) and how their incompetence’s have contributed to the worsening economic and security the situation in Nigeria.

“We can all agree that the current security problems of Nigeria today have been as a result of accumulation of years of incompetence, selfishness, greed, injustice and corruption perpetrated by mostly political leaders who are shielded by ethnic and religious entities, a weak and corrupt Justice system and to some extend by common citizens. As such despite some weakness on the part of President Muhammadu Buhari, it will be unjust to lay all the blame on his table and start calling for his impeachment, rather the legislators have also failed to carryout the oversight functions on the various security arms of the government despite billions of dollars budgeted for security.

“We are fully aware that we have numerous reports about how the public funds budgeted for the procurement of arms were being diverted and a number of times this legislators failed to call the people responsible to come and account before nigerians. As we are aware, they are part of the problem because majority of them focused their attention on befriending the head of these agencies in their chase for getting contracts and other financials gains.

“Similarly, they secured more debts for this country. A president cannot secure any debt without approval of the NASS. And they have done that a number of times. Now they have left us with over burden of debts.

“Secondly, we have come to realize the move to impeach the president is orchestrated by mostly members of the ruling APC who lost out at the presidential primaries and senatorial of the paty. Most of those in the forefront of the impeachment struggle are agents of some defeated candidates that will benefit if the president is impeached. While there are others supporting the impeachment out of sheer frustration to pull down the APC since they won’t return to the red chambers having been defeated earlier in the contest,” Alkali said.

He however cautioned against the impeachment plot noting that such move is capable of plunging the country into worse internal conflicts and chaos.

“The impeachment plot will create a high-level chaos that is capable of completely plunging the country in worse internal conflicts, it may never recover from.

“It is very clear that promoters of the impeachment just want to serve a selfish motive and interest. It is imperative for well meaning Nigerians not to allow themselves to be played by the selfish interest of a few, whose action will worsen the fragile situation in this country.

“It is very important for Nigerians to exercise caution and allow democratic process to take place through

proper electoral transition, the general election is just around the cormer, and the current administration will leave less than a year from now.

“We advise Nigerians to vote for competent leaders for both executive and legislative positions and to make sure that those we voted for next will put the interest of citizens first in everything they do,” Alkali however said.

Nasiru Yusuf

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says over 400,000 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), are still unclaimed in Kano State.

KANO FOCUS reports that Prof. Riskuwa Shehu, the state INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), said this when Oba Yoruba Kano, Alhaji Murtala Alimi Otisese (Adetimirin I) and his entourage, visited him on Thursday in Kano.

Shehu, represented by the state INEC Administrative Secretary, Alhaji Garba Lawan, said that the PVCs were those produced from 2011 to 2018.

“People were reluctant to come and collect their PVCs, hence the need for all stakeholders to assist in sensitising the voters to go and collect their own before the general elections,” he said.

The REC said that 569, 103 new voters were captured in the state at the just-concluded Continuous Voter Registration (CVR).

“This is in addition to the already existing 5.4 million voters registered before the 2019 elections.

“With over 400,000 uncollected PVCS and the registration of over 569,000 new registrants, we will have about 1 million PVCs waiting to be collected before the 2023 General Elections,” he said.

Shehu urged all stakeholders to assist the commission in mobilising people and collect their PVCs.

He said that the CVR would resume after the 2023 elections.

The REC said that before the 2019 elections, the state had about 8,017 polling units and over 3,000 voting points.

According to him, INEC converted those voting points to full-pledged polling units.

“So, now in Kano, we have 11, 222 polling units to be used during the 2023 elections.

”This was achieved with the contribution of all the stakeholders, that is, the traditional institutions and political parties, among others,” he said.

Shehu stated that the commission has initiated various reforms in the electoral process with a view to ensuring credible elections.

He also urged stakeholders to assist in sensitising the people against electoral violence and vote-buying.

Earlier, Sarkin Yarbawan Kano Alhaji Murtala Alimi Otisese (Adetimirin I) said that the visit was to seek for partnership with INEC to ensure free, fair and credible 2023 general elections.

Alhaji Murtala Alimi Otisese (Adetimirin I)

Sarkin Yarbawan Kano called on the teeming masses in the state not to engage in vote buying, saying that anybody who sells his/her vote during the general election automatically mortgages his/her future.

Alhaji Otisese said: “As custodians of culture and traditions, we should not only be heard but also seen at this critical juncture of our national life.

“While commending INEC and Nigerians at large for the peaceful conduct of continuous voters registration (CVR) exercise that has just ended, I urge us all to vigorously sustain the zeal in ensuring that the next stage, which is collection of permanent voters cards (PVCs) is pursued. Please go out en masse to collect your PVCs.”