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Opinion

Kano Assembly :Making A Hero In Muhuyi Magaji

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Muhuyi Magaji

 

 

By Auwalu Abdulqadir

 

As the unfolding Drama between the Kano state House of assembly and the former chairman of Kano state public complaints and Anti-corruption commission continued, the general public has been awash with fallacies since a committee was constituted by the state assembly to investigate the so-called allegations being meted against Barrister Magaji while he was at the office.

 

 

 

 

The nitty-gritty of law-making requires experience devoid of political interference, but the legislature has thrown itself into futility and derails from its main function of making good laws which they were elected to do.

 

 

 

 

Now they have executed the main hatched job which they were scripted to do on behalf of the executive arm of government.

 

.Sometimes I wondered how scriptwriters work hard to film a whole movie into real-life stories to which the Kano legislature did a few months back as if My Boss Muhuyi Magaji Rimin Gado is their only legislative agenda in the third quarter of the year 2021.

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From the committee, they set up in a closed-door meeting to suspension, then asking my boss to appear before them and then making the world believe that he falsified medical report, blab la bla.

 

Lawmakers are now making the most populous state in Nigeria a laughing stock in the eyes of the world.

 

The lawmaking body’s probe of Barrister Muhuyi revolves around one thing, that is the issue of posting an accountant to his office which led to suspension, then asking him to appear before them despite his health challenges and now recommending his removal which was the main goal of his detractors and those that don’t want to see the fight against corruption by my boss succeed in Kano.

 

 

 

 

Every individual in and around the world is much aware of a story uncovered by one of the investigative online media in Nigeria, The Daily Nigerian, and others on a plot to remove the most celebrated Anti-graft boss among the 36 states of the Federation.

 

The story on the plan to remove him went viral on the 27th of June 2021, and the Kano state legislature went Gaga the following week through diversionary tactics, and here is where we are that is the 26th of July recommending his final removal as the Anti Graft boss.

 

The reason why I said diversionary tactics was that the story broken on the 27th of June on a plot to remove Muhyi Magaji from his position has now come to reality.

 

They are now telling the public all sorts of stories through misleading information.

 

Now taken us back a little on how the scenario started, on June 27th Daily Nigerian and other online mediums carried the following story exactly as follows.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“’ Plot to remove the chairman of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission, PCAC, Muhuyi Rimingado, has thickened as Governor Abdullahi Ganduje allegedly mounts pressure on the State Assembly to execute the hatchet the job.

 

Informed sources at the Assembly said that the governor wanted the legislators to remove the state anti-corruption commission boss for poke nosing into his family’s affairs.

 

“There is actually a plot, with the governor as arrowhead, to remove Muhuyi. Although the governor did not specifically state Muhuyi’s offense, he just wanted him out of that office.

 

“You know in the governor’s usual antics of pushing the legislature to take the bullet for him. Remember he did the same when he wanted to get rid of his former deputy, Hafiz Abubakar, and former Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II,” said a legislator familiar with the plot.

 

Hepatitis Day: 9 In 10 People Are Ignorant

 

 

On the possibility of executing the governor’s bidding, the lawmaker said majority members of the Assembly are rubber-stamps.

 

The crisis began early this month when Mr. Rimingado beamed his searchlight into the contracts allegedly awarded to companies linked to the governor’s family.

 

 

 

 

In a letter sighted with reference number PCACC/CM/OFF/VOL.1/071 dated June 10, 2021, and signed by the chairman of the commission, Muhuyi Rimingado, the commission requested the commissioner of the Ministry of Works to provide information relating to the construction of Cancer Center and the supply of diesel by the state government.

 

“In the exercise of its powers under Section 9 and Section 15 of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission Law 2008 (as amended), the Commission is currently conducting an investigation which requires you to provide the following details:-

 

“(a) All documents relating to Cancer Centre

 

“(b) All documents pertaining to procurement of Diesel.

 

“(c) Any other information that will aid the Commission’s investigation.”

 

Credible sources told this newspaper that bulk diesel supply in government ministries, departments and agencies is allegedly the exclusive preserve of the first family.

 

It was gathered that the contract for the construction of the Cancer Centre, allegedly believed to be handled by a proxy of the first family, is undergoing a series of variations, which calls for concern of the commission.

 

The contract for the Cancer Centre was initially awarded at the cost of N2.4 billion but currently stands at over N5billion due to a series of variations.

 

It was gathered that there is alleged round-tripping in the diesel supply contracts, such that funds were allegedly released without the supply of the commodity.

 

Mr Rimingado, a lawyer, recently came under fire for his failure to investigate the governor’s corruption, particularly the dollar bribe-taking videos exposed by this newspaper in October 2018.

 

Efforts to speak with Mr Rimingado on his removal plan proved abortive as he barred incoming calls into his known telephone number.

 

A spokesman for the governor Abba Anwar did not pick our reporter’s calls, nor respond to a text message seeking the governor’s response on the matter’’

Daily Nigerian

 

The following week after 27th June Daily Nigerian and other publications were vindicated when the House suspended my boss from office without giving him a fair hearing.

 

The content of the above story is yet to be answered by the state legislature and July 27 is where we are that is recommending his removal by the assembly based on the following flimsy excuses.

 

If people like Timi the Law are alive and Human Rights lawyer Gani Fawehenmi, they will weep on how the law-making process in Nigeria has been bastardized by no one other than those who are supposed to uphold its sanctity and protect it.

 

Can we say we are in a paramilitary era where trump up charges are instituted on military officers by their military superiors just to get rid of certain individuals they are not pleased with by making them heroes of their own time?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now people and expert jurists should look at this and see how the state assembly executed what it was set to do.

 

The report on that made Headlines on the removal of my boss goes as follows.

 

 

“ Kano State House of Assembly has today in its plenary session received a report of the House Adhoc Committee on the investigation of a petition received by the House from the office of the Accountant General of the State against Muhuyi Magaji esq.

 

 

 

 

The Adhoc Committee Chairman  Umar Musa Gama presented the report before the Honourable House where the House deliberated and agreed on the recommendation of the Committee.

 

 

 

 

Among the recommendation as Stated by the Majority Leader  Labaran Abdul Madari in a chat with journalists after the sitting includes;

 

 

 

 

That the House should recommend the immediate removal of Muhuyi Magaji esq by the State Government as the suspended Chairman of the Public Complain and Anti Corruption Commission as provided by Section 6 of the Anti Corruption Law 2010 as amended which provides that,

 

“The Chairman or any other member  of the Commission appointed under this Law may at any time be removed from office by the Governor acting upon a resolution supported by simple majority of the members of the State House of  Assembly, praying that he be removed from office for inability to discharge effectively the functions of his office or for any other reason.”

 

 

 

 

The Committee further recommends the arrest, investigation, and prosecution of Muhuyi Magaji esq for the offenses of forgery and presenting false information to public office under sections 262,363,364 and 161 of the penal code of Kano State as amended.

 

 

 

 

Similarly, the Committee recommends that the said Accountant staff on grade level 04 should be dealt with in accordance with Kano State Civil Service rules whereas the rejected Chief Accountant by the suspended Chairman should be directed to take over the affairs of the Account Department of the Commission.

 

 

 

 

Later the House set up an Adhoc Committee under the Chairmanship of the Deputy Speaker  Zubairu Hamza Masu to investigate the financial dealings of the Commission from 2015 to date and to submit a report within three months.

 

 

 

 

As at today, the House of Assembly has not received a court order on this matter.

 

 

 

 

The above-itemized issues have shown how the house is making a mockery of the law, first by including an item that has never been a subject of their investigation, that is the so-called forgery they said he has committed when they made it mandatory that he must appear before them.

 

 

 

 

Now since chief executives are making a faux pass in dealing with the judiciary, the legislative arm of government has now followed suit, that is ignoring court orders, the court order was given three days to their sitting and despite the reportage by the press, in their resolution recommending his removal from the office they said they have not received any court order, lawmakers are now ignoring the law which is a pity for the growth and sustenance of democracy.

 

As the legislative arm of government is independent, one asks why will they not allow government agencies that are independent to discharge their responsibilities.

 

The reason why the PCACC has had many breakthroughs under the chairmanship of my boss was that he did his best to ensure that its independent and in the course of doing that the legislature was teleguided to use that in removing Barrister Muhuyi Magaji.

 

 

 

 

In order to justify their flimsy excuse in suspending and recommending the sack of Barrister Muhuyi, just because he wanted to assert the independence of the commission they cited the that he rejected an accountant sent to his office, an independent body acts independently and no one should raise an eyebrow.

 

With the unfolding scenario, the Kano state house of assembly has made a hero in Barrister Muhuyi Magaji Rimin Gado one of the celebrated Anti-corruption Czar.

The Yet to be answered Questions by the legislature

From the diversionary tactics of the legislature and to sweep things under the carpet during Barrister Muhyi’s Melodrama scripted by the lawmakers they once claim to have constituted another committee to investigate the finances of the commission,but nothing was heard from a mere mention.

 

Another gullibility they played with the people of Kano and other Nigerians was that since there was already a conspiracy to deal with him they went ahead to flout a court order restraining them from investigating him by a court of competent jurisdiction which made people to smell a rat in the pot of chickens,at the end, they have shown that they are their own judges.

Now they have made people to believe that Muhuyi Magaji’s fight against corruption is a nuisance to them and their pay masters.

The media is much aware how a committee was set up to scrutinize the finances of the commission and then later shifted the issue to the allegation of forgery and all was done without giving the accused a fair hearing.

The issue of forgery need to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt before condemning the person of Muhyi Magaji and in all the accusations he has never been allowed to prove his innocence what a pity

 

 

 

Auwalu Abdulqadir is the personal assistant to Barrister Muhuyi Magaji Rimin Gado

Opinion

Hon Sunusi Bature: Time to Take the Podium

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By Ahmad Dambazau

The National Assembly is a constitutional locomotive for any purposeful democratic government, it provides checks to the government of the day and a legal basis for the system in general .This basically accounts for the high respect usually accorded and, of course, the attendant high expectation placed on it. The legislative arm of government like any other is saddled with the responsibility enshrined in the constitution and among such major functions includes representation, oversight and law making in addition to many other numerous functions.

Be that as it may, it has been a genuine cause for worry for Nigerians that, despite our series of experimentation with democracy, our legislators have performed below expectation. Their handling of national issues has especially remained without constitutional decorum and political experience required of people of their exalted status. Part 2, Section 4 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, vests the legislative powers of the federation on the National Assembly which comprises the Senate and House of Representatives.

Dawakin Tofa ,Tofa and Rimin Gado Federal constituency is one of the few constituencies in Nigeria represented by the same legislator for 18 years(2007-2005) despite poor representation .

As the federal constituency searches for the best man to represent them for this serious legislative task. One name keeping ringing bell is Hon Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa ,Media and Communication Expert and Director General of Media and Publicity to Kano State Governor.Sunusi has earlier served as the Chief Press Seceretary to the Governor in the early days of the administration .

Mallam Sunusi is a seasoned PR guru, development communication and stakeholder engagement expert with 21 years working experience in both international development, private sector and the Media in Nigeria.

He is a winner of the Cambridge education award on investigative journalism in 2008, Bature has worked at different capacities in various national, International and Bilateral organizations such as the British Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO), the United State Agency for Internal Development (USAID), Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Save the Children International, Discovery Learning Alliance and the Rockefeller Foundation.

He held several positions which include General Manager Corporate Services at Dantata Foods and Allied Products Limited (DFAP), Director Stakeholder Engagement at YieldWise Project, Country Program Manager at Girl Rising (ENGAGE) Project funded by the US Government, State Project Coordinator for MNCH Campaign Project of the BMGF, Deputy Director Operations at Discovery Learning Alliance, State Program Officer, Policy Advocacy and Media Development, Communication and Knowledge Management Specialist among other positions.

Graduated with a Bachelor’s degree (B.A. Hons.) in Mass Communication from University of Maiduguri, Sanusi holds a National Diploma in Mass communication from Kaduna Polytechnic, a Higher National Diploma (HND) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health Education and Promotion.He also bagged MSc. in Social Work with specialization in Community Development from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, (LAUTECH) Ogbomosho, Oyo State and another master’s degree in Public Relations (MPR) from the prestigious Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria. He participated in the MSc program on Project Management at Robert Kennedy College, Zurich, Switzerland.Until his appointment, Sunusi Bature served as the Vice President, Nigeria operations for a UK based firm, Kingston Organic PLC.

Hon Dawakin Tofa has opened yet another vista of debate among electorates on the value of quality representation with vigour,expertise and experience of having a wider constituency responsibility and coverage .He has vindicated his mettle among his constituents that even as an appointee of the Governor his eloquent consistent and fearless voice always seeking the improvement of lives of his constituents accountability among representatives of the people.

He is truly a representative of the people though unelected going by the amount of work he was able to do for the overall benefit of his people. In fact, it is worth elucidating that this PR guru was able to touch the lives of the people in his stewardship in the private and public sectors. So far he has proved to be one of the few politicians that attracts government presence to his community. No matter what anyone would say, the amount of dividends of democracy that this community leader was able to bring to the door step of the people is unmatched.

Sunusi Bature’s development credentials and landmarks speaks volumes. The highlights of which were stellar achievements of re-positioning the educational sector in the more definitive ,radically ,progressive and futuristic manner , not to mention the capacity building, empowerment and educational scholarship for his people ,all shone brightly for both his admirers and detractors to access.

The Director General of Media and Publicity to the Governor of Kano State, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, has been honoured with the prestigious Most Outstanding Spokesperson Award by the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Information. Dawakin Tofa was selected for this esteemed award in recognition of his instrumental role in promoting not only the positive image of the Kano State Governor and his giant strides also for effectively showcasing the only NNPP ruling state in Nigeria.
In the award citation, Mallam Sunusi was hailed as an unwavering proponent of non-violent communication, renowned for his extensive network and adept delivery of practices with clarity in objectives, and strategic framing of engagements with his audience.His profound impact and effectiveness in perception and reputation management are highly commendable.

In whatever one indulges in there are always people to observe and give their verdict .It is a well- known fact that there is nothing stronger than the people’s verdict.it shows a collective desire which inevitably is the voice of reason. The momentum of Hon Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa legislative bid is gathering amongst all strata of the constituency is enough testimony that experienced count in the race for the parliamentary seat.

Dambazau wrote in from Kano.

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Opinion

Nasir El-rufai: The Strategic Politician in Recent Times

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By Abubakar Sadiq Dauda

Malam, as he is fondly called, is a very brilliant politician with alot of success stories. He is a genius per excellence when it comes to politics. He sets his main priorities and cares less about other sub priorities that may not yield to any serious positive impact. That simple act of setting his main target and work tirelessly to ensure that he delivers on the mandate makes him an outstanding politician.

In 2013, he was the brain behind the formation of APC. He committed his entire time and energy to bring Tinubu, Buhari and Atiku into thesame fold. The goal then was to defeat the ruling party, PDP.

Initially, he refused to compromise on his main target by not seeking for any elective position, which he knows may affect the chances of achieving his main priority. As fate will swing into his favour, former President Muhammadu Buhari, who was the major contender in the opposition as it was then, requested that El-rufai must contest for Kaduna governorship position in 2015. The rest is now history.

Fast-forward to 2023, El-rufai showed his zealousness and potentials by going for the bigger ‘fish’ again. His main objective was to make sure Tinubu (who hail from the South) succeeds Buhari, and APC should continue to take charge of the affairs of Kaduna state. He chose not to vie for any office in other for him to commit his time, effort and resources to achieve his main objective. The rest as they say is now history.

Again, today being the 10th of March, 2025, a well known discourse (judging by strategic meetings held recently) was finalized, formalized and brought into the public sphere by thesame figure, Nasir El-Rufai. The theme which is well known in many quarters is to make sure that the Government of the day at both national and at state level (emphasis on Kaduna) lost the election that will graciously take place in 2027.

Malam is fully committed to attain thesame success he recorded particularly in 2015 and 2023. In other for Malam to be successful, he will remain steadfast, focused and committed in achieving his main objective (judging by his past precedence).

Unlike many politicians and political actors, Malam believes in personal sacrifices to ensure that he gets the job done. He is able to outline is main priorities and commit all he has to attain the greater success he aspire, not minding whose ox is gored.

His fearlessness, foresight, brilliance, hard-work has overtime proves beyond doubt that he is indeed a strategic politician who should not be taken in for a ride.

Sadiq is a political analyst, writes from Kano and can be reached via sadiqdauda55@gmail.com

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Opinion

Ganduje Decorates Barau, Political General

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From Abba Anwar

Thrilled by the consistent effort of the Deputy Senate President, Barau I Jibrin, CFR, in making the All Progressives Congress (APC) waxing stronger across Nigeria, the National Chairman of APC, His Excellency (Dr) Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, CON, decorates the DSP with a title of Political General.

As the hall of the event to receive members of the Coalition of Atiku Abubakar Support Groups, from 19 Northern states, into the fold of the ruling APC, roared with standing ovation, the National Chairman continued, “Distinguished Barau I. Jibrin’s capacity is beyond his constituency, Kano North or Kano State.”

Silencing all hues and cries about Barau’s role in accepting members of other parties at the local level, Ganduje reminded that, “Initially people thought Distinguished Barau I. Jibrin, representing Kano North Senatorial District, is only working in Kano for receiving members of other political parties to APC in Kano.

But you can see that, he is going beyond that. He is liberating those people especially those committed to democracy, convincing them to join APC, not only from Kano or from North, but from other parts of the country.”

He commended that,” Senator Barau is a real political General.”

To further show his inner most appreciation of the Deputy Senate President’s effort in strengthening the party from many fronts, Ganduje concurred that,”… after the Fasting period all members of this Coalition will be gathered in Abuja under the leadership of Distinguished Senator Barau Jibrin, so that we invite Mr President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Vice President, Senate President and Right Honorable Speaker, House of Representatives, to formally receive all your members.

In order to register the death and the collapse of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Nigeria. Not only in the Northern part of the country.”

The National Chairman of APC was at the event with all members of the National Working Committee of the party. What this indicates is, how important and relevant is Barau’s effort in molding party structures and brilliant engagement in the nation’s political experiment.

Recent cemented relationship between Ganduje and Barau signals many things for the party and individuals. Alignment and realignment, among other political strategies, are a condition that scares APC opponents, real and perceived, in Kano, North and the country as a whole.

The way I see it, is this, as Barau started with local push, in accepting local politicians, entertainers and political novices, in some circumstances, his recent engagement with Coalition of Atiku Support Groups, speaks volume in understanding how deep he has gone in the national scheme of things of the ruling APC. He is more or less, becoming a pillar. Particularly with the endorsement of the National Chairman.

What Barau is up to, is subject to many interpretations. Depending on the side of the prism one is standing. But one fundamental item in his activities is this, that, he is making the party to be more visible, more vibrant, more relevant and stronger in multi-faceted manifestations. Left to me, I can say Barau is not too much concerned about local politics.

On his part, DSP appreciated that, since Ganduje became the National Chairman of APC, “… since he came in we did not lose any election. The party is waxing stronger day in day out. He has shown that he is capable. So we are proud of you Mr Chairman Sir.”

Adding that, “We thank you for making Kano state proud we thank you for making North West proud. And we thank you for making Nigeria proud. His Excellency Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, CON, proves to all that he is a detribalised national leader.”

Anwar, was Chief Press Secretary to the former Governor of Kano State, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, CON, and can be reached at fatimanbaba1@gmail.com

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