31st May, 2015
MADUABUCHI NMERIBEH/Kano
Twenty for hours after being sworn-in as the governor of Kano state, northwest Nigeria, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje Saturday night defended the huge debt profile of N294.5 billion left behind by the immediate past governor, Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, declaring that the huge liabilities inherited was not a crime.
Ganduje stated that the price of crude oil presently is different from when the Kwankwassiyya Political Movement started total revolution in terms of bringing development to the ancient commercial city of Kano in 2011.
“I am part and parcel of the Kwankwaso’s administration and whatever must have happened; we all should take the responsibility,” Ganduje who was former deputy to Kwankwaso asserted, adding that, “on the issue of liabilities, yes, it is correct that we have a huge liabilities, but that does not mean that it is a crime, we planned everything together with my boss (Kwankwaso); but unfortunately, what we envisaged did not work as the price of oil came down. So, what do we do? We could not complete the projects because of lack of funds—that is not a problem. Now, it is a matter of re-planning and rescheduling. I assure you that those people that cry foul because of liabilities are only being shortsighted because by the time they complete their tenure, it will be the same story for worst. So, I don’t want to cry because we have huge liabilities. Yes, we have huge liabilities and that is not a crime. Oil was more than $100 per barrel, now it is $50 per barrel, it come down more than half. Then we have already started projects—do we cancel them? No, we cannot. So, we have to manage what we have—that is no problem to me.”
Our correspondent reports that at the eve of the hand-over and inauguration ceremony, residents of Kano, were urged to tighten their belts as hard times loom ahead following the slim nature of the state’s treasury. Chairman of Kano state Transition Committee and now Deputy Governor, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar solicited for the understanding of the people of the state, just as stated through the figures he presented that the state’s treasury is in a sorry state. He also decried the level of Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, pointing out the need for the incoming administration to shore it up so as to be able to raise the financial status of the state, and ensure adequate development and even distribution of democratic dividends.
Presenting the 495-page report containing the activities of the state government between May 2011 and May 2015 and presented to the governor-elect, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Prof. Hafiz said that, “the state has a very huge challenge to contend with in terms of finances in both state and local government levels. The people should bear with us. We have already started the austerity journey.”
He noted that between 2011 and 2015, Kano state received N419.975 billion from the federation account, while the money allocated to the Local Government within the period under review stood at 346.591 billion. He further stated that out of this figure, the state government expended N418.168 billion, while expenditure recorded from the Local Government allocation was N329 billion.
The Committee chairman also stated that Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso administration completed 4019 projects, with an outstanding balance of N105 billion as regards the 2715 on-going projects, while it inherited 671 projects from the past administration, with over N30 billion debt from the previous administration.
He said Kano state has about 143, 380 personnel , employed additional 10, 000 youths while 7,494 can youths recently employed into the service of the government are yet to be reflected in the payroll with salary arrears amounting to N789 million. The report of the Committee also indicated that about N20 unpaid vouchers are already lying at the Ministry of Finance, with N4.402 Billion pension liabilities.
Responding to the report, Governor Ganduje described it as a job well done, “I am happy to notice that people from different sectors participated in the report. It is a report of many hands and brains. I am not surprise with the content of the report. The report is a guidance. It is a report from the right hand to the right hand. The report is from a government we were party to and it is the same government we are heading to. So, it will serve as a guidance, it will serve as a precautionary, it will serve as a source of inspiration and it is going to determine how we take off. The report will serve as an indicator so that we can satisfy the yearnings of the electorates. A Committee will be set up to look into the manpower issue, look into the outstanding projects and take a peep into the finances. We shall forge ahead. The slogan of our party is change, but here in Kano, we started our own change in 2011 and it is a change that continues positively,” he concluded.
Then, on the hand-over and inauguration ceremonies, our Correspondent reports that the size of the crowd that greeted the presidential campaign of President Muhammad Buhari replayed itself in Kano that Friday when Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, immediate past Governor of Kano state handed over the mantle of leadership to his former second-in-command, now Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. Ganduje was elated and he preached zero-tolerance to corruption, just as he insisted that his government will continue to build on the legacies of his predecessor who he consistently referred to as, “my boss.”
Their mood betrayed rumours that the two leaders are in silent confrontation over how the new government would be run.
Speaking of Kwankwaso at the Coronation Hall, at the ear of Government House where the handing over ceremony took place, Ganduje said: “My boss, my mentor, the Supreme Commander of the Kwankwassiyya Movement. It is, indeed, a momentous occasion, it is a historic occasion; and what has happened this morning is a transaction of your own thinking, your own calculation and belief that what is happening today is in the best interest of Kano and our people. I thank you and I am not surprise because it is also as a result of our brotherly relationship spanning for over 25 years.”
To the Kano people, he stated: “We are grateful for you electing us and our party, the APC in all political positions. I pledge on behalf of myself and my Deputy that continuity is a task that must be done. We shall emulate the good work of my boss. We shall complete the projects that are not completed just the way they are conceived.”
Appreciating the accolades from his successor, Kwankwaso enthused in a rather short speech: “Let me congratulate my brothers, friends and confidants, His Excellency, the new Governior of Kano state, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and his Deputy, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar. I want to assure that we will continue to work together for the development of our great state. Today, I feel so fulfilled because we have been able to deliver. I wish you well.”
Immediately after the handing over programme, Kwankwaso jetted to Abuja, while the stage of the show was shifted to Sani Abacha stadium, where unprecedented crowd gathered to witness Governor Ganduje and his Deputy, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar taking oath of office administered by the acting Chief Judge of the state, Mrs. Patricia Mahmud.
Speaking shortly after taking the oath of office, Ganduje who has consistently promised to move on with the legacies of Kwankwaso said he has the intention to make Kano a mega-city and take development to the hinterlands, adding that he is going to review the Kano master-plan to give it the status of a mega-city. He promised to run an all-inclusive government based on the principles of fairness, accountability and transparency.
Ganduje also warned that anybody working with him should purge himself of corruption of any form because his administration would not hesitate to punish corrupt public office holders no matter how highly placed. He also promised to boost transportation through the introduction of light rail-system. He also promised to boost agriculture, education, housing and human development. He also promised to restructure the system Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, and ensure security of lives and property of the people.
Leaders and stakeholders in the state spoke to our Correspondent on the kind of a man Ganduje is and what he should do to put Kano on the right path of sustainablke development.
Former military administrator of Kano when Ganduje was Commissioner for Works, General Dominic Oneya described Ganduje as a loyal leader and urged him to rule with the fear of God.
Oneya said: “Ganduje is a very good man, a very loyal and hardworking Commissioner of Works during my time here in Kano as the Military Administrator. I am not surprised that God has made it possible for him to become the Governor of Kano state and I am sure he is going to deliver. He will not disappoint the people; and I feel so happy that I have to come all the way from my state to witness this inauguration in my other state which is Kano.
“I was a Brigade-Commander here and I was a Military Administrator here—so, I am at home here; and I sure Ganduje will not disappoint the people. He is hardworking, he has foresight and above all, his loyalty brought him to where he is today. I will have to advice Ganduje to have the fear of God; and at the same time make sure that he keeps away people that will just come and tell him what they think he should hear. He should be able to carry his cabinet along and have confidence in his Deputy and make sure that he delivers on what the people want. He should try his best and let sycophants keep away from him—that is my little advice to him.”
Former Governor of the state, Senator Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya said: “Well I believe governance is a matter of how you run your system. From day one, Ganduje is good enough and I believe he will continue with the good work Kwankwaso has started; and I am sure he is going to complete those works that are yet to be completed and bring out his own ideas. You see, in our time when I was Governor and now are different times. In our time, the revenue that we collected from the federation account is about N60 million to N70 million per month; but this time, it is about N8 to N9 billion, so, the different is very clear; but yet, we thank God that we have been remembered for what we did during that time up till today and that is why we are still relevant in politics.
“I believe Ganduje can do a good job and I wish him well; and I can tell you that we are so close that I know where and how to give him the real advice, not in the pages of newspapers. Ganduje knows what he can do and I can tell you we speak almost on daily basis and I keep giving him positive advice. I have a full confidence that Ganduje is going to perform. He was a Deputy Governor for eight years; and the most important thing is that he had a break, and when you are in government and you have a break, you will learn and perform more than you did before. You can remember that what Kwankwaso did in his first four years is completely different from what he did now, because he had a break. When you have a break in government, you will look into your mistakes and correct them.”
Senator Barau Jubrin of Kano North Senatorial District said he has no doubt in his mind that Ganduje will perform creditably. “Let me tell you that people will make mistake when they call Ganduje a new governor—he is not a new governor, he is an old governor. I say this because he has been in the corridor of power for a very long time and he knows everything about how the system works. Now, he has garnered enough experience. Don’t also forget that he is an intellectual, a bureaucrat. He is also a seasoned politician.
“If you combine all these factors together, you will find out that he is very experienced and you should expect that he is going to deliver—he is going to deliver in such a way that it will surprise everybody. He is going to build on what the immediate past governor has done to the people of Kano state and Kano is going to be better for it. Kano today is the best state in the country in terms of good governance and delivery of democratic dividends and we believe that now that Ganduje is there, Kano is going to be better because Ganduje has an excellent pedigree. He is a groomed administrator, so expect the best from him. So, we don’t have any iota of doubt that Ganduje is going to perform,” he noted.
However, shortly after he was sworn, Gandje made new appointments retaining Alhaji Rabi’u Suleiman Bichi as Secretary to the State Government, SSG; Alhaji Usman Bala Muhammed, former Special Assistant to Ganduje is now Principal Private Secretary to the Governor; Muhammad Auwal Na’iya emerged Head of Service; Baba Halilu Dantiye, Director of Press and Public Relations to former Governor Kwankwaso is now Director-General, Media and Communications to Governor Ganduje; Ameen K. Yassar is appointed Press Secretary to the Governor, while Ganduje’s former Director of Press, Bala Salihu is now Special Assistant on Print Media.
Diplomats, politicians, traditional rulers, business moguls graced the occasion, including the Emir of Kano, Malam Muhammad Sanusi 11.