From Maduabuchi Nmeribeh, Kano
Reeling out the uncommon achievements of his administration in the last six years, Kano state Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, on Saturday declared that his administration will continue to ensure that the ancient commercial city remains the most peaceful state in the country, devoid of insurgency, banditry, ethnic unrest and discrimination.
Ganduje who spoke during a Town Hall meeting/presentations to mark his six year anniversary as Governor of Kano state, described Kano as a mini-Nigeria where all residents are recognized as indigenes of the state.
“We promise that everybody is an indigene of Kano state. No discrimination, no segregation. In Kano, no armed robbery, no ethnic problem, no banditry, no insurgency. Nigeria is one and in Kano we maintain this principle, because Kano is a mini-Nigeria where everybody is recognized as an indigene.”
Ganduje also promised that his administration will continue with the free, compulsory basic and secondary education policy.
He maintained that education in Kano state is free and compulsory from primary to secondary level, adding that the most important thing is the political will which has been demonstrayed.
He further stated that another challenge is the funding, “we have paid all our counterpart funding. The UBEC counterpart funding has been paid to the letter running into billions of Naira. The Federal Government has also succeeded in paying its counterpart funding.”
According to him, the state government also established the Education Trust Fund where five percent of our Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and five percent of the Local Government funds are channeled into education.
Also in health, Ganduje said apart from the Contributory Health scheme where civil servants contribute for free medical services, “we also collect five percent of our IGR and five percent of our Local Government funds to fund the health sector.
“In order to reduce medical tourism abroad, we are building ultra modern cancer treatment center which will be the best and the biggest in the country.
“We have also isolated Corona Virus. We are also urging our people to continue to observe all the COVID-19 protocols.”
He also mentioned the creation of four additional Emirates as a major part of the achievements of his administration, which has kick-started development across the books and crannies of the state.
Ganduje said that, “we have also succeeded in empowering over one million youths in the state. We identified 25 skills in Kano. We purchased equipment and built the Dangote Ultra Modern Skills acquisition centre.
“We also engaged in general empowerment where we empower the youths, the women, tricycle operators, artisans; and many others sent to PAN in Kaduna to learn automobile skills.
“Today, we are sending another batch to Kaduna where they will spend one year. We are taking care of their accommodation, feeding and everything.”
Speaking earlier during his welcome address, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Usman Alhaji, said Governor Ganduje took very seriously, the welfare of workers in the state, which culminated into a success story in this last six years where workers salary are paid as at when due.
The SSG reaffirmed that, “Kano today is adjudged the most secured state in the country.
“In Nigeria, there is no other state either in the past or present that has taken the step this government has taken to ensure the development of education.
“When President Muhammadu Buhari visited Kano to commission some of the hospitals built by this administration, he called on other governors in the country to emulate what His Excellency, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje is doing in Kano.
“Over one million youths, men and women have been empowered within the last six years. Ganduje has also done well in agriculture. There is no sector of human development that Ganduje has not performed creditably.
“The Ganduje’s administration has also performed creditably in the fight against COVID-19.”
In party politics, the SSG revealed that, “we have over three million members of APC in Kano which is the highest across the country. This is because our leader, the Governor is committed to the development of the state and our great party.”
Also speaking the chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state, Prince Abbas Abdullahi, said Kano state has been great with Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje as Governor since 2015.
“There is no doubt Governor Ganduje has established himself as one of the consolidated politicians in Nigeria.
“Governor Ganduje’s contribution to peaceful Local Government election remains commendable. The Governor has been visiting virtually all the Local Government Areas in the state, empowering and encouraging the people.
“Our great party, the APC is proud of Ganduje.
He has brought development to Kano state. He has provided infrastructure such as bridges and flyovers. Ganduje has demonstrated commitment and expertise in handling COVID-19 pandemic. No state in the country with such a huge population that did not encounter problem during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Even though some Abuja-based politicians use to come in and capitalise on the peaceful atmosphere to verbally attack the Governor and the good people of the state because they know the Governor is a peace-loving person, Governor Ganduje has continued to exhibit maturity.”
The party chairman, however, expressed disenchamtment over the attitude of some party chieftains who have already started campaigning for governorship ahead 2023.
He regretted that some governorship aspirants within the cabinet are already hitting up the polity, pointing out that, “the Governor has about two years to go. They should allow him to concentrate and do his job.
“They should concentrate on their assignment and allow the Governor to finish his good work. The party leadership is not happy with the way the aspirants and their supporters are going about hitting up the polity. The Governor has no anointed candidate or aspirant for now. They should wait until the right time.”
The majority leader of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Alhassan Ado Doguwa, who spoke on behalf of members of National Assembly, said, “May I use this opportunity to congratulate you as our Governor, congratulate you as our leader on your six years as the executive Governor of Kano state.
“This is six years of uncommon achievements. Six years of infrastructural development. Six years of good leadership. We are proud to be associated with your sterling leadership qualities.
“I thank you most sincerely on your achievements in the area of infrastructure, in the area of education, in the area of health and human development.”
The House leader also congratulated Governor Ganduje for “crushing the Kwankwassiyya Political movement.”
“The Kwankwassiyya Political movement was as bad as Corona Virus in Kano state. Ganduje has succeeded in crushing the Kwankwassiyya in Kano state. Kwankwassiyya is the political Corona which Ganduje crushed in Kano state,” he added.
Speaker of Kano state House of Assembly, Engr. Hamisu Ibrahim Chidari, in his remarks, said Ganduje has justified confidence reposed in him by the people through delivery of democratic dividends, particularly, in the area of free, compulsory basic and secondary education.
“The House of Assembly has been enjoying synergy with the executive under the leadership of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. In the last six years, the House has passed over 60 bills into law. We have also made over 100 resolutions,” he stated.
