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Kano Governor Accuses Former Leadership Of YUMSUK Of Partisanship

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“During the past administration of Yusuf Maitama Sule University, Kano, (YUMSUK) the institution was so polarized and so politicized and the leadership of the University then, did not have the interest of the state at heart.

There was a time when we allocated One Hundred Million Naira (N100m) for the institution, but it took the leadership of the university 3 months to come forward and collect it.”

Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano made the above lamentation, listing reasons why YUMSUK was unnecessarily slow in development, during the past administration of the university, before the advent of the current Vice Chancellor, Professor Mukhtar Atiku Kurawa.

Kano Seals Private Hospital for attending to severe COVID-19 cases

That was disclosed during a courtesy visit by the Vice Chancellor, Prof Kurawa and the management of the university, to Governor Ganduje amid State Executive Council meeting, held at Africa House, Government House, Kano, Wednesday.

“With the new Vice Chancellor in place”, he clearly stated that, “…business will not be as usual.” Which indicates the confidence the governor reposed in Prof. Kurawa and his style of leadership. After face lifting the State Polytechnic, when he (Kurawa) was the Rector.

“The past administration of the university was not interested in moving the university forward. An action which put the University at a disadvantaged position. It sometime took a complete year without any communication from the university authority to government.

How then could we be able to know what was militating against its progress, without any communication from the authority concerned? he asked rhetorically.

Governor Ganduje promised that, “We will try our best to complete the abandoned buildings of Faculty of Science and that of Arts and Humanities. Apart from this, our administration will look into your concern for having an effective and workable MBBS programme In Sha Allah.”

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“On the issue of staffing, I assure you that we will look into that also. Since we really understand that, the new Vice Chancellor, Professor Mukhtar Atiku Kurawa has the university and the development of the state at heart,” he appreciated.

The nonchalant attitude of the past administration, according to the governor, in managing the affairs of the university, many benefits that were hitherto meant for the institution, were unnecessarily missed.

Lamenting further how, the then leadership of the university acted with no interest towards the development of the state, governor Ganduje said, “During the Convocation ceremony of the University, the then leadership invited the then Emir of Kano only, abandoning other newly created and backed by Law, First Class Emirs.

Which impliedly meant ignoring what the state did for the overall development of the state. What we were saying was, dont politicize academic environment. But when that happened, we now said, okay as politicians, who were also academics in the past, we said that could not happen before our eyes. We said it was impossible.”

He continued “We then invited all other 4 newly created First Class Emirs, who came to the Convocation. Their presence took the University by surprise and as a result, the Emir of Kano made a U-turn. Knowing fully that he wouldn’t have fertile ground to castigate federal and state governments.”

Governor further revealed that, he had an opportunity to contact Minister of Education, Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC) and that of Tertiary Education Trust Fund( TETFUND), “…they all gave us their words about the possibility of establishing Federal Polytechnic in Kano state.”

He also reveals that, the proposed Yusuf Maitama Sule Centre For Research and Democracy would be under the university, adding that, “…we even requested the family of the late elder statesman, the late Danmasani of Kano, Yusuf Maitama Sule, to provide us with things that could give clear depiction of the late father.”

In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor commended governor’s commitment in prompting education sector and his political will, at all times, in making sure that the state excel in the area of education, like other areas.

“During my days as the Rector of Kano State Polytechnic, which you appointed me Sir, Your Excellency, you did all that was necessary to push for the development of the institution. Many programmes got accredited, we got additional courses with full accreditation, new structures were put in place, the list goes on and on,” he commended.

Prof Kurawa appreciated that, it was the first time in Kano, when a serving Rector, was also appointed as a Vice Chancellor. “This shows your deeply rooted interest in pushing the state forward.”

In a statement by Abba Anwar the Governor’s Chief press secretary said , on behalf of the management of the university, commended the governor, also for displaying genuine interest in reshaping and refocusing the university, emphasising that, “We are all aware and confident that you will look into our requests for moving the university forward.”

 

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210 Trillion Scandal:LP Presidential Candidate ,Peter Obi Describes Nigeria as Crime Scene

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Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, has described Nigeria as a “crime scene” following revelations of massive financial irregularities in the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC).

In a statement on Friday, Obi said the Senate’s recent audit findings on the NNPC between 2017 and 2023 revealed “₦210 trillion in financial irregularities,” including “₦103 trillion in so-called ‘accrued expenses’ and ₦107 trillion in unaccounted ‘receivables.’”

“There is no documentation. No accountability. No consequences,” Obi said.

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He noted that Nigeria’s total national budget within the same period amounted to ₦88.01 trillion, which is less than half of the missing or questionable funds.

His words: “This is not just another scandal, it is a clear and damning confirmation of a nation held hostage by monumental corruption.”

Obi described the development as “a criminal institutionalised betrayal of the Nigerian people” and warned that it poses “a grave threat to the future of the society our children will live in.”

“No responsible nation can continue to function like this without confronting this truth.

“This criminality masquerading as governance must be stopped and dismantled for a better Nigeria,” he added.

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Iran Appoints New Chief Of Intelligence After Israel Killed Two Predecessors

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Iran has appointed a new chief of intelligence at its Revolutionary Guards on Thursday, the official Irna news agency says, after his predecessor was killed in an Israeli strike last week.

Major General Mohammad Pakpour, the commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), appointed Brigadier General Majid Khadami as the new head of its intelligence division, Irna says.

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He replaces Mohammed Kazemi, who was killed on Sunday alongside two other Revolutionary Guards officers — Hassan Mohaghegh and Mohsen Bagheri — in an Israeli strike.

Pakpour had himself been recently appointed after Israel killed his predecessor Hossein Salami in a strike on June 13.

“During the years that our martyred commanders Kazemi and Mohaqeq led the IRGC Intelligence, we witnessed significant growth in all aspects of intelligence within the IRGC,” says Pakpour.

Upon his appointment by Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei Friday, Pakpour threatened to open “the gates of hell” in retaliation for Israel’s attacks.

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Stun Gun Scandal: Pastor Adefarasin Faces Criminal Probe Over Viral Video, Says Lagos CP

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The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, has confirmed that televangelist Pastor Paul Adefarasin faces criminal charges after pointing a stun gun at another person, an act he said is punishable under Nigerian law even if the device is non-lethal. Jimoh spoke on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Thursday while providing an update on the ongoing probe.

“Nothing is an offence under the law, except what the law states to be an offence,” Jimoh explained. “Even under the Fire Arms Act, if you fashion out anything that is not metal, like wood, and you make it look like a gun, and you use that guise to take possession of property from another person, you have committed armed robbery. So, pointing a stun gun at another individual and sending that threat and fear to such a person at that particular time constitutes an offence. So, the police are doing everything in line with the law.”

According to Jimoh, the stun gun recovered from Adefarasin qualifies as prohibited riot control equipment under Nigerian statutes. Although the pastor has been released on bail, the commissioner emphasized that the investigation remains active. “He was invited; a letter of invitation was sent to him. In fact, we had prepared our warrant of arrest, in case he refused to comply with the invitation. But he turned himself in and was questioned by a team of investigators who were already on the matter before he turned himself in.”

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The video that sparked the inquiry surfaced earlier this month, showing Adefarasin seated in a Range Rover holding what many believed to be a firearm as he spoke to someone outside the vehicle. The pastor has since taken to his official X account to dispute any wrongdoing: “You might be aware of a video circulating on social media showing me in what some have misunderstood as brandishing a firearm. I want to assure you — that was certainly not a firearm, and at no point did I point such at anyone.”

Jimoh further revealed that the individual allegedly threatened in the clip, a content creator whose address the police have obtained—will be summoned to provide a statement. “It is equally on social media that the person he pointed it to is a content creator and we are taking a statement from him as soon as he equally gets to us because we have got his address and we’re going to get him to make a statement in that regard.”

The commissioner concluded by promising transparency once the inquiry is complete: “The pastor is still under investigation, though he has been granted bail, but we will continue with the investigation and make the outcome of the investigation public for all Nigerians to know.”

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