Headlines
PDP endorse election of Kano Exco loyal to Kwankwaso
Nasiru Yusuf
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has upheld the election of a new executive committee for Kano state chapter loyal to former governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso.
Kano Focus reports that a statement issued by National Publicity Secretary of the party Kola Ologbondiyan on Thursday said the decision of the NWC is pursuant to its powers under the PDP Constitution (2017 as amended).
According to the statement the newly elected Kano executive which has Shehu Wada Sagagi, as Chairman is to hold office for a period of four years in line with the provisions of the PDP Constitution.
“The NWC is pleased to report that the congress was smoothly conducted in strict compliance with the guidelines and provisions of the PDP constitution (2017 as amended) and monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“Also as reported by the Appeals Committee, there was no petitions received thereby confirming the congress as conducted and all elected officers therefrom.
“The NWC commended all critical stakeholders as well as members of our party in Kano state for the unity and harmony in the state chapter and urged them to remain united and continue to work together for the task ahead, especially as Nigerians now look up to our party for direction at this critical time in the history of our nation,” the statement added.
PDP faction loyal to Aminu Wali expels Kwankwaso
Earlier on Thursday a faction of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Kano state, led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aminu Wali, expelled Mr Kwankwaso, from the party for alleged “anti-party activities.”
The group also accused Mr Kwankwaso of “gross violation of constitutional orders of the PDP.”
The Wali faction announced the expulsion of Kwankwaso, leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, shortly after a Congress brought into place a new leadership of the faction.
Besides expelling Mr Kwankwaso from PDP, the Wali faction also elected 39 new executives to pilot the affairs of the opposition party in Kano.
The Federal High Court recently held that the caretaker committee put in place by the Kwankwaso faction was the legitimate leadership of the PDP.
The ruling prompted the Kwankwasiyya group to elect party officials on Monday.
Shehu Wada Sagagi was elected chairman; Dankaka Hussaini Bebeji became deputy chairman while Jamilu Abubakar Dambatta emerged Secretary of the party.
Headlines
Gov. Yusuf names Dr. Aminu Magashi Technical Adviser for Kano’s humanitarian and poverty alleviation ministry
Mukhtar Yahya Usman
In a landmark decision to strengthen Kano State’s humanitarian and poverty alleviation efforts, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has named Dr. Aminu Magashi Garba as the Technical Adviser for the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
The appointment, effective September 28, 2024, was announced by the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa on Tuesday.
Governor Yusuf emphasized Dr. Magashi’s impressive credentials, highlighting his decades-long dedication to public service and his commitment to improving the lives of Kano’s underserved communities.
The governor’s choice reflects his deep trust in Dr. Magashi’s extensive experience and proven leadership, recognizing him as a pivotal figure in achieving the administration’s humanitarian goals.
Dr. Magashi, with over 30 years in development and humanitarian work, is well-regarded for his influential initiatives.
His notable roles include serving as Chair of the AMG Foundation, leading the Health Policy and Planning Committee of the Nigerian Medical Association, and being the pioneering coordinator of the Kano State Cancer Care Center.
His strategic insights and leadership were also vital as Chairman of the health transition committee, where he collaborated closely with Governor Yusuf to craft a transformative agenda for Kano State’s healthcare future.
He also led the technical committee which supported Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to develop his campaign blueprint in 2022.
With this appointment, Kano State gains a dedicated advisor whose perseverance, humility, and honesty have defined his career.
Dr. Magashi is expected to guide the ministry in developing impactful strategies that address the pressing needs of Kano’s communities, laying the foundation for a more compassionate, resilient future for all.
Headlines
Kano State Refutes Allegations of N177 Billion Loan from France
Mukhtar Yahya Usman
The Kano State Government has publicly denied recent claims that it borrowed N177 billion from France.
Speaking at a press conference, Dr. Hamisu Sadi Ali, Director General of the Kano State Public Debt Management Office, clarified that no new loans have been taken since Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf took office in May 2023.
The allegations, originally reported by local media, suggested that the funds were recently secured from a French lender.
The debt office condemned the report as “malicious” and “politically motivated,” clarifying that it mistakenly links a 2018 loan agreement from the previous administration, led by Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, with the current government.
Dr. Hamisu noted that the 2018 agreement was a 64 million-euro loan from the French Development Agency, intended for the Third National Urban Water Sector Reform Project, and was not associated with the present administration.
In an effort to promote transparency, the state government shared an overview of Kano’s existing debt portfolio, which includes several longstanding foreign loans, such as the Multi-state Road Project and the Malaria Control Booster Project, some dating back to 1992.
Dr. Hamisu also outlined domestic loans totaling billions, contracted by the previous administration under the APC.
The current government highlighted its commitment to debt reduction, announcing that it has already repaid over N63.5 billion in debt in 2024, reducing Kano State’s overall debt to N127.8 billion.
Dr. Hamisu urged the public to disregard the “fake and misleading” report and encouraged media organizations to focus on accurate, investigative journalism.
He underscored the importance of responsible reporting to maintain public trust and informed civic engagement.
Headlines
Kano Focus reporter bags West Africa DPI Fellowship
KANO FOCUS reporter Ms Zulaiha Danjuma has been selected alongside 44 other journalists from Benin, Togo, Nigeria and Ghana for the second edition of the Digital Public Infrastructure (DIP) fellowship.
KANO FOCUS reports the DPI fellowship is an initiative by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) in partnership with Co-develop.
A total of 45 journalists from Nigeria, Togo, Benin and Ghana were selected from 45 News organizations after months of rigorous selection processes.
The fellowship is a three-month programme running from November to January 2025, followed by a three-month post-fellowship period for the production of special reports on Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and Digital Public Goods (DPGs).
MFWA’s fellowship seeks to equip participants with skills to create impactful reports on topics such as national digital identification systems, online data security, and digital governance; through specialized workshops, mentorship, and hands-on story production.
Ms Danjuma’s selection for the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) fellowship recalibrates *Kano Focus* commitment to growth and knowledge gathering of staffs.
About the Reporter
Ms Zulaiha Danjuma is a dedicated journalist who has produced impactful Investigative stories on government accountability, health and gender based violence.
In 2023, she carried out a groundbreaking investigation on multifaceted illegal tax extortion, forgery and corruption. In 2024, her report of poor budgetary allocation to Hepatitis B successfully brought the attention of the state government, resulting in commitment to provide additional resources for addressing the issue.
Other DPI fellows
Ten fellows were selected from Ghana and Benin, and five fellows from Togo respectively. Nigeria had a total of twenty journalists selected to be part of the second Phase II of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) Fellowship.
Pictures of all fellows: