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Ganduje’s N300bn Chinese Loan Slavery – Kano Elders To Buhari
KANO STATE ELDERS, UNDER THE AEGIS OF THE KANO UNITY FORUM, HAS PETITIONED THE PRESIDENT, MAJOR GENERAL MUHAMMADU BUHARI (RETD.), THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY AND THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE, ASKING THEM TO STOP THE N300BN LOAN THE STATE GOVERNOR, ALHAJI ABDULLAHI GANDUJE, PLANS TO OBTAIN FROM CHINA.
IN THE PETITION, TITLED, “A CALL FOR THE URGENT REVIEW OF THE PROPOSED CHINESE MONO RAIL LOAN TO KANO STATE GOVERNMENT,’ WHICH WAS SIGNED BY ITS CHAIRMAN, ALHAJI BASHIR TOFA, THE FORUM CONDEMNED GANDUJE’S INSISTENCE ON OBTAINING THE LOAN FROM CHINA DEVELOPMENT BANK.
IN A COPY OF THE PETITION MADE AVAILABLE TO JOURNALISTS ON THURSDAY, THE GROUP THE LOAN WAS AN INVITATION TO ENSLAVEMENT AND IT VOWED NEVER TO ALLOW PEOPLE OF THE STATE TO BE ENSLAVED.
IT STATED, “EXCEPT FOR A FEW IN THE OFFICIAL CIRCLES, NOBODY ELSE KNOWS THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE LOAN AGREEMENT,” ADDING THAT “THE EXACT AMOUNT BEING BORROWED IS SHROUDED IN SECRECY.
“THE FIRST PHASE OF THE PROJECT COSTING OVER N300BN OR MAY BE EVEN THE N828BN MENTIONED BY OTHERS, COMING MOSTLY FROM A FOREIGN LOAN IS MIND-BOGGLING, TO SAY THE LEAST. A RETHINK IS NOT ONLY NEEDED, BUT NECESSARY.
“BASED ON THE ANALYSIS OF THE PRESENT INDEBTEDNESS OF KANO STATE AS PROVIDED BY THE DEBT MANAGEMENT OFFICE, IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT, ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR KANO STATE TO SUSTAIN ANY INDEBTEDNESS BEYOND THE CURRENT LIABILITY PORTFOLIO OF THE STATE.”
THE FORUM STATED THAT A RAIL PROJECT WAS NEVER A PROJECT THAT SHOULD BE DONE IN HASTE, ADDING THAT IT WAS NOT A MEDIUM TERM PROJECT.
IT SAID, “IF INDEED THE CHINESE WANT TO GENUINELY HELP WITH CHEAP LOANS, THEY SHOULD BE REQUESTED TO SUPPORT CRITICAL SECTORS SUCH AS EDUCATION, HEALTH, AGRICULTURE, POWER, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, INFRASTRUCTURE, INDUSTRY AND WATER SUPPLY.
“AFTER ALL, THE CHINESE HAVE BECOME WORLD LEADERS IN THESE ASPECTS OF TRANSFORMATIVE DEVELOPMENT.”
THE GROUP SAID THAT THE KANO UNITY FORUM WOULD NOT GIVE “ANY SELF-SERVING POLITICIAN THE LATITUDE TO INCREASE POVERTY AND DEPRIVATION WITHIN THE GENERAL PUBLIC THROUGH ILL-CONCEIVED PUBLIC WORKS.
“WE SHALL NOT BE DELUDED BY THE ATTRACTIVE IDEA OF GOOD RETURN FROM THE INVESTMENT. RAIL PROJECTS WORLD OVER ARE KNOWN AS HIGHLY CAPITAL INTENSIVE WITH A VERY NEGLIGIBLE RATE OF RETURN ON INVESTMENT. IT IS MORE OF A SOCIAL WELFARE PROJECT, ESPECIALLY IN LESS DEVELOPED ECONOMIES. “
THE FORUM, THEREFORE, WARNED THAT IF THE STATE GOVERNMENT INSISTED ON GOING AHEAD WITH THE PROJECT, “WE WILL DILIGENTLY PURSUE COURT PROCESSES AND OTHER LAWFUL MEANS TO STOP THE LIGHT RAIL PROJECT.”
THE GROUP, THEREFORE, CALLED ON THE PRESIDENT “TO INTERVENE IN ORDER TO SAVE THE STATE AND ITS CITIZENS FROM ENSLAVEMENT.
“WE ALSO VOW TO ENSURE THAT THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION IN THE STATE REPUDIATES THE AGREEMENT ALTOGETHER AND DISREGARD ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHATEVER MONEY THE CHINESE EXPENDED ON THIS PROJECT. WE MUST EMPHASISE THAT THE GOOD PEOPLE OF KANO DO NOT NEED THIS EXPENSIVE WHITE ELEPHANT PROJECT.’’
YOU ARE RAISING UNNECESSARY ALARM, GANDUJE’S AIDE REPLIES ELDERS
REACTING ON THE PETITION, THE SPECIAL ADVISER TO GANDUJE ON MEDIA, SALIHU TANKO-YAKASAI, IN AN INTERVIEW WITH THE PUNCH, SAID THERE WAS A NEED FOR THE ELDERS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE LOAN WAS NOT NEW AS THE PROCESS STARTED THREE YEARS AGO.
HE SAID THE STATE GOVERNMENT HAD BEFORE FOLLOWED ALL THE NECESSARY STEPS AND PROCEDURES FOR TAKING THE LOAN.
HE SAID AFTER THE NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE LOAN, GANDUJE SUBMITTED THE DOCUMENT TO THE PRESIDENT, NATIONAL ASSEMBLY AND THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE, FEDERAL MINISTRY OF JUSTICE AS WELL AS THE DEFT MANAGEMENT OFFICE.
HE STATED, “AFTER ALL THESE PROCESSES, WE GOT APPROVAL OF THE LOAN. SO WHY ARE THEY RAISING ANY ALARM ABOUT IT?”
HE SAID THE MONEY WAS NOT COMING TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT DIRECTLY BUT RATHER IT WOULD GO TO THE CONTRACTOR FROM THE BANK, WHILE THE STATE GOVERNMENT WOULD ALSO GIVE ITS COUNTERPART FUND FOR THE EXECUTION OF THE PROJECT.
“BESIDES, IT IS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE STATE. WHY THE ELDERS DID NOT WRITE AND QUESTION THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ON ITS ONGOING RAIL PROJECT IN THE COUNTRY?” HE ASKED
BUT A PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHIEFTAIN, ALHAJI AMINU ABDUSSALAM, DESCRIBED THE PROPOSED LIGHT RAIL PROJECT IN KANO AS A WASTE OF RESOURCES.
ABDUSSALAM, IN AN INTERVIEW WITH ONE OF OUR CORRESPONDENTS, SAID AT PRESENT ALL SERIOUS GOVERNMENTS WERE MORE CONCERNED WITH THE WELFARE OF THEIR CITIZENS IN VIEW OF THE CURRENT ECONOMIC CHALLENGES, BUT THE STATE GOVERNMENT WAS BUSY TRYING TO ACCESS A LOAN WHICH WOULD NOT POSITIVELY IMPACT ON THE COMMON MAN.
A new video has emerged showing two men reportedly kidnapped by Boko Haram insurgents in Borno State, pleading for assistance to secure their release.
One of the captives, former Biu Local Government Area Chairman Hassan Biu Miringa, revealed that their abductors are demanding a $300,000 ransom.
Miringa said he and another individual were taken in December 2025 and have remained in the custody of the militants.
In the video shared by Zagazola Makama, Miringa introduced himself, saying: “I am Hassan Biu Miringa, former Chairman of Biu Local Government from 2020 to 2022. Four years after my tenure, we were kidnapped by the soldiers of Khilafa about two weeks ago. Alhamdulillah, we are still alive, but we urgently need help to save our lives.”
He added that negotiations with the kidnappers had been underway, with some preliminary agreements reportedly reached.
“We have engaged them on four separate occasions and reached an understanding. We appeal to our leaders, especially Borno State Deputy Governor Alhaji Usman Umar Kadafur, the National Assembly representative for Biu, Kwaya, and Shani Hon. Betera Aliyu, as well as our community leaders, to temper justice with mercy and assist us. We are their children and have been working together,” Miringa said.
He confirmed the ransom demand, explaining that each captive is expected to pay $150,000, totaling $300,000 for their freedom, and pleaded for urgent intervention to reunite with their families.
The video highlights ongoing concerns over kidnappings and insecurity in southern Borno State, which have persisted despite government efforts to curb insurgent activity in the region.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, on Saturday visited Port Harcourt City Local Government as part of his “thank you” visit across Rivers State.
Upon his arrival, a group of women displayed a symbolic gesture of loyalty by spreading their wrappers on the ground for his motorcade.
The women and supporters of the Minister were in a jubilant mode as Wike drove on the wrappers.
Wike has been going around local governments in the state to appreciate them for their support while reeling out moves ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In the course of his visits, the Minister had fired several salvos at political actors in the state, warning that their sudden support for President Bola Tinubu won’t secure them any ticket in 2027.
Wike also renewed rivalry with Governor Sim Fubara over the leadership control of the political space in the state.
The Rivers State House of Assembly has officially reaffirmed that the impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, are ongoing and have not been suspended.
The Assembly said the process is still ongoing and is being conducted strictly in line with constitutional provisions.
This was contained in a statement issued on Friday by the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Petitions and Complaints, Hon. Enemi George.
According to the statement, the impeachment process, which began on Thursday, January 8, 2026, remains on course in line with the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
The lawmakers disclosed that separate notices of allegations bordering on gross misconduct have been served on both the governor and his deputy in line with Section 188 of the Constitution.
“The notices of allegations of gross misconduct against the Governor and the Deputy Governor have been duly forwarded to them by the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule, and the House is awaiting their responses,” the statement said.
The Assembly maintained that it is constitutionally obligated to act in the interest of the rule of law and ensure that no public office holder acts outside legal boundaries.
Reacting to reports suggesting that the impeachment move had been halted, the House accused some individuals and media outlets of deliberately spreading misinformation to mislead the public and stir tension between the legislature and Rivers residents.
The lawmakers described such reports as false and insisted they would not succumb to intimidation, threats, or blackmail.
“We are aware of renewed attempts by certain persons and media platforms to misinform the public by claiming that the impeachment process has been discontinued. The public should disregard such falsehoods, as the process remains active,” the statement added.
The Assembly reaffirmed its commitment to democratic principles and constitutional responsibilities, stressing that it would not be distracted by what it termed “cheap propaganda.”
It also appreciated the people of Rivers State for their support and prayers amid the ongoing political developments and extended goodwill to Nigerians committed to the nation’s democratic journey.
JomogNews reports that during Thursday’s plenary session, presided over by the Speaker, the Majority Leader, Major Jack, formally read the notice of allegations of gross misconduct against Governor Fubara on the floor of the House.
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