Forget Second Term, You Have Failed To Deliver Good Governance - Bishop Bagobiri Tells El-Rufai

The Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan, Jema’a local government area of Kaduna State, His Holiness, Joseph Bagobiri, says Governor Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai has failed the test of governing the people of the state.

He noted that the people would no longer be fooled the second time.

Reacting to alleged plans by El-Rufai to relocate to Kafanchan, the headquarters of Southern Kaduna for political campaign, the Bishop noted that governor El-Rufai by his actions, in-actions, utterances and harassments of innocent Southern Kaduna people was trying to play God.

The cleric said: “He must know that records abound to show that no mortal who has tried to play God ever succeeded. God’s sovereignty cannot be mimicked. The earlier the governor understands this and change his evil disposition towards us the better for him and Kaduna State.

“We have received word that he is trying to re-locate to Kafanchan for campaigns. This is too late Mallam El Rufai. Go and do your campaigns among those you have served as governor to but not Southern Kaduna. We cannot be fooled this time around. You failed the test.

“His major aim is to keep us distracted with violent clashes, while the stealing continues unabated. We watched with admiration the great strides in agricultural development in States like Kebbi, Jigawa, Kano (on rice production) among others, and similar progress in the educational sector in Bayelsa with their new Niger Delta Academy.

“Governor El-Rufai has nothing to show in this regard but the sheer abuse of power directed on the Southern Kaduna People.

“We have seen bad government in Nigeria and Kaduna State before, but what is happening currently in our Nation in the area of corruption surpasses all others in terms of depth, scope and absence of the milk of human kindness.

“We can appreciate the silence from the Kaduna State House of Assembly. In the face of myriads of security challenges besetting the State, our legislators have been bought over with contracts from the Executive.

”l am also so sad in seeing that our brother Prof. Nok has allowed himself to be this much compromised. Our sympathy for injustices done to him in ABU have fizzled out with these revelations. He must change. It is as if we have no representatives in the House and in this APC-led government”.

By Amos Tauna

Nigeria Has Been Turned Into A Jungle By Buhari – Fani-Kayode

Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode has reacted to the exchange between wife of Nigeria’s President, Aisha Buhari and the Senator representing Kaduna Central in the National Assembly, Shehu Sani. 

The duo used animal metaphors in describing the power play around the State House in recent times.

Fani-Kayode tweeted on Tuesday: “First it was ‘dogs and baboons’. Now it is ‘hyenas and jackals’. 

Nigeria has been turned into a jungle fit only for animals by the Buharis!”

Nigerians who commented on social media, also said it was wrong to illustrate the tussle in the presidency with animals.

Others who lent their voices to the conversation alleged that the duo had joined Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), in calling Nigeria a zoo.

Though Mrs. Buhari and Senator Sani did not categorically call Nigeria a zoo, they spoke metaphorically in a way that left many in doubt of the actual message the two tried to convey.

By Ifreke Inyang

Birnin Gwari Emirate Begs El-Rufai For Help

A group under the auspices of Birnin Gwari Emirate Progressive Union in Birnin Gwari local government area of Kaduna State has raised the alarm that the area is currently under siege by armed bandits, rapists, cattle rustlers and kidnappers camping within the forest of the area.

The group has consequently appealed to the state governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai to assist in taking a decisive action concerning what it described as alarming security situation in the area which is threatening their lives.

In a letter addressed to governor El-Rufai and jointly signed by Chairman, Security Sub-Committee Birnin Gwari Emirate Progressive Union, Muazu Idris and the President of the union, Murtala Abdullahi and copied to security agencies and relevant stakeholders, the group lamented that “Reports have it that in Doka village and kungi-gari (15km away from Birnin Gear town) bandits attend markets brandishing AK47 riffles in the open without any challenge by security agents.

“About two weeks ago, they abducted a member of Kaduna State House of Assembly representing Birnin Gwari. Furthermore, on Friday 15th June 2017, two female students of Kaduna State College of Midwifery and staff were abducted, another batch of three were kidnapped 10km from Kaduna on the way to Birnin Gwari at gun point with parents and well wishes made to pay huge ransom largely determined by the criminals to secure their release .

“About three weeks ago, a car conveying NYSC members was intercepted along Birnin Gwari -Funtua axis and all the female Corps members were allegedly raped by the bandits.

“Regrettably, observers are of the opinion that the modus operandi of these hoodlums which often involved the use of military fatigues, possession of assault weapons and organizing themselves into camps in the surrounding forest reserve bears resemblance with that of Boko Haram insurgents.

“At present, our ancestral town of Birnin Gwari is encircled by bloodthirsty gangs moving freely from one end of the forest to the other across Jenni, Zamfara and Niger states with Birnin Gwari town as the ultimate target if proactive and pragmatic approach to quelling the menace urgently.

“We therefore appeal to His Excellency to use his good office to declare state of emergency and devote time and resources to save us of this harrowing scenarios as failure to urgently act will not only cripple us economically but pose serious security threat that will be difficult to curtail,” the letter read.

By Amos Tauna

Shehu Sani Cooked Up 'Walk Out Story' - El-Rufai

The Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-rufai, has said that Senator Shehu Sani did not walk out on him at the launching of the Kaduna State Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as reported by the media.

The governor said Sani was at Asaa Pyramid Hotel when the event was going on Thursday morning.

In a statement issued yesterday, El-rufai alleged that Shehu Sani, who did not come for the event, made up the story about himself.

The statement reads thus: “The Kaduna State Government invited the EFCC to set up shop in Kaduna. The state government provided the office space, and it was commissioned today. Since coming to Kaduna, the EFCC has helped the Kaduna State Government recover N450m from contractors and former public officers.

“But Shehu Sani tried to make the story about himself. He said he is protesting Malam Nasir El-Rufai’s presence at the commissioning of the EFCC office.

“But he did not come to the event, and so could not have walked out. He merely sent a text message to an EFCC official saying that he was at the gate but was turning back because someone does not deserve to be there. He was at Asaa Pyramid Hotel, instead.

“How come that it will be at the gate of the event that he suddenly realized that Malam El-Rufai who invited EFCC to Kaduna and provided them an office would be at the commissioning event of the same office? Why didn’t he send a letter to the EFCC earlier declining the invitation to attend the event?

“He played a joke on some journalists whom he knew would fall for his sense of drama rather than verify things. Recall that Shehu Sani did not support the confirmation of Magu.”

By Chijioke Jannah

Kaduna: Another High Court Stops El-Rufai From Sacking Village Heads

A High Court sitting ‎in Zaria, Kaduna State on Tuesday, granted an order of interim injunction, restraining governor Nasiru Ahmed El-Rufai of Kaduna State from taking any step whatsoever to fill the offices of District and Village heads within their domains pending the hearing and determination of Motion on Notice.

Others restrained from taking such actions include the Attorney General of Kaduna State ,Jaafaru Ibrahim Sani (Commissioner Kaduna Ministry of local government affairs), Kaduna State council of Emirs and Chiefs, Zazzau Emirate council, Kaduna State House of Assembly either by themselves or via their agents, servants and privies or any one, committee, task force, ministry or whosoever described acting on the instructions or directives of the defendants.

Similarly, an order of interim injunction was also granted, directing the parties to the suit to maintain the status quo ante prior to issuance of letters MLG/CA/45/427 and MLG/CA/45/462 dated 7th June, 2017 and 12th June 2017 respectively by the 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants pending the hearing ‎and determination of the Motion on Notice.

An order was also granted restraining the 5th Defendant/respondent from making any recommendation pursuant to the said letters/circulars herein mentioned and restraining the 1st-3rd defendants/respondents from acting on any such recommendations if any has been made pending the hearing and determination of motion on notice.

Alhaji Lawal Iro (Magajin Mallam Zazzau Hakimin Samaru) Alhaji Falalu Umaru (Maharin Zazzau Hakimin Dutsen Abba and Alhaji Isah Suleiman (Danmalikin Zazzau Hakimin Nassarawan Doya) who are plaintiffs in the suit No. KDH/Z/144/2017 suing for themselves and on behalf of the duly appointed District Heads whose positions are illegally threatened by the defendants had prayed for an order of Interim Injunction restraining the defendants/respondents either by themselves or via their agents, servants and privies or any one, committee, task force, ministry or whosoever described acting on the instructions or directives of the defendants from acting on the directives contained in the letters and or circulars or take any step whatsoever to fill the offices of District and Village Heads within their domains pending the hearing and determination of Motion on Notice.

The plaintiffs also prayed for an order of interim injunction restraining the Defendants/Respondents directing the parties to the suit to maintain the status quo ante prior to issuance of letters MLG/CA/45/427 and MLG/CA/45/462 dated 7th June, 2017 and 12th June 2017 respectively by the 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants pending the hearing ‎and determination of the Motion on Notice.

The plaintiffs also sought for an order of interim injunction directing the parties to the suit to maintain the status quo ante prior to issuance of letters MLG/CA/45/427 and MLG/CA/45/462 dated 7th June, 2017 and 12th June 2017 respectively by the 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants pending the hearing ‎and determination of the Motion on Notice already filed.

According to the presiding judge, Honourable Justice B. F Zubairu , the restraining order which was signed by himself also signed by the Registrar Buhari Aliyu Esq dated the 28th day ‎of June, 2017 was based on the 24 paragraphs affidavit in support of the motion paper by Mr. Yemi S. Adekunle with W. U Abdul Azeez Esq and S. Garba Esq, counsel for the Applicants.

Recalled that another High Court sitting in Kafanchan had earlier given a restraining order in a similar suit by another plaintiffs.

Meanwhile, the matter has been adjourned to Wednesday 5th July, 2017 for hearing of the Motion on Notice.

By Amos Tauna

You Talk Like An "Area Boy" - Afenifere Tell El-Rufai Over His Comments On Restructuring

Pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere has said the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai talks like an “area boy” for referring to those calling for restructuring as political opportunists.

El-Rufai had said those calling for restructuring of Nigeria were “political opportunists” 

He also claimed that people with presidential ambition were exploiting the restructuring call.

Reacting to the governor’s remark, Publicity Secretary of the association, Yinka Odumakin said El-Rufai revealed that he belonged to the group against restructuring.

Odumakin, in a statement stressed that the only way to put an end to the current agitations across the country was restructuring.

He stated, “El-Rufai should tell us his own idea to correct the imbalance in the country, because as far as we are concerned, the 2014 confab report is about the closest to the democratic representation of Nigeria.

“The confab consisted of representatives of all segments of the societies in Nigeria. But for somebody, who occupies a responsible office of a governor to be saying those who are talking about restructuring are irresponsible, it is very unfortunate.

“It is very sad for the governor to be talking like an area boy on the television. In Nigeria of today, we can now begin to take a census of those who are against restructuring – they are President Buhari, el-Rufai, Ango Abdullahi, Lai Mohammed and Tanko Yakassai.

“Aside from those people, everybody in Nigeria supports restructuring; that is the song everybody is playing all over the country as of today, whether we like it or not. Those who are against it are insignificant.’’

By Seun Opejobi