Headlines
Northern Groups condemn monetisation of party delegates
Nasiru Yusuf
The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) condemned in strong terms the monetisation of politics and compromise of the party delegates and called for a thorough investigation into how money was used in recent primary elections by aspirants.
KANO FOCUS reports that the spokesperson for the group, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, made the call while addressing a news conference in Kano on Monday.
He said the investigation was necessary so as to find out whether the prescribed protocols as indicated in the Electoral Act was violated or not.
“To categorically state that the operational system by which a negligible few enjoys the sole prerogative for imposing candidates on the larger majority shall never endure and must be utterly rejected,” he said.
He added that the CNG fully supported and welcomed the adoption of the popular demand for the open democratic practice of allowing all eligible candidates from every section of the country, regardless of ethnicity, religion or class, the opportunity to aspire for offices in the various political parties.
“We note, in particular, that the dubiously acquired and arrogantly expended billions of naira by aspirants in, especially, the ruling APC and its main challenger, the PDP, in bankrolling individual aspirations at all the levels, have totally monetised the primary candidates’ selection processes, automatically disqualifying men of honour, character, integrity and merit from the race for 2023 and potentially placed the hopes of this and future generations of Nigerians in the line.
Abdul-Azeez Suleiman flanked by CNG members
“The CNG notes also, in the manner of the primaries conducted by the PDP and the APC, the foundation for a final entrenchment of a culture of making money the deciding factor in Nigerian politics that would serve the purposes of consolidating elite monopoly as well as the political exclusion of the non-elite.
“We are also worried that the glaring impunity with which aspirants to the presidential tickets of, especially, the two major parties, induced their respective party delegates has ultimately left the millions of Nigerian voters with the hard and only choice between two traditional old war horses for the presidency,” the group said.
The Coalition asked northerners to obtain permanent voter cards to enable them vote credible leaders that would address the multifarious challenges bedeviling the region.
This, according to group was necessary because getting Permanent Voter Cards is the surest way to ensuring good governance and leadership that could check the current security and other challenges pervading the region.
“We want to caution the North against voter apathy in the coming elections and to strongly call on northerners to register massively for Permanent Voter Cards as the only sure way of ensuring leadership that will address our limitations.
“We also note, uncomfortably, the likelihood of voter apathy in the North with the current lower participation in the ongoing update of voter registration compared to other parts of the country, hence our decision to call on eligible voters to obtain the card.
“We want to remind the northern voter to be vigilant with the direction of his voting by refusing to be pinned to political party specifics and going for candidates with pronounced credibility, competence, capacity and with the antecedent of impliedly lyrics and expressly identifying with their problems around security, the economy and education.
“We wish to also remind Nigerians of the danger of risking their collective future by not critically assessing and evaluating the credentials of the candidates presented by the parties in terms of capacity, competence, integrity, and merit before making a choice,” Suleiman said.
Also speaking, the leader of the group Nastura Ashir charged Nigerians to vote competent people with track of good record irrespective of party affiliation.
He challenged the notion being expressed on social media that voting a candidate from smaller parties is a waste of vote.
Aminu Abdullahi
The ICEADA AGILE partnership, aimed at promoting girls’ education at the grassroots level, has organized an Activity Feedback Workshop and Quarterly Meeting to assess the successes and challenges of the project across six local government areas in Kano State.
KANO FOCUS reports that the local governments areas include: Bebeji, Kiru, Karaye, Madobi, Rogo, and Warawa.
Prof M. B Shittu presenting IEC materials to Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Speaking at the event, Prof. M.B. Shitu, Team Leader and Project Manager, explained that the project was designed to engage key stakeholders in the selected local government areas to sensitize communities on the importance of enrolling girls in school.
Cross section of ICEADA/AGILE mentors
He noted that participants of the workshop are Community Engagement Mentors selected from the six local governments.
“Their role is to engage directly with community members to promote girls’ enrollment in schools,” he said.
“Part of their responsibility is to carry out sensitization and mobilization campaigns within their communities. Our main concern is increasing the enrollment and retention of girls in secondary education. That’s why we introduced the Community Engagement Mentors—to collaborate with parents and local organizations in support of girls’ education,” Prof. Shitu added.
Cross section of ICEADA/AGILE mentors
He also revealed that the project has recorded significant progress across the six LGAs, although a few challenges still persist and are currently being addressed.
“One of the aims of this workshop is to review the activities carried out in the last quarter and set new community goals to strengthen our campaign. We’ve also launched house-to-house awareness campaigns to tackle the issues affecting girls’ education in these communities,” he stated.
Participants expressed satisfaction with the project’s progress. Lami Idris, a Community Mentor from Karaye LGA, shared her experience.
“We are going from house to house to educate people on the benefits of girls’ education. One of the major challenges we face is the lack of schools in some villages. Some girls have to walk long distances to reach school,” she said.
Review meeting in session
Abdullahi Balarabe Kiru, Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Kiru LGA, reported that data collected from the area showed over 40 girls are currently out of school. He affirmed that efforts are ongoing to address the issue.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim presenting IEC materials to community mentors
In his remarks, Malam Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim, Communication Officer of the AGILE Project, disclosed that 130 new schools will be constructed in Kano State to tackle the problem of out-of-school children.
He also highlighted insecurity and the destruction of school infrastructure as major challenges facing the education sector.
The Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has inaugurated the distribution of 10,000 free JAMB forms to Kano secondary school students.
During the flag-off of the distribution, the Governor, who was represented by the state’s Commissioner of Education, Ali Haruna Makoda, also used the opportunity to inaugurate the training of the 10,000 beneficiaries on the use of computer-based tests at various designated centers across Kano State.
On his part, the Governor’s Special Adviser on Education, Alhaji Tajuddin Gambo, said the Governor has promised to provide transport for the beneficiaries throughout the training session and urged them to ensure they pass the examination.
He said the government is willing to select the best schools for the beneficiaries if they pass the examinations.
One of the beneficiaries of the 10,000 free JAMB forms, Fatima Mukhtar Umar, expressed gratitude to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for issuing the free JAMB forms and promised not to disappoint.
In a statement by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s Special Adviser on Information, Ibrahim Adam, it was noted that the Governor used the opportunity to elaborate on the feats achieved by his government in developing the education sector in the last 22 months. These include the re-introduction of foreign and domestic scholarships, re-opening of 21 skills acquisition institutes, general renovation of primary and secondary schools, construction of new classrooms, provision of classroom furniture and writing materials, and the distribution of free uniforms to primary school pupils.
Other achievements, according to the Governor’s Special Adviser on Information, Ibrahim Adam, include the reduction of 50% of registration fees in state-owned tertiary institutions, cash conditional transfers to support girl-child education, and the settlement of registration fees for NECO, NABTEB, and NBAIS, to mention but a few.
Ibrahim Adam said Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf urged all the beneficiary students to make the best use of the opportunity and strive for excellence in their academic pursuits, saying that the future belongs to those who work tirelessly to turn dreams into realities.
Headlines
Exposed: Coercion Over Coalition?: Youth Forum Reveals Presidency’s Desperate Moves on Kwankwaso
A political storm is brewing as the Coalition of Northern Youth Forum (CNYF), under the leadership of Alhasan Barau Gausu, has raised alarm over what it describes as desperate and undemocratic moves by the Presidency to force Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the national leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), into joining the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to the group, the Tinubu-led administration is leveraging state institutions, particularly the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to intimidate and coerce Kwankwaso into defecting to the ruling APC.
Central to the allegations is a revived petition detailing a 2016 contract worth N15.5 billion, awarded through the Federal Ministry of Water Resources to a company reportedly linked to one of Kwankwaso’s closest allies—a known financier of the Kwankwasiyya Movement.
The EFCC reportedly invited the contractor for interrogation last week Tuesday.
The CNYF claims that the contractor is being pressured to implicate Kwankwaso in the alleged financial misconduct, suggesting the anti-graft agency is being used as a political weapon to break the opposition.
“This is nothing short of blackmail,” said Gausu. “They want to silence Kwankwaso’s rising political influence and force him into a weak alliance with the ruling party, using fear and intimidation.”
The group further disclosed that a high-powered delegation from the Presidency, led by a former Katsina State governor—now serving as TETFUND board chairman—recently visited Kwankwaso at his Abuja residence, appealing to him to join the APC.
However, sources say Kwankwaso responded with firm conditions for any possible defection.
These include:
• A reduction in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS)
• Massive reinvestment in Nigeria’s education sector
• Reintroduction of the Almajiri Model Education System (originally implemented during President Jonathan’s administration)
• His appointment as Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF)
Allocation of three ministerial slots to his political associates from northwest, northeast and south-south.
Without these demands being met, Kwankwaso reportedly stated he would remain with the NNPP—or align with the emerging SDP coalition, being championed by Atiku Abubakar and Nasir El-Rufai.
The fallout from this meeting, according to the CNYF, may have prompted APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje’s recent public declaration that Kwankwaso would soon rejoin the APC.
Speaking during a visit by the Tinubu Support Group (TSG) to the APC national secretariat, Ganduje boldly claimed, “NNPP is dead,” insinuating that its leader was on the verge of returning to the ruling party.
Analysts believe the APC’s desperation stems from Kwankwaso’s undeniable grassroots influence in the Northwest—especially Kano State, which boasts over two million registered voters.
With growing public discontent over the removal of fuel subsidy and other economic policies, the Tinubu administration appears to be seeking strong political alliances ahead of 2027.
But for now, Kwankwaso remains unbowed, standing firm on his conditions and signaling that the NNPP—and its ideals—are not for sale.
Recently, the national and Kano state chapter of the APC were directed by the powrful forces from the villa to galvanize support and provide receptive atmosphere to recieve Kwankwaso and his teaming supporters back to APC.
In defence of Prof Abdalla Uba Adamu’s beautiful quip on Kano – IBK
AGILE partners ICEADA in promoting girls education in 6 Kano LGAs
Governor Yusuf Distributes 10,000 Free JAMB Forms to Secondary Students
Exposed: Coercion Over Coalition?: Youth Forum Reveals Presidency’s Desperate Moves on Kwankwaso
