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Kano Emirate: The Law Became A Victim Instead Of Catalyst For Political Reforms And Social Devt In Kano

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It didn’t come to me as a surprise in the least that, the recent abrogation and amendments of the Kano Emirate law was challenged in the court by some persons aggrieved by the action of the Kano State House of Assembly and the subsequent assent to the Law by the Governor of Kano State. It is only to be expected given the enormous controversies raised by the Law and the political under currents behind it, which is the subject of this post. It has never been a secret that the amendment of the Law by the former Kano State House of Assembly was based on and driven by political consideration of the All Progressives Congress(APC) government in the State under Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. Since the amendment was a Law validly made by the then State House of Assembly, it had to be implemented and effect was given to it. That’s the position and the State of Law at the time

After the 2023 General elections, the APC government of Kano State was defeated and dethroned from power. The State was won by the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP and Abba Kabir Yusuf succeeded Ganduje as Governor. The House of Assembly was also dominated by Members from the NNPP and this completely changed the dynamics of political power in Kano State. The success of the NNPP in both the Governorship and State House of Assembly elections, has given the Abba Kabir government control over both the Instruments of Executive and Legislative power in Kano State.

The NNPP government of Abba Kabir Yusuf made it a cardinal issue of its campaign that the law which “balkanised” the Kano Emirate was unjust and the NNPP promised to “undo” the injustice if it won the election. As it turned out, the NNPP won the election and secured an overwhelming majority of the seats in the House of commons. This set the ground and provides the background to the amendment just effected by the Kano State House of commons to the Emirate Council law passed by its predecessor.

It must be stated and appreciated that under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) the State House of Assembly is empowered to make new laws, and to abrogate or amend existing laws, in the interest of peace, order and good governance of the State. Therefore the right of the past and present Houses of Assembly over the process of law making is settled beyond any dispute or contestation. It’s simply beyond any doubt or argument. It is also futile in law to argue at this stage, that the former Kano State House of Assembly did not have the power to amend the Emirate Law or for the Executive Governor to take other or further political and additional actions pursuant to the amendment and to give effect to the law as amended. That was the situation before the 2023 election when the APC was in control of the Executive and Legislative arms of government in Kano State. But the dynamics of Kano State politics changed drastically and drastically after the election. The APC lost the election to the NNPP and totally new political order emerged on the political landscape of Kano State.

As earlier stated in the post, it was an important part of the campaign promises of the NNPP to reverse the Kano State Emirate amendment law passed and implemented by the former APC government in the State and immediately after assuming office as Governor, Abba did not mince words in reiterating his resolve to deliver on this aspect of his party’s campaign promises. It is pertinent and worthy of note that both the Governor and Kwankwaso his mentor and leader spared no opportunity on every political platform to repeat their determination to repeal the law and return the Emirate situation to the status quo before the amendment by the former House of Assembly. Therefore, when the NNPP dominated House of Assembly yesterday concluded the processes of the abrogation and amendment of the Emirate Council Law and Governor Kabir Yusuf gave it an expeditious assent, it didn’t come as a surprise to the observers of political developments in Kano State.

With both actions completed or done and dusted by the the two organs of the Government entitled to exercise the powers conferred on them by the Constitution and the Law, the Kano State Emirate Council Law as amended, may be said to be validly, legally and constitutionally passed and assented to by the Governor. Any person aggrieved by the passage of the new law, can only challenge the processes and procedures adopted by the House of Assembly and the governor in making the amendments and the steps taken in the implementation of the law as amended but not the power of the House of Assembly to make the Law, or of the Governor to assent to it and give effect to it through implementation. That’s the legal position as I understand it.
But the big elephant in the room and the core subject is not the Law per se but the politics of the law.

It’s pertinent to observe that in both the former and the present amendment of the Emirate Council law, the purpose or interest of the law is not the prime consideration. The main objective of the Ganduje amendment was to score a Political gain and make political capital of the law and he did. However, with the defeat of the APC by the NNPP in the State elections, the table turned and so did the dynamics and mechanics of Kano State politics

The success of the NNPP at the polls has presented Abba Kabir Yusuf the power and opportunity to reverse the Ganduje amendment of the Law and institute his own amendment, which swept away the Legislative and political gains scored by the APC government on the issue. The sad part of all these, is that the Law was used as an instrument of political vendetta to settle scores on both sides. The Law became a victim instead of a catalyst of political reforms and social development in Kano State. This lends credence to my thesis as expressed in many posts, that under our democracy, politics is more powerful than the law and when the two conflict, the law comes out the weaker.

Yusuf Shehu Usman, mni (Abuja)

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Its Does Not Affect My Life – Lizzy Anjorin Speaks On Romantic Affair with Toyin Abraham’s Husband

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Controversial Nigerian actress, Lizzy Anjorin has addressed allegations of having an affair with Toyin Abraham’s husband, Kolawole Ajeyemi.

We understands that a blogger Esther Aboderin, popularly known as Esabod, recently accused Anjorin of engaging in an intimate relationship with Ajeyemi.

However, speaking via Instagram, Anjorin described the allegation as evil.

She further urged the public to disregard the claims.

“Concerning the rumour that is being spread that Toyin and Kolawole’s marriage is facing challenges, I am not interested. Whatever happens is their problem. It does not affect my life. Whoever wants to do evil should continue. Disregard all the information,” she said.

Recall that lizzy was accuse of thief, but the actress later came out and address the issue sorround the allegation.

in her statement lizzy said it Is Ridiculous To Claim That Someone Of My Calibre Is A Thief – Lizzy Anjorin

Nollywood actress Lizzy Anjorin has said that it is impossible for someone of her calibre to steal gold worth ₦91,000.

The thespian stated this while revisiting the controversial theft case that surfaced on social media months ago.

Anjorin was accused of stealing a gram of gold worth ₦91,000 at Idumota market in Lagos.

However, speaking during an appearance in a podcast, the actress stated that the value of the alleged gold could be compared to a grain of rice.

She dismissed the case, adding that someone of her calibre, who deals in heavy gold and other fashion accessories worth millions, could not stoop so low as to steal gold worth ₦91,000

According to her, “Let’s establish the fact that we are talking about N91,000 gold when a gram of gold was around N150,000. A gram of gold is less than a grain of rice, so how can I go into the market to steal something less than a grain of rice? I am a certified jewellery seller, I sell gold and I sell diamonds. You can tell just by looking at me. I am a certified fabric merchant, and if you watch me closely, you will realise that I am not a simple person when it comes to fashion—I love it big.”

Continuing, she said, “What I am wearing right now is like 350 to 400 grams, and everybody knows I don’t sell small gold jewellery, I sell 19 to 22 carats. I sell the best jewellery. So how can I stoop so low as to steal a gram of gold at Eko Idumota? That is ridiculous. I am not a thief; I will never be a thief. I am just too disciplined and too straightforward to become a thief.”

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Soun Appoints Interim Imam, Clears Air On Ayilara’s Status

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The installation of Sheikh Habeeb Ayilara as new Chief Imam by Soun of Ogbomoso land, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye has begun to generate controversy with the status of the incumbent Chief Imam, Sheikh Teliat Yunus Olusina Ayilara, remaining unknown.

The new Imam was turbaned before Muslim leaders and dignitaries by Soun at the Abata section of the palace.

The Parakoyi of Ogbomosoland, Alhaji Sirajudeen Aleem, clarified the new Imam would only serve as the Chief Imam of the palace, pending the outcome of a court case involving the incumbent Chief Imam.

Soun emphasised the importance of religious harmon, saying that the throne of Soun was rooted in traditional religion, warning against making it a religious issue.

The monarch said: “The throne is that of the traditionalists. Soun Ogunlola who founded the throne was a pure traditionalist; he worshiped Ogun deity.

“We Christians and Muslims are just intruding so to say, it originally belongs to the traditional religion worshippers so we should encourage religious harmony. It neither belongs to either of us Christians nor Muslims, they are only lending us the throne, eni a fi rolo to ni toun baje kinni ki oloro o wa se.

“Let me clear this the event of today is not the bus stop. We are yet to reach our destination, the bus only stopped to pick someone. I have refused to remove him (the incumbent Chief Imam Teliat) despite him taking me to court.

“But I told him you can’t take me to court and be leading me in prayer, we don’t go to court and become friends. You that took me to court your intention is to win, to win against the Oba, and you call yourself an indigene of this town.

“Such prayer can’t be answered, i believe. I am a pastor, if l take my member to court will lead in prayer and such member will say amen?”

Oba Ghandi further said: “Today’s event marks my birthday. It is historical. The person we installed today we conducted thorough research, we don’t want to make such mistake again.

“I have been an alfa (Pastor) for 32 years, I believe Imam Teliat was still wearing pant then. That is the truth. And as Christians we don’t mount the pulpit to abuse a king, I don’t know your religion much but in Christendom, we don’t do that, although there are some pastors that say nonsense too.

“We should give reverence to God, the creator on the pulpit not like he is doing on the mumbar.

“Parakoyi has been leading prayer in the palace and representing me but I told him we need an Imam who will be representing me where I am

The new Imam was later presented with Staff and Certificate of office by the Asoju Muslumi of Ogbomosoland, Alhaji Mikahel Misasco.

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Senators’ Monthly N29m Earning Is Not Enough For The Demands and Challenges of Their Office – Ex Lawmaker, Ishaku Abbo

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In an interview on Arise TV on Sunday, Abbo stated that his salary and allowances while serving as a senator totaled N14.4 million, while today senators earn up to N29 million.

He said, “When I was in the Senate, cumulatively, all the allowances were N14.4 million per month. You have a wardrobe allowance, a vehicle allowance, and other allowances put together that were N14.4 million, including the N1 million salary.

“It is about N29 million now. N29 million looks big on paper. I’m saying this as a honest man. I’m not trying to support the National Assembly, and I’ve been a member of that vilified institution for five years. I am not standing with them, but I’ll bear the facts on the table.”

“I had a case of just one person I took to the hospital; I spent N14 million on one person.

“And every month, from all over Adamawa State and other states, my office was besieged with people looking for help.

“I had to start calling some state governors to help me with cases that are being brought from their states into my office.”

Abbo further alleged that some state governors go home with up to N1 billion for state responsibilities.

“From N14 million, I was paying for people’s scholarships, subsiding people’s expenses while a state governor in this country is going home with over N700 million security vote every month, some go home with N1 billion to do other security issues,” he said.

“I am poorer, much poorer as a man when I became a politician than I was before I became a politician,” Abbo added.

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