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Ploy to subvert will of Northerners portends danger for Nigeria – S/West Arewa coalition warns
A coalition of Arewa Communities in South-West Nigeria has expressed deep concerns over alleged ploy to subvert the will of majority of Northern voters through the judiciary.
KANO FOCUS reports that the coalition made this known on Wednesday in Ibadan during a public gathering/rally on current developments relating to Democracy, Rule of Law and Peace and Stability in Northern Nigeria.
Shehu Idris, Vice Chairman, Arewa Consultative Forum, Oyo State Chapter and Hajiya Aisha Ismail, the Women Leader, Northern Community in South West who jointly spoke on behalf of the group, lamented the current hardship in the North, adding that the seeming persecution of some prominent political leaders in the region would further heat up the zone.
While calling on the judiciary to tread carefully in order not to subvert the will of the people particularly in Zamfara, Plateau and Kano states, the coalition said any crisis in the North is a result of such action would have a massive ripple effect in the South West.
The group appealed to President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress to jettison the alleged plot to hijack more states for the ruling APC through the instrumentality of the court.
It said : “We are a coalition of various Arewa groups in South West Nigeria which look out for the interests, safety and well-being of Arewa communities in the region.
” We are all witnesses to the economic and political difficulties being faced by the citizens of our country especially those in the Northern part of the country. INEC failed to deliver free, fair and transparent elections and this is made evident by the cases in our electoral Tribunals and appellate courts after the 2023 elections.
“The economy is bad. The Naira has lost value. Food is more expensive and Unemployment is very high. All these have led to higher costs of feeding, education, health, accommodation and transportation. Yet the APC Federal Government is still borrowing and spending so much money on unnecessary travel, renovation of buildings and cost of governance. These people do not care about the “common man” of Nigeria.
” Our independent minded leaders in the North are being dealt with “politically” by this government. All ahead of 2027 even before the end of 2023!! Former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el-Rufa’i who worked on his colleagues in the North to sway victory for President Tinubu was disgraced and in a “game” played by the government, his nomination was rejected by the Senate during the confirmation process, allegedly on spurious claims of not scaling security screening.
Sen. Danjuma Goje, Senator Abdulazeez Yari and others have also suffered politically in one way or the other.
Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso is also under attack and fighting for the survival of Kano State.
“The information reaching us on a daily basis is alarming. Our people in the various states in the North are mostly of the view that this government is working to suppress the North. Amongst other things they seem to be suppressing our leaders as stated above, and are also subverting the will of the majority of the NORTHERN ELECTORATES! This is clear from the election cases in Plateau, Zamfara, and Kano. As we all know, these three states are volatile states! The perceived daylight robbery and truncation of the WILL of the PEOPLE through the courts might not be accepted by the people. There is unfortunately, a feeling by our people that this is all being caused by the inordinate 2nd term ambition of President Bola Tinubu who hasn’t even settled into his first term! Anti Yoruba sentiments are growing in the North for this reason.
“Obviously, a degeneration of this situation will impact on us directly as Arewas in the South West. If the North errupts due to the hijacking of the people’s mandate by the APC through the courts and Yorubas bear the brunt of it, then we, as Northerners, will not be safe in Yoruba land either!
“We therefore call on the President and his party to stop this crazy quest for power and the grabbing of states, using the judiciary. Mr President has been quoted in the past as saying “snatch it, grab it, and run with it. Power is not served a la carte”. From what we hear coming from the North, this will be resisted this time around.
Unfortunately, we the Arewas in the South West might suffer for it.
“As our counterparts in Kano, the Yoruba community have cried out last week through a press conference, the growing political tension in Kano is alarming, and it needs to be swiftly addressed by Mr. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through non-interference into the matters of the judiciary as an independent arm of government.
“Finally, we are told that ” Law is Social Engineering”. We trust that the Supreme Court, a co-equal arm of government, will redeem the image of the Judiciary and not allow it’s institution to be used by a recklessly power hungry arm of government to ignite Nigeria! “
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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