Kano State

By Uzair Adam Imam

Amidst Sallah (Eid-el-Fitr) celebration, when people jubilate the end of Ramadan in new clothes and different sorts of delicious dishes, civil servants in Kano have seen their 4th day of a new month without salaries, the development they said has thrown them and their families into dilemma.

Reacting with dismay, the workers said the government has failed to keep to its promise of paying the salaries on the 25th of every month.

The Daily Reality learnt that some workers had to hide because they could not make any provision to welcome and host their friends and relatives as usual.

The workers who bitterly complained about the government’s carelessness towards their wellbeing said they remained indoors on the Sallah days because they were economically depressed.

Eid-el-Fitr is the period when the Muslim faithful happily celebrate the end of Ramadan. The days are usually welcomed with beautifully sewed clothes, different sorts of delicious foods, and meats of all kinds provided they are Islamically lawful, and relatives from all walks will call on their family and friends to celebrate the day.

Salary delay leaves a big hole in our minds

One of the civil servants who spoke to our reporter said that he went ahead to embrace his old craft of sewing for a living. The civil servant, who our reporter found busy sewing in a tailoring shop, said this delay has left in their minds a very big hole.

He added, “I can not do what I used to do on Sallah days. I couldn’t afford to buy a single chicken for my family. We did not cook anything nor did we have any new clothes to wear.”I used to sit with friends after Eid to exchange greetings and share pleasantries. But this time around, as I was depressed, I remained indoors until 4 pm when I came out to pray,” he added.

Another source, Ibrahim Shu’aibu, decried the experience as horrendous as they largely depend on their monthly income for a living.

Shu’aibu said, “The experience is horrendous. The effect is deep. It has affected almost all aspects of our lives as civil servants. More than half of the civil servants rely on salaries to cater for themselves, their families as well as some members of their relatives.”

In the same vein, this incident has deeply affected many businesses in many states in this country, Kano in particular.”

Personally speaking, this Eid-el-Fitr has passed like an ordinary day. I had to hide because I didn’t make any provision to welcome and host my friends and relatives as usual,” he stated.

Also, another source who pleaded for anonymity confided in our reporter that this Sallah is one of the worse situations he ever found himself in. He said, “We didn’t cook anything for this Sallah because I was broke. And I couldn’t afford to buy Sallah attire for my small kids. Here we are living like baggers.”

The worst part of it is that the government keep mute about the issue. I think the government should have addressed us. But sadly enough, what we only hear or see from the government officials is their beautifully snapped pictures at Umara.”

Another worker, Sulaiman Abdullahi, not his real name, said they found it difficult to handle the situation as they mostly live from paycheck to paycheck.

He said, “that’s why most of the workers are indebted beyond settlement. As we receive our salaries, we go ahead to pay the debt. I know you can imagine how hard we civil servants live our lives.”

Kano economy in a chain – Economist

An economist teaching in one of the Kano institutions lamented that the state economy is in a chain, leaving a lot many sectors affected. The economist said the delay in this month’s salary has affected many businesses, leading to the stop in the facilitation of goods and services in the state.

He further stated that “generally, the state economy is the dependent economy. It is dependent because it depends on workers’ salaries. When workers get paid at the end of every month, they will take their income into circulation by purchasing goods and services.

“At the end of this month, workers have not been paid. The facilitation of goods and services from various markets in the state will stop.

“The welfare of workers and their families will be affected. The state economic facilitation and activities are also stopped. And in long run, it will give a gap in which businesses will be dropped. And if it dropped it will create losses,” he said.

Could Kano State Government respond?

In line with balancing this report, our reporter contacted the Kano State Chief Press Secretary, Malam Abba Anwar, to know the cause of the delay in this month’s salary payment. However, all attempts were proved abortive despite huge complaints by the workers about the government’s silence on the issue.

By Sheikh Prof. Muhammad Babangida Muhammad

The growing trend of conflicting religious verdicts being issued these days by the Ulama in Nigeria is alarming. That they differ and argue on issues is not in itself the problem. In fact, they should differ in order to provide the people with a variety of acceptable perspectives of the secondary teachings of Islam. At the same time, there should be no cause for Muslims to differ on the fundamentals of Islam.

The problem lies in how the Ulama express the differences in their understanding and interpretation of texts. Some Ulama resort to launching abusive missiles and questioning the integrity and sincerity of the other scholar who differs from them, which is out of tune with the ethics of differences (adab al khilaf). They create an unnecessary atmosphere of distrust, tension and ill-feeling, accompanied by intolerance, lack of moderation and self-centredness.

The institution of scholarship in Nigeria is gradually being abused by intruders who lack the basic prerequisites of scholarship. Some vacuum seems to exist somewhere as people fail to recognise who genuinely is a Malam and who is ‘ pro-Malan’ – for wealth or worldly-inspired. An era of Ulamisation (crowning the ignorant as Ulama) of the ordinary uninformed people seems to be taking over as religious verdicts are issued by ‘Awaam al nas’, disrespecting the precise position of qualified Ulama.

We are in a state of ‘Kowa Malam’- everyone claiming Islamic knowledge. There are the ‘social media Malams’ and the ‘Market and roadside Malams’. We have the ‘Amulet-vendor Malams’, ‘political-opportunists Malams’ and all sets of quasi-Malams who wriggle in themselves and slug it out with the real Malams in the religious and socio-political space. They corrupt the religious environment, promote confusion and chaos and ultimately cause societal decay. Something needs to be done to stop these people and keep them away altogether.

We all recall that Maitatsine and later Boko Haram emerged out of such a situation and, fuelled with ignorance, developed into a monstrous extremist ideology. The current race by the uninformed to take over the religious garb and platform might be a fallout from the wrong perception of freedom provided by democracy or societal disequilibrium and failure or the incapability of the real Ulama to provide the needed leadership and guidance in response to emerging contemporary issues. In any case, it is an unacceptable trend that must be arrested.

In most Islamic countries, an established Central Committee of Leading Ulama (Hai’at Kibar al Ulama) or a Fatwa Council collectively deliberates on any issue requiring a verdict. Uncertified people who issue fatwa are sanctioned. Within the Fatwa Council, the majority opinion is upheld, while the minority view of any scholar is respectfully appended, but the majority view remains the official position. It is probably high time we considered instituting such a body in Nigeria, which will consist of capable and qualified Ulama who would be saddled with the responsibility of issuing fatwa based on well-informed opinion.

The Fatwa Committee of the National Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs could be expanded to include various religious tendencies within Sunni Islam. Alternatively, a university-based Islamic research Centre may constitute a broad-based non-sectarian Fatwa body (Majma’u al Buhuth wal Fatawy al Ilmiyyah). Only the most qualified (not necessarily certificate holders) would be admitted into the body. This will go a long way in arresting the seemingly uncontrollable trend of ‘Ulamitism’ or false claim to Islamic knowledge.

Only recently, during this blessed month of Ramadan, an unnecessary controversy on Inter-religious Dialogue (IRD) was blown out of proportion. Before you know it, accusations and counter-accusations were flying all around. Some ‘Ulama’ issued fatwa literally declaring those involved in IRD and any form of a committee consisting of people of other religions as apostates. Fatwa without strings or borders. A dangerous trend indeed. Something is definitely wrong somewhere, and we need to trace our steps back to do the right things in order to right the wrongs.

Let’s begin from here. First, establish an Intra- Religious Dialogue Committee, which would promote mutual respect, understanding and tolerance amongst the Ulama and, by extension, a broader atmosphere of peace and unity amongst the Muslims. It should not be an assembly of the argumentative elements who strive in controversies. If we fail to appreciate the value and significance of intra-religious dialogue and positive engagement with one another, Inter-religious dialogue will indeed appear out of order.

In a multi-religious society like Nigeria, engagement with people of other faiths for some common good is essential. Therefore, we should use sound knowledge, wisdom, sincerity and consideration of the general good of the Muslims (al Maslahah al ‘ammah) to determine any engagement of Muslims with other faiths. Ulama who are well-grounded in knowledge should be given a chance to guide how to pursue such engagement.

At the intrafaith level, the example of the Coalition of Ulama in Kano is a commendable initiative. Ulama belonging to various inclinations, came together under a Forum to pursue and tackle shared problems related to insecurity, drug abuse, child theft and trafficking, issues of IDPs and disaster-stricken communities, orphans and related problems. The Coalition established an NGO, NUSAID Humanitarian Initiative, which since 2016 has been extending assistance and community services to the needy members of the community, including the IDPs in Borno. The Kano initiative may serve as a model for Ulama in other states to adopt to promote Muslim unity, peace and mutual assistance.

May this piece not be a source of yet another controversy. Ameen, Ya Allah.

Sheikh Prof. Muhammad Babangida Muhammad is the Director Center for Quranic Studies BUK & National Amir, National Islamic Center (Ummah Movement).

By Uzair Adam Imam 

Kano State has recorded more than 2.8 million hospital visits due to the menace of malaria in 2021, the Commissioner for Health, Aminu Tsanyawa, said.

Tsanyawa spoke yesterday at a press briefing to commemorate 2022 World Malaria Day.

This, according to Tsanyawa, made the disease the single most common reason for about 60 per cent of outpatient visitations and consultations in Kano state. 

However, Tsanyawa recalled that the Kano state government, in collaboration with its partners, did its best to mitigate the menace.

He said, “between July and October 202, the state government, in collaboration with its partners, administered more than 13,110,365 doses of malaria prevention drugs (sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine and Amodiaquine SP+AQ) with a view to preventing malaria and deaths in children under the age of five.”

Furthermore, Tsanyawa sounded a clarion call on residents to avail their children aged 3-59 months for the forthcoming 4-day cycles of mass distribution of malaria prevention drugs. 

By Ishaq Habeeb

I’ve met Nafisa twice, first at Zoo Road, Kano, hanging out with a friend who’s in business with many Kannywood industry people. Second, when I escorted a friend who visited Kano, Nigeria, from Niamey, Niger Republic. He had been pen pals with Nafisa for some time. So they agreed to meet whenever she’s in Kano.

After my initial attempts to dodge being part of making this meeting happen, I grudgingly agreed to link them up. But, aside from that, I don’t know Nafisa enough as an actress to know whether I like her or her movies.

I mostly remember her from the one-time popular song, “Bankwana sai watarana“, sang by Nazifi Asnanic. But following this Almajiranci debate, I already like her as an activist and looking forward to liking her as – hopefully – a good actress.

As for Naziru, I’ve met him several times. Besides being best friends with his childhood friend Rabiu Uba, I’ve had business reasons to visit his T/Fulani residence last year with Usman G. Abubakar and spent time with the singer in his living room. That aside, I am no fan of his mostly-political music. Nothing personal, just not my genre.

Now back to the original reason behind this write-up; the Almajiranci debate. My stand; Nafisat Abdullahi is right, so is Naziru Sarkin Waka. For those of us that know people in the Kannywood industry and have lived in Kano (the headquarters of Almajiranci in the world) long enough to see the horror of Almajiranci at its peak, we are in a better position to say they’re both right.

Victims of inadequate parenting primarily dominate both Kannywood and Almajiranci systems. Therefore, inadequate parenting is the monster we need to kill. Given that, bearing more children than one can adequately cater for is hugely responsible for bad parenting. This fact proves Nafisa and Naziru right.

Conclusively, the major problem lies with the people that make it their life’s calling always to attack messengers to discredit a message that often serves the good of all – however factual and tangible the facts in the message may be.

First, it was Digital Imam, speaking truth to Presidency on the escalating level of insecurity. Then Nafisat, for speaking out against Almajiranci, a menace we all agree needs urgent addressing. Then almost concurrently, Naziru, for speaking out against the prevalent immoralities in Kannywood, which is being perpetrated chiefly by victims of inadequate parenting.

Now, one can only pray, as a people, may we learn to hate our problems more than we love judging who’s reminding us of their presence for us to FIX them.

Ishaq Habeeb wrote from Kano via simplyishaqhabeeb@gmail.com.

By Uzair Adam Imam 

Bichi constituents have raised N28 million to purchase the APC House of Representatives Form for the member representing the constituency, Hon. Abubakar Kabir Bichi.

The gesture is meant to appreciate the dividends of democracy the lawmaker has brought to the constituency, especially in his resolve to make education accessible for all the local government indigenes. 

Individuals donated hugely at the fundraising ceremony organized by Hon. Abubakar Kabir Students Association (HAKASA) led by one Abubakar Mukhtar Ibrahim. The event took place Sunday at Haggagawa Primary School, Bichi Local Government Area.

Among the donors were a former SSG to the government of Kano State, Engr. Rabiu Suleiman Bichi, Sen. Barau I Jibril, the Chairman Bichi LGA, Prof. Yusuf Muhammad Sabo, Hon. Lawan Shehu Bichi, a lawmaker at Kano State House of Assembly.

Others were APC, chairman Kano North, Alh. Sani Mukaddas, Kano APC treasurer, Haj. Yardada Maikano, the 106 volunteer teachers he employed to teach science and mathematics at various secondary schools in the local government since 2020, and hundreds of streets sweepers he employed to keep Bichi streets clean, among others.  

According to some of the constituents who spoke at the event, the decision became necessary considering how the rep improved the living condition of the people of Bichi.

They said that from 2019 to date, Abubakar Kabir sponsored more than 5000 students of the local government to study at various universities and other high institutions of learning within and outside Kano State.

They added that the rep sponsored more than 500 indigenes of the local government to study in various science and technical schools in Kano State.

So far, more than N28 million was realized at the fundraising ceremony.

A few months back, the Federal College of Education Bichi conferred Fellow of Education on Hon. Abubakar Bichi in recognition of his scholarship programme.

By Uzair Adam Imam 

Another Kano businessman, Umar Sani, aka Magaji, was killed by suspected bandits after collecting ransom from his relatives.

Magaji, who hailed from Fagge LGA in the Kano metropolis, was said to have been kidnapped alongside five others on the highway en route to Buruku.

The bandits who spoke after they collected the ransom confirmed the murder of Magaji to his relatives. 

Our reporter gathered that the bandits called back on Thursday demanding another N20 million from his relatives despite killing the businessman. 

Hussaini Sani, an elder brother of the deceased, confirmed the death of Magaji to journalists. 

He said, “Nine of them were kidnapped along the Kaduna-Birnin Gwari road while on their way to Buruku. They later released three of them but withheld six.

“After some time, negotiation started with the families of the six people, and we later agreed to pay them collectively, only for us to see five of them coming back.

“When we asked them about the whereabouts of our brother, they confirmed to us that he was killed by the abductors. We called them (abductors) using the number they used for the negotiation. They insisted that our brother was still alive and even went ahead to demand another ransom before they would release him.

“When we insisted that we must hear our brother’s voice before paying something again, they opened up to us that he was really killed, saying he was trying to escape. But his released colleagues said he was killed intentionally,” he added.

The Daily Reality reported how bandits killed a 39-year-old businessman, Yahya Hassan Musa, hours after receiving a N6m ransom.

Musa, who hails from Kano, was roamed and kidnapped in a forest around the Mopa area of Kogi State, and the bandits reportedly demanded N10m naira before slashing it to N6m at a later date.

By Muhammadu Sabiu

Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State has predicted that Nyesom Wike of Rivers State will lose the presidency in 2023.

Wike, according to Ganduje, would be a good loser because he is courageous.

He made the remarks while receiving the presidential candidate from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Kano.

Ganduje said, “So, you have come to see your brothers and sisters. Good. You are aspiring for the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We see your efforts.

“And at the end of it, you’d lose, but you’ll be a good loser. I appreciate good losers because they have courage. And since you are doing it peacefully, you’ll live long to fight again. I congratulate you, Mr ‘Wise’ Wike. Thank you, and God bless.”

Recall that the Rivers State governor has recently shown his aspiration to govern Nigeria in 2023, noting that he stands a good opportunity to clinch power from the All Progressives Congress, APC.

By Aliyu Nuhu

Kano, my state, my people. We don’t like rules and regulations. We are headstrong and lawless. Truth is bitter. Well, there are a few law-abiding people in Kano, no doubt all cannot be the same. But the majority carries the day. Most Kano people hate order and regulations.

I am from Kano State, so I cannot be accused of unfairly profiling other people. But I know how difficult and lawless my people can be. People build houses without planning or permits. A Kano slum is like no other anywhere. No wonder address is non-existent in unplanned areas outside GRAs. Kano’s historical wall has all disappeared. People don’t care about antiquity, history and heritage. They simply demolished the walls and built houses and shops. They defecate everywhere near the wall, it was the reason why UNESCO disqualified the ancient Kano wall as a world heritage site.

Nearly all the vehicles in Kano are not properly registered and the vehicle licences are never renewed. Almost every motorist has no driver’s license. The FRSC data is there for all to verify. We don’t pay taxes. We resist paying for electricity and water bills. Mosques don’t pay for utilities. PHCN has given up on collecting revenue from mosques. Disconnection is resisted with violence. Kaduna State generates more IGR than Kano despite the huge population and business gap.

We dump refuse everywhere, even in the marketplace, school buildings and hospitals. We dig government constructed roads to wire our personal wirings and other house fittings without any fear. We even build and erect some structures such as kiosks, etc, on people’s paths and nobody cares, since everything is done according to what one likes.

We are one state that resisted seatbelt laws to a standstill and beat up FRSC and VIO officials. FRSC has given up on enforcing the law. It is the Kano people that invented their own version of seatbelt law that says passengers don’t need to wear seatbelts. Women are exempted from all traffic violations. Hardly you see Hisbah, Police, FRSC stopping women. The reason is that the husbands will react violently if their wives or daughters are questioned. We are prone to riots at the slightest provocation. Previously, religious riots is rampant. People take laws into their hands. 

Before the Corona lockdown, people had disobeyed previous restrictions imposed by the government. Entry into the state was disobeyed by the indigenes of Kano. They came from index places like Lagos and Abuja and refused testing and isolation. They navigated through bushes to penetrate the state. Those returning from abroad refused to isolate themselves. Kano people don’t want to know what is social distancing. The Almajiri ban has been resisted and the system has continued unchecked. So I know what I was saying when I referred to Kano people as unruly and fractious. Yes, it is my state, but it is a bitter truth! When it also comes to the better side of Kano, I will also talk. I have a lot to say on that as well. That’s for another day.

Aliyu Nuhu writes from Abuja, Nigeria.

By Uzair Adam Imam 

The Kano State Commissioner for Rural Development, Musa Ilyasu Kwankwaso, has resigned to contest for the House of Representatives in the 2023 general election. 

Kwankwaso resigned barely hours after Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje gave political appointees wishing to run for elective offices 24 hours to quit.

The Daily Reality learnt that Kwankwaso wishes to contest for membership in the House of Representatives representing the Kura, Madobi and Garun Malam federal constituency.

In a statement Sunday by his Chief Press Secretary, Governor Ganduje has directed all his political appointees that want to contest for elections in 2023 to resign.

The governor said all appointees are given between now and Monday, April 18, to tender their resignation.

The statement partly read: “Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje directed all political appointees running for elective offices in the forthcoming 2023 general elections to resign from their respective positions.”

By Uzair Adam Imam 

The two-term governor of Kano, Engr Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, said he had concluded plans to formally declare his political ambition next week.

Kwankwaso, who has been nursing the ambition over the years, would contest for president on the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) platform.

Speaking at a news conference on Friday, Mr Kwankwaso said he consulted widely on his plan, and the responses were positive.

“I have been consulting widely with friends and Nigerians of diverse interests, and the outcome has been positive. 

“I will be informing Nigerians of my political ambition sometime early next week,” he said.

Kwankwaso also acknowledged the successes recorded by his new political party at its recently-concluded membership registration. 

He added, “the support for the NNPP had been overwhelming going by the responses recorded at its recently-concluded membership registration drive.”