Headlines
COVID-19: Ganduje mobilises Emirs to fight the pandemic
Nasiru Yusuf
Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano state has on Wednesday met with all the five Emirs from Kano, Bichi, Rano, Karaye and Gaya Emirates as part of government response to tame possible effect of the 2nd wave of COVID-19.
Mr Ganduje assured the monarchs of government’s commitment towards the fight against the second wave of COVID-19.
He said, “Indeed COVID-19 is back and we have to also be back to fight it relentlessly. It is said that, if the going is tough only tough ones keep standing. We shall be tougher at all times, till when we put a halt to it.”
“We are starting this stakeholders meeting with you, because you are closer to the people at the grassroot.”
He urged them to go back to their respective Emirates and mobilise their subjects against the pandemic.
“You go and work closely with your District Heads, Village Heads, Ward Heads, Ulamas and other community leaders, to see that we deal decisively with this second wave. All hands must be on deck.”
“We do appreciate the role being played by the leaders of other ethnic nationalities. Since in the first wave of this pandemic, we knew you did very well amongst your people. This is highly commendable,” he noted.
“Kano is experiencing the gradual increase of COVID-19 cases. From 14th November 2020 to 17th January, 2021 additional 827 new COVID-19 cases were diagnosed, thus bringing the total cases in Kano to 2,636.”
The technical coordinator of the response team, Kano state Task Force on COVID-19 Sabitu Shanono, said “Over the last one week the sample positivity rate increased to 12.7% compared to the overall positivity of 4.2%. Number of cases on admission both home base care and hospital admission stands at 289.”
“A total of Seventeen (17) deaths were recorded between December and January, an incidence that we did not have since 15th July, 2020.”
“Parts of the challenges during the second wave experience, include, but not limited to, poor public compliance to protocols, low risk perception and poor cooperation by confirmed cases to self isolate themselves or even taken to isolation facility,” Mr Shanono said.
In his remarks the chairman of the Kano State Council of Emirs, Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado-Bayero, assured the governor, the total and unreserved commitment and unflinching support of all the Emirs and their subjects, in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic, as the second wave comes knocking on doors.
Some of Imams of Juma’at mosques who spoke at the occasion advised government to allow corps members serve in their respective states to control the effect of second wave of COVID-19.
COVID-19 status in Kano
On Tuesday Kano state ministry of health announced in it’s Twitter handle that the state recorded one COVID-19 death, 19 new cases from 421 results received from the laboratories.
It added that the state has 289 active cases receiving care at different government isolation centres and home.
So far the state has tested 61,802 persons, recorded 2,636 confirmed cases, discharge 2,276 recovered COVID-19 patients and 71 deaths.
Headlines
Gov Yusuf receives fellowship, award of excellence from US Management Institute
Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has been awarded a prestigious Fellowship by the United States Chartered Institute of Management and Leadership.
According to a statement issued by the Governor’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the Institute also presented Governor Yusuf with an Award of Excellence in recognition of his efforts in human capital development and resource management.
The recognition was conferred by representatives of the Institute’s Governing Council, led by Barr. (Dr.) Steven Longe, during an investiture ceremony at the Abuja Governor’s Lodge.
This event followed shortly after the governor received the National Award from the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) during the World Teachers’ Day celebration.
Dr. Longe explained that the decision to honor Governor Yusuf with the Institute’s highest Fellowship and an Award of Excellence came after extensive research into his effective management of both human and financial resources.
The research highlighted his dedication to promoting good governance in Kano, Nigeria’s most populous state.
“Your leadership has been marked by prudence and transparency,” said Dr. Longe.
“You embody the qualities of an accountable and dedicated leader.
We are proud to associate with politicians who are committed to selfless service to their people.”
In his response, Governor Yusuf expressed his gratitude for the Fellowship and thanked the Institute for recognizing his leadership qualities on an international platform.
“Despite the many challenges we have faced since the beginning of this administration, our commitment to serving the people of Kano remains unwavering.
We will continue to deliver the dividends of democracy to our people,” the governor assured.
Headlines
World Teachers’ Day 2024: NUT Honors Gov.Yusuf for Outstanding Performance in Education Reform
Mukhtar Yahya Usman
The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has honored Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State, with a prestigious award for his exceptional performance in reforming the state’s education sector.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Governor’s Spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa on Saturday.
The award was presented during the celebration of World Teachers’ Day 2024 at Eagle Square, Abuja, in a vibrant event organized in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education.
The event brought together teachers from across the 36 states of Nigeria to honor the significant contributions made to the education sector.
Governor Yusuf was recognized with the NUT Golden Award for his transformative efforts in rescuing Kano’s education sector from years of decay and neglect.
In his remarks, NUT National Chairman, Comrade Titus Ambe, noted that only six governors were selected for this honor, based on their unwavering commitment to advancing education, particularly through the support of teachers’ welfare and continuous training.
Specifically, Governor Yusuf’s accomplishments were highlighted, including his administration’s allocation of 29.9% of Kano’s 2024 budget to education and his declaration of a state of emergency in the sector, which has significantly improved both infrastructure and access to quality education in the state.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, commended the governors for their dedication.
Speaking on behalf of the six awardees, which included the Governors of Borno, Oyo, Benue, Enugu, and Kebbi states, Governor Yusuf reaffirmed his commitment to further investing in education, emphasizing the importance of sustaining progress to ensure future generations thrive.
Headlines
LG polls: Kano APC urges court to stop INEC from releasing voter register
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The major opposition political party in Kano, the All Progressives Congress, APC, on Friday instituted a fresh suit against the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission, KANSIEC, before the Federal High Court sitting in Kano.
KANO FOCUS reports that the party is asking the court to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from releasing voter register for the conduct of the council poll.
The plaintiffs, APC and the party Chairman, Abdullahi Abbas, instituted the suit through their counsel, Ismail Abdulaziz.
They also sought an interlocutory application to restrain the state electoral body from continuing with the process and conduct of the council election slated for 26th October, 2024.
Defendants joined in the suit include, the Kano State Attorney General, Kano State Independent Electoral Commission, KANSIEC, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, KANSIEC Chairman, Sani Lawan and other members.
Abdulaziz said, “we are asking for the court to interpret some provisions of the constitution, KANSIEC guidelines, the law itself in seeking whether KANSIEC is a revenue generating agency and considering that the N9m and N4m requested to be paid by Chairmanship and Councillorship candidates by KANSIEC were exorbitant.
“We want the court to determine whether KANSIEC will be impartial looking at present members that constituted the commission.
“We are also seeking the court to order INEC not to release election materials such as voter register to KANSIEC until the commission abide by the provision of the constitution.
“We now sought for interlocutory injunction to restrain the continuation of the continuing with process and conduct of the election. The defendants did not receive our processes and the court adjourned till next Friday so that all the parties to file their responses,” Abdulaziz said.
Moving the application before the Presiding Judge, Justice Simon Amobeda, on Friday the court adjourned the matter till 11th October, 2024 and ordered the plaintiffs to serve the defendants.
Meanwhile, in a related matter, the Counsels to Kano State government, Rilwanu Umar SAN and Kano State House of Assembly, Bar. Bashir Yusuf said they have filed a preliminary objections before the Justice Amobeda challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear matters concerning KANSIEC.
The Counsels said only state high court and state assembly have the powers to entertain any matter that border on regulations of KANSIEC and not federal agency or so.
Kano state government application came in response to motion on notice moved by APC and one Aliyu Aminu Tiga on why the court should not stop the conduct of the election.
Recall one Aminu Aliyu Tiga and the APC had earlier filed an application seeking the court to stop the electoral body from conducting the elections in which Justice Amobeda in interim refused to grant and however noted that the defendants shall be put on notice to show cause why the prayers shall not be granted.
The Court presided by Justice Simon Amobeda however adjourned the matter till 11th October for hearing.