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Ganduje: The Beginning of the End

Published

6 years ago

October 20, 2018

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

These are not the best of times for the Executive Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, as he is fighting the battle of his political life, having been reportedly caught on camera collecting gratification from a contractor in his office.

Ganduje is about the only governor who enjoyed the support of his principal, Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso, when he was deputy governor to become the governor. However, the relationship hit the rocks shortly after he assumed leadership of the state, and in his words, their differences have become ‘irreconcilable’.

A video that circulated online captured the governor allegedly receiving a bribe to the tune of about $5 million from contractors in the state.

The video which was released by an online medium claimed it was a sting operation that captured the governor on camera collecting the bribe at different occasions.

Reports had it that the medium claimed that multiple contractors who spoke with it on the condition of anonymity said the governor personally received 15 to 25 per cent kickbacks for every project executed in the state. As a result, a sting operation was planned and executed, catching the governor right in the act. The governor has since denied the allegation as product of mischief makers, and had gone ahead to threaten law suit against the online publication.

In their response, the medium claimed that the sting operation to capture the governor on camera began about two years ago when one of the contractors agreed to a request by the outfit to plant spy camera on his kaftan lapel while offering the bribes.

“During about 10 months efforts to capture the bribe giving/taking scenes, the governor’s face and body were clearly captured in nine clips, while six others did not clearly reveal the governor’s face. About $5 million were delivered to the governor during the sting operation,” the report noted

Though the contractors are not yet named, it was said that one of the contractors who preferred not to be named said the reason he collaborated with the medium was to expose corruption and bring sanity to the country.

“The contractor stated that if his aim was to blackmail or extort the governor, he would have used the videos to get over a billion settlement or force the governor to pay the hundreds of millions of naira the state was owing to his company or force him to pay back all the money he paid as kickbacks. We believe if public office holders are exposed, there will be sanity in the system,” the report further stated.

However, the governor and the Kano State government have defended that the video was faked and cloned.

“We wish to state that there is no iota of truth to these allegations and if indeed there is any such alleged video, it is at best cloned.

“The government of Kano state is taking this matter seriously, and will exploit every appropriate and legal avenue to ensure that it gets to the root of the matter and the perpetrators are brought to book,” the Kano state commissioner for information, Muhammad Garba, said in a statement.

He said in a statement, that the Office of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice was challenging what he described as the “implausible and eccentric posting of the cloned video that went viral in a court of law considering its gravity.”

In response, the online medium, Daily Nigerian, published a second batch of the video to buttress the evidence against the governor. It further claimed that it is in possession of up to 15 of such clips, seemingly showing the governor taking bribes from different contractors, and plans to release all the 15 video clips, which according to them were shot over several months.

But the government of Ganduje are not relenting as it struggles to grab the straws in the quest to stay afloat as they have filed a criminal case against the online medium and its publisher, Jafar Jafar, over alleged defamation of character.The publisher has since gone underground to avoid violent backlash against him and his family

On their part, the state House of Assembly has constituted a seven-man committee to investigate the matter even as Ganduje has refused to make comments except for dismissing the first video as ‘cloned’. The committee is headed by Danagundi, the Majority Leader. Other members are Madari, Chief Whip; Zubairu Massu, Garba Ya’u Gwarmai, Abdulaziz Gafasa and Abubakar Galadima. Mujitaba Aminu would serve as the committee’s Secretary.

Curiously, neither the Police nor the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has announced any probe into the videos, much as time has elapsed since the contents of the videos were published.

Wilson Uwujaren, a spokesperson for EFCC, was quoted by Vanguard as saying: “If they are talking about issues, let them resolve their issues. Whether we are going to look at it is a different matter, but for now, I do not know anything.”

In the same vein, Kano State Police Commissioner, Rabiu Yusuf, also toed the line of EFCC. He told Vanguard: “I am in Abuja. I have not seen the video not to talk of even investigating. I am not in town, so I do not know anything pertaining to that for now. But do not worry, when I am done, I would call to let you know.”

Fighting harder to ward off suspicion, the Kano State has lashed out on the publisher, accusing him of mischief and discrediting a public figure by wielding non-existent scandal against him. They labelled “a serial blackmailer and extortioner” who was out to reduce the popularity of the governor and consequently affect the anticipated quantum of All Progressives Congress, APC, votes from Kano in the 2019 general election.

The government also accused a former governor of the state, Rabiu Kwankwaso, of being the brain behind the video. Kwankwaso has since distanced himself from the video, insisting that there was nothing between the publisher and him.

“Everyone knows that Jafar Jafar is an independent journalist and his medium, Daily Nigerian, is also independent.

“There is no deal whatsoever between Jafar and Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso. So if they are suspecting anything, it is left for them to prove it.”

However, APC in the state has refused to speak on the matter as it is now in the court. Speaking through its spokesperson, Lanre Issa-Onilu, the party said: “The matter is in court; the governor has taken the medium to court. We cannot comment on a matter that is already before a law court.”

But while the government of Kano State, the law enforcement agencies and the APC are still dilly dallying over the matter, the citizens have raised their voices against the governor, calling for his resignation.

A Coalition of Civil Society Organizations of Nigeria (CCSON) in a statement signed by the Director of Programmes, Mr. Pat Anyanwu, and made available to newsmen in Umuahia, the Abia state capital, asked Ganduje to resign immediately from office and clear himself of the corruption allegations.

It further threatened to embark on a one-million march in Kano and Abuja to compel the governor to step aside.

The group noted that the $5million bribe was too embarrassing to be swept under the carpet by the Federal Government, and asked President Muhammadu Buhari to wade into the matter now due to its consequences on his second term ambition.

The statement reads that, ” The so-called anti-corruption crusade of President Muhammadu Buhari and the travel ban on corrupt persons will not make meaning if Governor Ganduje is spared.

“There is nothing like cloning in the video and Ganduje has to prove the cloning theory”.

In one of its reports on the bribery scandal, Premium Times said that having looked thoroughly at the video, nothing seems fake therein.

Also, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), while claiming it has no faith in the committee set up by the Kano State House of Assembly to investigate bribery allegation, it called on the governor to ‘step aside’.

“We call for the Governor to immediately step aside to allow high level transparency, accountability and rule of law in the process of the investigation and prevent possible influence of the “fact-findings”. This will guarantee fairness and discourage undue interference in the investigation,” the body said.

With the protest from every corner against the governor, it seems Ganduje has reached his rope-end. Stakeholders claim that except there is a misrepresentation of facts and mismanagement of justice, the present scandal is the beginning of the end of Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje’s reign as governor, and possibly his political life.

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Madam Beatrice Abiodun Awomosu Thanks God at 80

Published

2 months ago

January 17, 2025

Eric

By Ruth Udeme

Joy indescribable, was written all over the face of Madam Beatrice Awomosu, when close family members and friends gathered in Ibadan, Oyo state to celebrate her entry into the octogenarian club.

The elegant matriarch, who is the mother of the stylish CEO of Jummhy Exclusive Fabrics, Mrs Jumoke Oyeneyin, marked her special 80th birthday in the house of the Lord, a recognition of His grace and divine mercies in her life over the years.

The thanksgiving service, which was held at Christ The Good Shepherd Catholic Church, Ibadan was a glorious outpouring of hymns, songs, praises and prayers all the way.

The officiating minister, who delivered the sermon, described the celebrator as an unwearied leader in the vineyard of the Lord, praying that God will shower her with excellent health and keep her alive to continue enjoying her children and grand children.

In her remarks, during the ceremony, her elated daughter, Mrs Jumoke Oyeneyin, who was filled with happiness that her mother was healthy and strong at 80, also noted that the hand of God was indeed upon the family.

The lively service was soon concluded after which guests moved to the Sunlight Royal Event Center, in the heart of Ibadan, for a classy one-in-town reception.

The venue had been creatively transformed by the inimitable Finesse Events who planned the event. Guests were pampered like royals, Choice drinks and gourmet dishes of various kinds flowed freely.

The ceremony was compered by Gbenga Adeyinka 1st, and had excellent music contents from great performers such as Beejay Sax, King Sunny Ade and Aristos Band.

Phots: Ken Ehimen

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Senate Approves Tinubu’s ₦1.77trn Loan Request

Published

4 months ago

November 21, 2024

Eric

The Senate has granted approval to the ₦1.77 trillion ($2.2b) loan request of President Bola Tinubu after a voice vote in favor of the request.

The Senate presided by Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, approved the loan after the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts chaired by Senator Wammako Magatarkada (APC, Sokoto North) presented the report of the committee.

The request which was submitted by the President on Tuesday is part of a fresh external borrowing plan to partially finance the N9.7 trillion budget deficit for the 2024 fiscal year.

Tinubu had on Tuesday written to the National Assembly, seeking approval of a fresh N1.767 trillion, the equivalent of $2.209 billion as a new external borrowing plan in the 2024 Appropriation Act.

The fresh loan is expected to stretch the amount spent on debt servicing by the Federal Government. The Central Bank of Nigeria recently said that it cost the Federal Government $3.58 billion to service foreign debt in the first nine months of 2024.

The CBN report on international payment statistics showed that the amount represents a 39.77 per cent increase from the $2.56bn spent during the same period in 2023.

According to the report, while the highest monthly debt servicing payment in 2024 occurred in May, amounting to $854.37m, the highest monthly expenditure in 2023 was $641.70m, recorded in July.

The trend in foreign debt servicing by the CBN highlights the rising cost of debt obligations by Nigeria.

Further breakdown of international debt figures showed that in January 2024, debt servicing costs surged by 398.89 per cent, rising to $560.52m from $112.35m in January 2023. February, however, saw a slight decline of 1.84 per cent, with payments reducing from $288.54m in 2023 to $283.22m in 2024.

March recorded a 31.04 per cent drop in payments, falling to $276.17m from $400.47m in the same period last year. April saw a significant rise of 131.77 per cent, with $215.20m paid in 2024 compared to $92.85m in 2023.

The highest debt servicing payment occurred in May 2024, when $854.37m was spent, reflecting a 286.52 per cent increase compared to $221.05m in May 2023. June, on the other hand, saw a 6.51 per cent decline, with $50.82m paid in 2024, down from $54.36m in 2023.

July 2024 recorded a 15.48 per cent reduction, with payments dropping to $542.50m from $641.70m in July 2023. In August, there was another decline of 9.69 per cent, as $279.95m was paid compared to $309.96m in 2023. However, September 2024 saw a 17.49 per cent increase, with payments rising to $515.81m from $439.06m in the same month last year.

Given rising exchange rates, the data raises concerns about the growing pressure of Nigeria’s foreign debt obligations.

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DIAMED CENTRE: Kesington Adebutu is a Father in a million – Daughter, Abiola Olorede

Published

8 months ago

July 20, 2024

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

A United States and United Kingdom trained prolific doctor, Dr. Abiola Olorede, the first daughter of accomplished businessman and renowned philanthropist, Sir Kesington Adebukunola Adebutu, is not a run-off-the-mill medical practitioner. She knows her onions, her worth and the mandate she is programmed to fulfill.

She is the Chief Medical Director of the just opened DIAMED CENTRE, a fully equipped diagnostic and medical facility saved with the responsibility of catering to the medical needs of the Nigerian public.

The hospital, which was built and handed over to her by her philanthropic father, is located at Kuboye Street, in the heart of Lekki Island, Lagos.

In this brief chat, the achiever, who lived most of her educational life in Dublin, Poland, expressed her gratitude to a father like no other, and how she and her team intends to make the best of the facility and equipment to totally affect humanity for the better.

Excerpts:

CAN YOU TELL US THE IDEA BEHIND THIS GREAT PROJECT?

Thank you very much, my name is Abiola Olorede, I am a medical doctor by profession. I schooled in Dublin, worked in the United Kingdom and in United States of America. When I came back home to Nigeria after my education including postgraduate studies, I realized that one of the major challenges is that a lot of the diagnostic tools that we need to use for evident-base treatment of our patient were lacking. Since then, I have always had a dream that when i am able to afford it, I will like to have a place that Nigerians can go to as comparable as those round the world because, just as I have always spoken about it, every Nigerian should have any treatment obtainable anywhere in the world in their home country.

CAN I DEDUCE THEREFORE, THAT YOU INTEND TO STOP MEDICAL TOURISM BY ESTABLISHING THIS ALL INCLUSIVE MEDICAL CENTRE?

Hmmm…Intend to stop is a very big word. I am hoping by the service we would offer here, a lot of Nigerians will see it as comparable to anywhere in the world and would want to use it instead of going out of the country. So, a lot of people that go out of the country can benefit from world class treatment in Nigeria.

SO OUT OF ALL YOUR DAD’S PHILANTHROPIC GESTURES, HOW DOES THIS ONE MAKE YOU FEEL?

If you noticed, the Kensington Adebutu Foundation, KAF, as it is fondly referred to, has major pillars and that’s education and health. It does a lot of other projects no doubt. I know that in any society, if the people are not educated, it’s a big loss to the country, if you don’t have the healthy workers too, it’s a big loss. So this brings out much of my pride in the service of Nigeria.

AS A PROUD DAUGHTER, WHAT MORE COULD YOU SAY ABOUT YOUR FATHER?

First of all, I would like to thank him. I tell everybody that he is father in a million. He supported his children over the years, financially, and with wisdom. I’m going up to 60, and my father still supports me pursue my dreams; it’s very rare. I want to thank him from the bottom of my heart. He’s always there, so thank you dad, you are a wonderful dad.

CAN YOU JUST ANALYZE THE KIND OF EQUIPMENT WE HAVE HERE?

We have a lot of facilities that are available, we have 3D monogram, it gives better images, and it’s less painful when you do that. We also have 64 high CT scan, digital X-rays, a lab, Haematology, Dialysis department, Dental suite, Opthalmology and Physiotherapy. We have a fully functional Pharmacy; so it’s like a one stop shop.

We have a Cardiac Suite where you can do ECO and other tests. We engage patients morning to night, make them comfortable as they get their test done. We don’t want you to feel you are in a hospital premises; you come from home and get all your test done.

WHAT DO YOU PROMISE NIGERIANS USING THIS FACILITY?

I promise Nigerians is that only experts, who will give the right diagnosis will be engaged here so we can give world class treatment and service. We want to use evidence and innovations to manage patients. Those are our promises to Nigerians and others as an organization and God will help us deliver all these promises.

AND HOW AFFORDABLE IS IT TO PATRONISE THIS PLACE?

We would try to make it cost effective in as much as medical care is not cheap. I tell people that being healthy is cheaper that being sick and that’s true, and that’s what we hope to accomplish. It is difficult to maintain some of this machines, some of them are very expensive so we must be able to recoop cost to get and replace equipment when due.

Thank you doctor Abiola, you have been very helpful and I wish you well in the management of this facility to the best interest of Nigerians. God bless you ma.

The pleasure is mine