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Tag: Governor Aminu Masari

  • Tinubu submits Masari’s name as Running Mate

    Tinubu submits Masari’s name as Running Mate

    As part of the plan to beat the Friday June 17 deadline given by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to political parties to submit the names of presidential candidates and their running mates, the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu has submitted the name of Kabir Ibrahim Masari.

    It was, however, gathered that the name of Masari, who hails from the home State of President Muhammadu Buhari, would later be changed after the party stakeholders must have agreed on the suitable vice-presidential candidate for the 2023 elections.

    A party source confirmed that it was true that Tinubu has submitted the name of his running mate, but added that “consultation is still ongoing”

    It was further gathered that the move by Tinubu and the ruling party was to meet the statutory requirement and beat the deadline set by the electoral umpire.

    However, Tinubu will today meet President Muhammadu Buhari as consultation continues on the issue of his running mate.

    There have been strong opposition against the issue of Muslim-Muslim ticket been mulled by the ruling party.

    Though some names had been mentioned as possible running-mates to the former Lagos State governor, it was gathered that no compromise had been reached yet.

    A source in the Tinubu’s camp revealed that all the northern governors want the position.

    The source added that if Tinubu has his way, he would have loved to pick the former Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima as his running-mate, but he wanted the president and the governors to pick.

    The source said: “All northern governors want it. If Asiwaju has his way, it will be Senator Kashim. But he wants the president and governors to pick for him.”

    Asked why Tinubu does not want to pick his running mate himself, the source stressed he didn’t want to be a ‘winner takes it all.’

    “He does not want to be the winner takes it all. You need to respect the President. PMB did not choose a VP for himself in 2015,” the source said.

    One of the leaders of Tinubu Support Group, Hon. James Faleke was at the party secretariat yesterday, but his mission was not known.

    But the source confirmed that Faleke was at the party secretariat yesterday to collect INEC’s form for the presidential and vice presidential candidates to be filled.

    Asked if Faleke was there to submit the name of the running mate to Tinubu, the source insisted that no compromise had been reached in the issue of running mate.

    “When the decision is made, it would be made known to all and the decision would be made tomorrow (today),” he added.

  • I Will Never Negotiate with Terrorists Again – Masari

    I Will Never Negotiate with Terrorists Again – Masari

    Apparently regretting his rapprochement with terrorists in Katsina State, Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, has vowed not to negotiate or trust the hoodlums again because of their nefarious activities despite the two peace deals he had with them.

    The governor added that with the benefit of hindsight, his government should never have negotiated with the terrorists, let alone grant them amnesty because “they are not propagating any ideology, they are criminals.”

    Masari explained that some of the ‘so-called repentant’ terrorists who were released from custody as a result of the peace deals are now leaders of terrorists with more than 100 gangs and various camps in Zamfara, Sokoto and Katsina states.

    In an interactive session with members of a high-powered foreign delegation led by the Head of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Nigeria, Mohammed Yahya, at the Government House, Katsina, Masari insisted there was no need to negotiate with the criminals.

    The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Representative in Nigeria, Peter Hawkins, Head of Cooperation, European Union in Nigeria, Cécile Tassin-Pelzer and Norway Ambassador to Nigeria, Knut Eiliv Lein, were among the delegation.

    Although Governor Masari said he never regretted his decision at the time, he admitted that information available to him confirmed that engaging the terrorists who had killed and raped innocent citizens in the state was not the right thing to do.

    Consequently, he urged the United Nations Development Programme, European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN) to support the Nigerian government with the provision of technologies that will enable security agencies to have access to the nation’s ungoverned forest areas.

    He said: “Because they (terrorists) said they are Muslims, we went as far as asking them to swear to the Holy Qur’an that they will never participate in banditry again. All of them did in this office but even those that have been in jail for over two years that were brought out are today bandits’ leaders.

    “In fact, I will never trust them again because we realised they are not ideologically inclined. So, we are negotiating with thieves. Anybody who says he is going to engage them on anything is free. I will pray for him but I will not do it again.

    “They have failed me once; they have failed me twice so I will be a fool to go the same way. And you even see the Zamfara governor who engaged them. They have failed him more than three times.”

    Masari added: “They are common criminals. Even in Katsina not to talk of Zamfara, there are more than 100 gangs: a gang of two, three, four and a gang of 10, so with whom are you going to talk?”

    Earlier, Yahya told the governor that the delegation was in the state to ascertain the security challenges afflicting the state and know what the international community can collectively do towards the development of the state.

    According to him, the delegation was in Sokoto and Zamfara states as well as Niger Republic on the same mission where it discussed with security agencies, stakeholders, religious and community leaders

  • 2023 Presidency: Gov Masari Insists On Power Shift To South

    2023 Presidency: Gov Masari Insists On Power Shift To South

    Katsina state governor, Aminu Bello Masari, has reiterated his position on power shift to the southern part of the country, saying that would help consolidate the nation’s confederation system.

    Masari said this while responding to questions from journalist during a media parley held at his residence on Tuesday.

    “Let me make my position very clear. This constitution is made for us, not us made for the constitution. Yes, constitution does not say we must shift power, but if you shift have you violated any part of the constitution?”

    “I still believe that, from my personal opinion as Aminu Bello Masari, until such a time when we have stable polity, I think rotation or shifting power from time to time will help consolidate our confederation. I support that and I still maintain my stand and I have the constitutional right to make such comment,” he said.

    Masari said he was a member of the constitutional conference of 1994/95 during which Federal Character Commission was provided for, adding that he was a member of the transition committee in 1999 and their committee initially suggested that each zone should be given opportunity of five years through the instrumentality of the constitution, but the suggestion did no see the light of the day.

    He called on politicians, journalists, religious and traditional leaders to put the interest of the country above their personal interest as 2023 general elections approach.

    “We should see politics as a way and means of producing leadership under democratic dispensation. Our politics is still very young, even from independence to date, you are talking of 60 years, which is important in the life of an individual, but in the life of a nation, it should be working progress.”

    “We should measure where we were yesterday, where we are today and where we want to be tomorrow. The problem is that we are in a hurry that even before we finish crawling, we want to start running,” he said.

    He said politicians needed attitudinal change as they needed to appreciate the responsibilities and burden of leadership as well as the consequences of coming forward to contest for any elective office.

    “I believe the journalists in particular, have a very important role to play. For instance, as we approach 2023, the attention being created by the media is the fat salary and allowances of the National Assembly members, not on what the lawmakers are doing or what they supposed to do. So the media created a situation whereby everybody wants to go there because there is money.”

    “But to be fair to the media, some of us in the national assembly are also helping in creating that false impression by changing their ways of life in such a way that even their friends become envious,” Gov. Masari said.

  • Gov Masari Presents N341bn Budget for 2022

    Gov Masari Presents N341bn Budget for 2022

    The Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, has presented a N341 billion budget estimate for the 2022 fiscal year to the state House of Assembly for scrutiny and consideration.

    Masari, while presenting the 2022 budget, christened: ‘Budget of Economic Resilience’, said the implementation of the 2021 budget was largely affected by the security challenges orchestrated by bandits across the state.

    He lamented that funds that were supposed to be utilised by the state government to execute developmental projects and programmes were committed in funding security operations in the state.

    Masari said: “As we are all aware, the implementation of the 2021 budget has been largely affected by the security challenges across the state.

    “Funds that were supposed to be utilised by the state government to execute meaningful projects and programmes were committed to funding security operations in the state.

    “That notwithstanding, the state government has recorded progress in funding the on-going projects and executing new projects and programmes.”

    He, however, said the 2022 budget was designed to complete ongoing projects and initiate other capital projects that could be completed within the lifespan of his administration.

    According to him, “The total budget for the 2022 fiscal year is in the sum of N340,951,912,557.00 with 69.85 per cent capital expenditure and 30.40 per cent recurrent expenditure.

    “In aggregate terms, the 2022 budget is higher than that of the 2021 revised budget by N48,064,131,214.00.

    “The 2022 budget is structured with a total recurrent expenditure of N102, 800, 756, 244.00, which is equivalent to 30.15 per cent of the total budget, and capital expenditure of N238,151,156,313.00, which is 69.85 per cent of the total budget.”

    Responding, the Speaker of the Assembly, Hon. Tasi’u Maigari, assured the state that the Assembly would ensure speedy passage of the budget to enhance the development of the state.

  • Katsina To Consider Law Banning Open Grazing – Masari

    Katsina To Consider Law Banning Open Grazing – Masari

    Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari, has hinted that his administration is considering banning open grazing in the state.

    Masari who spoke during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, faulted the movement of herders from one part of the country to another.

    He explained that before the state would create a law banning the open grazing of livestock, the government would make provisions to house the animals.

    “We intend to have a law banning (cattle) roaming but before we do that, we would make provisions for where the animals would stay,” the governor said during the programme.

    “Herdsmen should stay in one place. Roaming about should not be encouraged. In fact, for us, it is un-Islamic. Why do you have animals that you cannot feed and you have to go to other people’s land and farm and you say that is right? I don’t think it is right.”

    He explained that as part of the efforts to kick start the ranching programme, the Federal Government disbursed N6.2 billion for the project.

    Masari added, “We already have started. The Federal Government has given us N6.2 billion and as a state government, we are also investing N6.2 billion. The objective is to have Fulanis stay in one place.”

    Masari’s comment comes four months after the Southern Governors Forum announced a ban on open grazing of cattle across states in the region.

    The governors, after meeting in Asaba, the Delta State capital, asked President Buhari to address Nigerians on the state of the nation.

    It also met months later and instructed states in the region to enact anti-open grazing laws in their domain to curb incessant clashes between herders and farmers.

    Away from the farmers-herders crises, Governor Masari is also taking measures to combat crime in the North-West state which has had its fair share of banditry and kidnapping.

    Last week, the governor introduced some measures – including banning sales of fuel in jerrycans  – to combat criminality, a move Masari said, is already yielding results.

    “We are not totally shutting all the filling stations. In local governments, we said two filling stations will operate and in those filling stations, nobody will sell fuel in jerrycans and gallons,” he added.

    “There may be some hardship but it is better now to take the hardship now in order to restore normalcy. We have a list of some of these filling stations that are dispensing fuel in jerrycans.”

  • Insecurity: Gov Masari Bans Commercial Phone Charging Points In Katsina

    Insecurity: Gov Masari Bans Commercial Phone Charging Points In Katsina

    The Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari has banned all commercial phone charging points in the state as part of measures to tackle the scourge of banditry.

    He issued the ban on Monday at the Katsina Government House while inaugurating the committee charged with monitoring and enforcing the recently introduced executive order in the state.

    Governor Masari believes that the latest measure, coupled with further collaborations with the Federal Ministry of Communications will drastically reduce the menace of banditry in the north-western state.

    “The latest instruction that we gave out is the closure of all commercial charging points in the most affected local government areas. Commercial charging, we believe, is also an area which is helping the bandits to acquire means of communication,” he said.

    “We believe with this and further measures we are taking with the Federal Ministry of Communication will also help in restoring normalcy to our respective communities.”

    He listed the affected local government areas as Jibia, Batsari, Safana, Danmusa, Paskari, Sabuwa, Kurfi, Danja, Kaita, Bakori, Funtua, Kankara, Musawa, Matazu, Dutsima, Mai’adua, Malumfashi and Funtua.

    Masari said the state government will continue studying the predicament and will bring further measures that will help address the security challenges facing the state.

    According to him, other states within the northwest are also taking the same measures to simultaneously tame banditry in the zone.

    The committee has the Commissioner of Police, CP Sanusi Buba as Chairman and the Secretary to the State Government, Mustapha Inuwa serving as Secretary.

    Governor Masari said the committee is saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that its terms of reference and other items not mentioned are applied in the bid to restoring normalcy in the state.

    On his part, the police commissioner thanked Governor Masari for the confidence reposed in them, noting that they have taken note of the terms of reference and the leverages given to them to consider other possibilities in bringing a lasting solution to the state

    Buba assured the governor that the committee will work round the clock assiduously and with the fear of God in ensuring total compliance with the executive order.

  • Gov Masari Ban Transportation of Cattles from Katsina to Other States

    Gov Masari Ban Transportation of Cattles from Katsina to Other States

    Governor Aminu Masari has banned the transportation of cattle from Katsina to other states in the country.

    Masari issued an executive order to that effect and also ordered the total closure of the Jibia-Gurbin Baure road to motorists.

    Kankara-Sheme road has also been closed to commercial vehicles. Masari who said the order will become effective from today August 31, said they are all measures are to contain the security challenges bedevilling the state.

    There is also a ban on motorcycles carrying three people and tricycles carrying more than 3 people.

    It read;

    “In the exercise of powers conferred upon me by the Subsection (2) of section 176 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended and all other powers enabling me on that behalf, I, Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari CFR, the Governor of Katsina State, do hereby make the following:

    “This Notice may be cited as the Security Challenges (Containment) Order and shall come into effect on the 31st day of August 2021;

    “Immediate total closure of Jibia-Gurbin Baure road to all motorists until further notice. Travelers plying that road are advised to go through Funtua;

    “Immediate closure of Kankara-Sheme road to all commercial vehicles, who are advised to go through Funtua. Only private non-commercial vehicles are to ply the road;

    “Lorries /Trucks carrying firewood from the bush are totally banned;

    “Suspension of the sale of all animals at the markets of the following Local Government Areas: Jibia, Batsari, Safana, Danmusa, Kankara, Malumfashi, Charanchi, Mai’adua, Kafur, Kafur, Faskari, Sabuwa, Baure, Dutsinma and Kaita;

    “Ban on transportation of cattle trucks from Katsina State to any State in Nigeria;

    “Total ban on carrying three (3) persons on motorcycles and more than three (3) passengers on a tricycle;

    ” Total ban on the sale of second-hand motorcycles at Charanchi market

    “Re-enforcement of the ban on the operation of Commercial tricycles and motorcycles from 10.00 p.m to 6.00 a.m in the State Capital, and 6.00 p.m to 6.00 a.m in the frontline Local Government Areas; Re-enforcement of the total ban on the sale of petrol in jerricans at filling stations.”

  • Insecurity: I have no joy governing in this difficult time – Gov Masari

    Insecurity: I have no joy governing in this difficult time – Gov Masari

    Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari, has said that he has no joy governing a state plagued by insecurity.

    Masari said the security situation in Katsina has been giving him sleepless nights.

    The governor made this known during an interview with DW Hausa on Friday.

    This is coming less than a week after scores of armed bandits on motorbikes blocked Jibiya-Batsari road in Kabobi village, Katsina, after the Juma’at prayers and made away with 11 passengers.

    He said, “In this difficult time and uncertainty, all the issues of governance have been dominated by security matters from sunset to dawn. I receive security reports at any moment through many channels daily.

    “No sensible leader who has the feelings of his people at heart will be happy in such a situation.

    “Governing in this difficult time, I see no joy that people are saying we are enjoying.“

    He added, “In this kind of situation, we are having sleepless nights. You only have a few hours to sleep with your phone beneath your ears and whoever calls you at midnight won’t do that to greet you but to tell you a problem that is happening.

    “People misunderstood us (governors) as people enjoying themselves. Some people are just assuming things and we must not assume what we think is right because if someone is not in the system, he cannot understand the situation.”

  • Nigeria Has Become Economically Attractive To Kidnappers, Says Governor Masari

    Nigeria Has Become Economically Attractive To Kidnappers, Says Governor Masari

    Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State says Nigeria has become economically attractive to kidnappers and bandits within the Sahel region of the continent. 

    The governor who on Wednesday was on Channels Television’s Politics, strongly opposed the idea of granting blanket amnesty to the bandits, stating that the idea is enabling the miscreants to continue with their crimes.

    Masari argued that the security situation in the country has improved since the All Progressives Congress took the reigns.

    “When we started in 2015 in the North-West, it was cattle-rustling. Gradually, it now developed into banditry, rape, kidnappings. When all that they (bandits) can steal from the villagers along the fringes finished, they moved to the rustling of goats, sheep, and even chicken.

    “What we should do and what the government should do now is (about) high-profile kidnapping. In my state, they kidnapped four relatives of very senior government officials. When they cannot get anything to sustain themselves, they resort to high-profile kidnappings for money in cities and towns. That is the danger, that is something we must work hard to stop,” the governor opined.

    Masari also kicked against the intervention of Sheikh Ahmad Gumi in quelling the banditry activities in the northwest.

    He questioned the cleric’s knowledge on security issues.

    “Was he there? What did he know about what we did in Kaduna? I challenge Gumi to come and tell us if he knows what we did in Kaduna,” the governor asked in reaction to Gumi’s stance on how the state government should handle banditry.

    Speaking further on why he does not support Sheikh Gumi’s intervention, Masari said the cleric did not go about it the right way.

    “I expect him to, first of all, preach to them (the bandits), the implication of killing innocent people and also the implication of abducting people and its consequences. That is what I expect a clergyman first and foremost to do,” the governor noted.

  • 17 Abducted Schoolboys Escape From Captivity – Gov Masari

    17 Abducted Schoolboys Escape From Captivity – Gov Masari

    Katsina State Governor Aminu Masari has disclosed that 17 of the missing schoolboys kidnapped from a Government Science Secondary School (GSSS) in Kankara Local Government Area of the state have escaped from captivity.

    Governor Masari who disclosed this in an interview on Monday evening said the schoolboys were found and have been reunited with their families.

    He added that efforts have been intensified to rescue the remaining schoolboys still in captivity, safely.

    “As at today, information available to me shows that 17 of the missing children have been found. 15 of them were found around Dinya in Danmusa, I was informed by the DPO. One other was found through them and the last, the father called that his son has returned home.

    “All these missing children who have been found have been reunited with their families since we have shut down the schools,” Masari said.

    He said that the victims escaped unconditionally and one of the abducted children’s father, who is also a teacher at the school was contacted by the captors who warned that security forces should stop using helicopters around their hideouts.

    “I was told that they spoke with a teacher whose son was also kidnapped that the bandits said the helicopter should stop roving and that they will collect ransom but they didn’t specify. And so they ended the call.

    “Majority of the missing children are in the forest in Zamfara. But God willing, the children will be returned safely,” the governor added.

    He said that the bandits however ordered that adequate money should be earmarked and budgeted by those concerned pending the completion of the ongoing rescue mission.

    The governor, therefore, solicited prayers and urged the parents to remain calm and patient as “we are doing everything possible to rescue the children.”