By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service, FFS, Olumode Adeyemi Samuel, has approved the immediate deployment of Deputy Controller of Fire, DCF, UM Sadiq as the new State Controller for the Kano State Command.

The appointment, which takes immediate effect, is part of the Service’s ongoing efforts to strengthen operational leadership and enhance public safety across the country.

Mr Sadiq takes over from Controller of Fire, CSF, Kazeem Sholadoye, who has been redeployed to the Jigawa State Command in an acting capacity.

The Federal Fire Service commended Sholadoye for his dedication and contributions during his tenure in Kano.

The newly appointed State Controller is familiar with the Kano Command, having previously served as its Acting Commanding Officer between 2015 and 2017.

An indigene of Nasarawa Local Government Area of Kano State, his return is expected to leverage his experience and knowledge of the state to improve emergency response and fire safety operations.

A statement by the Service described Mr Sadiq as a seasoned firefighter, administrator and policy strategist with extensive experience in fire prevention, emergency management and institutional reforms.

During his career, he has held several strategic positions within the Federal Fire Service, including Team Lead of Package B at the National Stadium, Abuja, in 2015; Commanding Officer of the Kano State Command between 2015 and 2017; Head of Appointment, Promotion and Discipline at the National Headquarters from 2017 to 2020; and Third-in-Command in charge of Policy, Planning, Research and Statistics between 2020 and 2021.

He also served as Head of Registry at the National Headquarters from 2021 to 2022, Second-in-Command of the Jigawa State Command between 2022 and 2023, State Controller of the Kaduna State Command from 2023 to 2024, and most recently, State Controller of the Kogi State Command from 2024 until his latest deployment.

According to the statement, Sadiq has played a significant role in the development of policies aimed at modernising the Service’s operational framework and improving emergency response mechanisms across the country.

The Service expressed optimism that his deployment to Kano would strengthen firefighting operations, improve public safety strategies, deepen community engagement and reinforce the state’s firefighting infrastructure.

The Controller-General expressed confidence in Sadiq’s ability to provide effective leadership for the Kano State Command and urged officers and personnel of the command to give him their full cooperation and support in the discharge of his duties.

Abbas Yushau Yusuf

Former Governor of Kano State and former APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, says the 1999 PDP primary election that produced the joint ticket of Kwankwaso and Ganduje was rigged in favour of Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

Dr. Ganduje stated this in a viral video circulated online while addressing some people.

Ganduje, who was former Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s deputy between 1999 and 2003 and between 2011 and 2015, said, “I swear by Almighty Allah that Kwankwaso did not win that primary election. I was the one who won, and the person who rigged the result in Gabasawa Local Government is still alive. He is even closer to me despite rigging the primary election in favour of Kwankwaso.”

Ganduje added that the PDP representatives who were sent from the party’s national headquarters appeased him when he objected and insisted that the primary election should be cancelled.

Ganduje said they begged him not to disrupt the process in order not to repeat the scenario of the 1991 gubernatorial election between the Santsi and Tabo factions during the SDP and NRC days, where a relatively unknown NRC gubernatorial candidate, Architect Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya, won against the popular SDP candidate, Engineer Magaji Abdullahi.

NIGERIAN TRACKER reports that Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje also served as Commissioner of Works and Housing during the military administrations of the late Colonel Muhammad Abdullahi Wase, the late Colonel Dominic Oneya, and the late Colonel Aminu Isa Kontagora before he resigned in late 1998 and contested the PDP primaries won by former Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

NIGERIAN TRACKER reports that Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso parted ways in March 2016 during the first tenure of former Governor Ganduje, when former Governor Kwankwaso was accused of politicising the condolence visit following the death of Governor Ganduje’s mother, who passed away in March 2016 in Ganduje town, Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area.

Since then, the political conflict between the two Kano political giants has continued to rage to this day, with both men bashing each other on any political podium where they find themselves.

Kano elders, during the lifetime of the late NRC presidential candidate, Alhaji Bashir Othman Tofa, made efforts to reconcile them, but to no avail.

By Lamara Garba Azare

The League of Kano Veteran Journalists (LKVJ) has been established to promote professionalism, safeguard the integrity of journalism, enhance the welfare of veteran media practitioners and provide mentorship for the next generation of journalists.

Registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in June 2026, the League brings together seasoned journalists with between 25 and 30 years of professional experience who are committed to contributing their knowledge, experience and expertise to the advancement of journalism in Kano State and Nigeria.

As part of efforts to foster collaboration with key stakeholders in the media industry, the leadership of the League on Friday, 17th July, 2026, paid a courtesy visit to the Executive Committee of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kano State Council, to formally intimate the Union about its establishment and seek its partnership in advancing the ideals of the profession.

Speaking during the visit, the Interim Chairman of the League, Alhaji Aminu Mahmoud, said the organisation was founded by accomplished journalists determined to preserve the noble values of the profession while promoting the welfare, dignity and relevance of veteran journalists in society.

He disclosed that the League of Kano Veteran Journalists was registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in June 2026, making it a legally recognised organisation with a clear constitutional framework and well defined objectives.

According to him, the League’s Board of Trustees is Co-chaired by former National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Malam Sani Zorro and one time Deputy National President of the NUJ, Malam Nasir Zahraddeen, while a former National Vice President of the NUJ, Zone A, Abdulkadir Ahmed Ibrahim Kwakwatawa, is the Board’s Secretary.

Mahmoud added that the Interim Management Committee would soon be inaugurated to oversee the affairs of the League. Besides himself as Interim Chairman, the interim leadership comprises Lamara Garba Azare as Vice Chairman I, Amina Mohammed Usman as Vice Chairperson II, Abdullahi Datti Abdullahi as Secretary, Nasir Yusuf Gwadabe as Communications Officer, while Adamu Abubakar Gammo, Abdullahi Yusuf Malam, Halima Ben Umar are other executives of the League.

He noted that similar associations already exist in several states, particularly in the South West, adding that Kano now joins Kwara and Plateau as one of the few northern states with such a body of veteran journalists.

Describing the NUJ as the League’s most important partner, Mahmoud said the founders maintained close consultations with the National Secretariat of the NUJ throughout the process leading to the establishment of the organisation.

He explained that the League has a well defined constitution and objectives centred on improving members’ welfare and healthcare, restoring the dignity and relevance of veteran journalists, promoting cooperation among members and creating opportunities to mentor and guide younger journalists.

The Interim Chairman further stated that the League would be studying emerging issues affecting journalism and make meaningful contributions to economic, political and social discourse as a body of experienced professionals. He added that the organisation also intends to intervene, whenever necessary, in disputes involving the media and government, the media and the public, as well as between the media and regulatory bodies.

Mahmoud appealed to the NUJ Kano State Council to work closely with the League in promoting ethical journalism, defending press freedom and collectively sanitising the journalism profession in Kano State.

Responding, the Chairman of the NUJ Kano State Council, Comrade Sulaiman Abdullahi Dederi, congratulated the veteran journalists on the successful establishment of the League and described the initiative as a welcome development for the journalism profession.

He said the wealth of experience and institutional memory possessed by veteran journalists would be invaluable in mentoring younger practitioners, promoting ethical standards and strengthening professionalism within the media industry.

The NUJ Chairman who was represented by Vice Chairman of the Council Comrade Mustapha Muhammad assured the League of the Council’s readiness to collaborate in pursuing shared objectives, particularly in the areas of capacity building, professional development, members’ welfare and the promotion of responsible journalism.

Dederi expressed confidence that the cordial relationship between the two organisations would contribute significantly to preserving the integrity of the profession and advancing the collective interests of journalists in Kano State.

The visit ended with both organisations reaffirming their commitment to fostering closer cooperation in promoting ethical journalism, protecting the image of the profession and ensuring that the experience and wisdom of veteran journalists continue to serve the public good.
The NUJ National Trustee Comrade Abbas Ibrahim and Salisu Ibrahim Fagge are among the founding members of the League.