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I Still Don’t Regret Working Under Ganduje-Anwar

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10 months ago

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Abba Anwar Ganduje's former Chief press secretary

 

This piece of information is just a tip of an iceberg, regarding my work as Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the former Governor of Kano State, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje CON. More and more issues will be unfolded in my Memoir, in due course.

Principally, I want reveal to all, interested parties, onlookers, pretenders and undecided elements, that I HAVE NO REGRET FOR SERVING UNDER GANDUJE ADMINISTRATION. I served directly under him, as his Spokesperson, CPS, from February 2018 to May 2023. Six consecutive years, without any break, by whatever circumstance.

While I gained a lot in his wealth of experience, as the Chief Security Officer of our dear state, Kano, I was extremely happy to serve my state in that capacity. To God be the glory, I came to know what media engagement means to politics. And vice versa.

I can always be happy to be identified with his effort in securing Kano state, from its breadth and length. I, for many times, referred that onerous effort as Ganduje Model of Security System. His inclusion of all and sundry, when it came to collective responsibility in our security architecture, was incomparable, with most of the state governments, then. Not to talk of now, when security becomes gold.

Ganduje’s human relations, as simple as he appears, gave me more chances to work with open heart and learn, from the close nexus relationship between power, institutions and bureaucracy. I learned a lot in this area. I came to fully understand how media managers, work as a team.

During my sojourn as Governor’s Spokesperson, under Ganduje administration, to date, I learned how media managers behave after their official engagement with their principals, in life after government. The best example of us all, is Prof Sule Ya’u Sule. Who was Director Press in Military Administration and civilian administration of Malam Ibrahim Shekarau. But there are factors responsible for that. I learned a lot from him, when I was CPS. So also from Comrade Baba Halilu Dantiye (mni).

I walked to them and gained from their vast knowledge and experience. Simply because I didn’t see myself as a politician, belonging to the ruling party. I regarded myself and behaved as a professional. Who wanted to protect my professional calling. And the good image of my primary constituency, the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

As a result of my work as Chief Press Secretary to the former Governor, Ganduje, I became conversant with politics in media engagement. I do not mean political communication. But how media managers, who suppose to take lead, dwarf the good face of the profession with an ugly face.

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To the extent that, the unprofessional conduct of the managers affect their output. It will disturb your thought significantly, to see that, one of the simplest responsibilities of such managers, as in designing press releases, are poorly written and utterly arranged.

Let me urge my readers to take samples of divergent press releases issued by different media managers of different Kano state administrations, compare them with that of Police or Presidency or any organized non-media organization and see the display of uncoordinated experience.

It was because of my work as CPS, that I came to understand that, many at times, governance is ditched by undeserved media managers. Who sometimes, appear to be “sincere”, “committed”, “enduring”, and “friendly.” While on the flipside, they care only for their personal gains, tailored and awkward sensitivity. Ignorance at its “best” form.

During my work as CPS, my principal, Ganduje, him alone, gave me chance to use my professional knowledge and work uninterrupted. That was why, I worked more as a professional than a unionist or half – professional – half- politician. That time, all directives came from him directly. Not from any Cabinet member or highly placed office holders or family circle. And I stood by that throughout my six years with him.

I still don’t regret being identified with all the infrastructural development during his tenure, that I witnessed as his spokesman. Flyovers flying all over. General hospitals across the then newly established 4 additional Emirates. State-of-the-art Cancer Centre, in Giginyu. Completion of Muhammadu Buhari General Hospital, Giginyu and Khalifa Isyaka Rabi’u Paediatric Hospital, Zoo road, etc etc.

Establishment of four additional Emirates are one of the major interventions I love most in his administration. That, to me, was meant for transformation of our traditional institutions. I saw it as such and will continue with the thought.

Thinking that, Abba Anwar will reverse those efforts, is not only misleading, but, deceit, sheer display of ignorance and uninterrupted sadism. Yes, sadism, as always projected and promoted at the expense of professionalism and genuine engagement.

As I’m still not regretting my participation in Ganduje’s administration, as his Chief Press Secretary, I still believe, as I believe for all other administrations, that none is infallible. From the very time Kano was created, as a state, all governments, either military or civilian, up to the present day administration of Abba Kabir Yusuf, are not and cannot be flawless. This is my conviction. So it is left for ditchers and sadists around to understand otherwise.

With these few points, I challenge anyone, who thinks he or she understands, governance, image making, media engagement and commitment to leadership, to show me a single paragraph or sentence, where I glaringly and in black and white, as a Chief Press Secretary then, condemned any previous administrations in my press releases. Or after my CPS years, when I condemned, in black and white, not only Ganduje administration, that I served, but Kwankwaso or Shekarau administrations. Yes I mean a single paragraph or sentence. Same thing applies to Abba Gida Gida’s administration. Eagerly waiting!

I was not trained to be so. From my upbringing to my school days. I was trained to be a professional journalist, not a unionist. And all my professional years proved to that. My work under Ganduje administration, as CPS, speaks volumes.

My Memoir will unveil stark realities, undisputed circumstances and typical examples with relevant characters.

Signed
Abba Anwar
Kano State, Nigeria
Tuesday, 23rd September, 2025

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Breaking: President Tinubu Approves Establishment of Four New Divisions of the Nigerian Army, Bringing the Total to 12

Published

5 minutes ago

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July 23, 2026

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has approved the expansion of the Nigerian Army’s structure from eight to twelve divisions—a landmark move to enhance the country’s security architecture and improve the operational effectiveness of the Nigerian Army.

This approval underscores the President’s unwavering commitment to equipping the Armed Forces to address Nigeria’s evolving security challenges effectively and to strengthen national defence capabilities further.

The expansion builds on the Administration’s sustained investments in the Armed Forces, including approval for the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel, acquisition of critical military platforms and equipment, improvements in troop welfare, and ongoing support for operational readiness and force modernisation.

Under the new structure, the Nigerian Army will operate twelve divisions, strategically positioned across the country as follows:

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1. 1 Division Headquarters – Kaduna (Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States)
2. 2 Division Headquarters – Ibadan (Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo States)
3. 3 Division Headquarters – Jos (Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe States)
4. 5 Division Headquarters – Makurdi (Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi States)
5. 6 Division Headquarters – Port Harcourt (Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States)
6. 7 Division Headquarters – Maiduguri (Borno and Yobe States)
7. 8 Division Headquarters – Sokoto (Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States)
8. 9 Division Headquarters – Ilorin (Kwara and Niger States)
9. 10 Division Headquarters – Jalingo (Taraba and Adamawa States)
10. 81 Division Headquarters – Lagos (Lagos and Ogun States)
11. 82 Division Headquarters – Enugu (Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo States)
12. 83 Division Headquarters – Benin City (Edo, Delta and Bayelsa States).

The establishment of the new Divisions in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City will significantly improve command and control, decentralise operational decision-making, strengthen border security, enhance the protection of critical national infrastructure, improve counter-insurgency and internal security operations, and ensure faster military response to emerging threats nationwide.

Implementation of the new force structure will be done in two phases. The first phase, covering the establishment of the 5, 9, and 10 Divisions and the reorganisation of existing formations, will be completed by September 2026. The second phase, involving the establishment of the 83 Division and further reorganisation, is expected to be completed by December 2026.

President Tinubu commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Ibrahim Shuaibu, and all officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army for their dedication, professionalism, and steadfast commitment to defending Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

In a statement by Bayo Onanuga Special adviser to the President on informational and strategy said the President reaffirmed his Administration’s determination to continue investing in the Armed Forces, ensuring they remain adequately equipped, highly motivated, and fully capable of protecting the nation and guaranteeing the safety and security of all Nigerians.

 

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Kano Online Media Chapel Honours Gov Abba Yusuf with Excellence Award

Published

4 hours ago

on

July 23, 2026

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The Kano Online Media Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Wednesday honoured the Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, with an Award of Excellence in recognition of his administration’s unwavering support for the media profession and commitment to strengthening journalism in the state.
The award presentation ceremony was held at the Council Chamber, Government House, Kano, in the presence of members of the Kano State Executive Council and other senior government officials.
The honour was conferred on Governor Yusuf in appreciation of his administration’s sustained partnership with the Kano Online Media Chapel, particularly for facilitating the training of more than 50 online journalists on modern and ethical news reporting, digital journalism, fact-checking, and emerging media technology

Receiving the award, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf expressed gratitude to the Kano Online Media Chapel for the recognition, describing it as an encouragement to do more in advancing media development in the state.
The Governor commended members of the Chapel for their professionalism and contributions to promoting truth, public awareness, and responsible journalism. He pledged that his administration would continue to support the Nigeria Union of Journalists and other media organisations through capacity-building initiatives and policies that strengthen the journalism profession.
Governor Yusuf also urged journalists to uphold the ethics of the profession by ensuring accuracy, fairness, and objectivity in their reports, emphasizing that credible journalism remains essential to good governance, peace, and sustainable development.

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Presenting the award, the Chairman of the Kano Online Media Chapel, NUJ, Comrade Abubakar Abdulkadir Dangambo, said the recognition was a reflection of Governor Yusuf’s outstanding contributions to media development and his administration’s consistent support for journalists.
Dangambo noted that the Governor’s investment in capacity building has equipped members of the Chapel with modern reporting skills, enabling them to meet the evolving demands of digital journalism while promoting professionalism, accuracy, and ethical reporting.
He expressed appreciation to the Governor for recognising the critical role of online media in promoting transparency, public enlightenment, and democratic governance, describing the award as a symbol of gratitude from journalists who have directly benefited from the administration’s media-friendly policies.

 

Earlier speaking, the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, commended the Kano Online Media Chapel for its dedication to promoting responsible journalism and professional excellence. He described the media as an indispensable partner in democratic governance, stressing that credible and ethical reporting remains vital to informing the public and supporting government accountability.

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Tinubu’s Projects In The North Are Traceable-Kwankwaso

Published

1 day ago

on

July 22, 2026

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The Forum of Federal Government appointees from Kano under Senator Bashir Garba Lado, has strongly challenged opposition Leaders to showcase what they have on stock that they will do better than President Tinubu clear Developmental Projects, rather than negative criticism.

Speaking in a released, the Spokesperson of the Forum of the Federal Government appointees, Dr Musa Illiyasu Kwankwaso, said, Wednesday that, overtime the opposition leaders of Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi and others have not clearly spelled out their missions to Government but rather everyday they go one criticizing President Tinubu whose Projects across the Country and the North is specific can be clearly seen.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is executing a massive portfolio of infrastructure and developmental projects across Kano and Northern Nigeria, valued at trillions of Naira, spanning highways, railways, power, and agriculture, which an be touched and seen not mare baseless opposition”, Kwankwaso notes.

In trying to highlight some of the projects, Musa Illiyasu Kwankwaso, who is also the Executive Director Finance Hadejia Jammaare River Basin, fall under the “Renewed Hope” agenda, and in Kano alone there are more 30 of such projects.

Musa Illiyasu Kwankwaso believes that the Projects execution and the concern shown by the President on Kano and the entire North are worthy of given him heavy votes across Northern Nigeria that will secure his smooth 2nd Term in office.

He said that with the intervention of the President in Kano and other Northern Nigeria, he will have massive votes that awaits his reelection back to office comes 2027 in Kano and other Northern States.

He listed projects like the Kano–Kongolom Road, a major 132-kilometre, at N334 billion dualization and construction project aimed at connecting Kano with Jigawa and Katsina.

Similarly, Musa Illiyasu Kwankwaso explained that, the Abuja–Kaduna–Kano Expressway, a Massive ongoing reconstruction utilizing durable continuous reinforced concrete pavement technology with added security enhancements like
In the same vein, the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway, a colossal 1,068-kilometre, six-lane economic corridor that will integrate a rail line in the median, greatly connecting Northern regions, been awarded by the President for his concern to the Northern Region.

Musa Kwankwaso hints that A 37.8-kilometre dual carriageway designed with multiple bridges to divert heavy industrial traffic away from the Kano metropolis that is Kano Eastern Bypass is ongoing and will soon be completed.

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Another giant project according Kwankwaso is the Kano–Maradi Rail Line, a flagship 284-kilometre rail project cutting through Kano, Jigawa, and Katsina, designed to ease the transportation of goods and connect Nigeria with the Niger Republic.

While on Economic growth the President is working on AKK Gas Pipeline, the 614-kilometre Ajaokuta-Abuja-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline aimed at boosting domestic gas supply, industrialization, and power generation in Northern states, adding that this projects is near been completed.

On Ecological and Agricultural intervention the President Tinubu ensure the execution of Jakara-Gogau-Zungeru Project, he approved N47 billion for this massive urban sewage and ecological drainage system in Kano metropolis to control flooding and improve sanitation.

He also created Dams & Irrigation: Multi-billion Naira federal interventions have been released for 16 dams in Kano State, including the Challawa Gorge and Tiga Dams, alongside the broader Kano River Project to support agriculture.

On Healthcare Revitalization, The federal government has continuously upgraded Federal Teaching Hospitals across Northern zones and revitalized thousands of Primary Health Centres (PHCs) under the IMPACT program.

Still for the loves of the North, just recently the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu launched the Energize Commercialize Nigeria (ECoN) initiative in Kano, converting research and creative ideas into commercially viable products to create jobs across the Northwest.

“While Northwest Development Commission: The federal government has finalized development and inspection operations for the commission’s projects and its permanent headquarters in Kano.”

Musa Illiyasu Kwankwaso, notes that all these giant projects that are not merely on papers but they are lively going and anybody can touch and see them, shows the concern and love of the President Tinubu for the region.

He said, “President Tinubu should sleep with his two eyes closed because as per as reelection bid is concerned is a done deal and the North and Kano in particular will give him heavy votes that will quickly secure his victory”

Speaking on Peter Obi/Kwankwaso NDC Presidential Tickets, Musa Illiyasu, said that the contest is the most laughable in the recent Nigeria Political trajectory, because neither Obi no Kwankwaso have the regional recognition to win any election.

Further more, the Spokesperson of the Forum of the Federal Appointees, hints that, “Kwankwaso is flying a game with Peter Obi, because he is not sincere with their Projects”.

He added that, ” I can bet you, Kwankwaso is supporting a different Presidential Candidate, but sooner than later Nigerians would clearly see who is Kwankwaso and who did he stand with”.

The Forum Chairman Senator Bashir Garba Lado who is also the Adviser on National Assembly Senate, to the President, Musa Illiyasu Kwankwaso and all other Members, expressed deep determination to ensure that after securing victory for President Tinubu, they also secure Victory for Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State, three Senators of Barau Jibrin, Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila, and Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, together with all the 24 House of Representatives seat and 40 Kano Assembly seats.

“No doubt, our determination to ensure the victory of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, Senator Barau Jibrin, Kawu Sumaila, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau and all the Reps Seats and House of Assembly is clear and by the will of God our mission will be actualize”, Kwankwaso said.

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