BY EDMOND ODOK, ABUJA- President Muhammadu Buhari says the Nigerian Constitution has tied his hands, making it impossible for him to openly intervene and resolve the rift between Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje and the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II.
The President said: “I know my role as the President of Nigeria. By the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Governor of Kano State has his own roles, once a matter is in the hands of the House of Assembly (like in Kano), the President has no Constitutional right to interfere.”
In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, the President further said; “I am here by the Constitution, I swore by it, and I am going to stand by it.”
However, giving a hint on what could untie his hands in any circumstance, Mr President; “But let me tell you, the bottom line of my understanding of the Constitutional role is that peace and security of all Nigerians must be guaranteed, where the people are threatened, then I will use my constitutional powers.”
President Buhari, who received a large delegation of personalities from Kano State on Friday in Abuja, also challenged elected officials to justify the confidence reposed in them by keeping all promises made to the electorates.
According to him; “I hope you are mindful of your promises to your constituencies. You went round and you promised your constituencies. I hope the promises you made are within the resources of your state.
“If you made promises outside your resources, it will be your problem because you are going to stand again in four years’ time. This is very important and it is important for our party.”
In his remarks, Governor Ganduje, who led the delegation, lauded President Buhari for executing numerous projects in the State including; the Kano-Abuja road reconstruction; the modernisation of Kaduna-Kano and from Kano -Niger Republic rail lines.
He also thanked him for the gas pipeline project from Ajaokuta to Kaduna and from Kaduna to Kano; dualisation of Kano–Katsina highway; as well as the construction and equipping of new terminal wing of the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport.
The President also received kudos for his administration’s efforts at making life better for Kano people, especially in terms of security and education.
Governor Ganduje said; “We have done a lot in the area of security, even installing CCTV cameras in black spots and all major routes into Kano state. We also have a multi-purpose vehicle for monitoring, which has helped in arresting kidnappers and Boko Haram terrorists. We have also established an army training area.”
Furthermore, Gandule ssid the State government has also curtailed herdsmen/farmers clashes by establishing settlements for nomads.
Commenting on the issue of out-of-school kids, Governor Ganduje said; “We used to have one million out-of-school children but now we are down to about 400,000 on account of the new education policy which now makes schooling free and compulsory from basic to secondary school, complemented with free feeding, free uniforms and free instructional materials.”
In addition, the Governor disclosed that his administration recruited 600 teachers to teach Mathematics and English as well as 3,000 teachers for Almajiri schools that would soon be incorporated into the normal school system.
He however pleaded with the Federal government to intervene in completing the Kano River Irrigation Scheme; the establishment of a Federal Medical Centre; and distilling of 24 dams in the state.
Meanwhile, concerns over the dispute between Emir Sanusi and Governor Ganduje has continued to attract attention from prominent personalities in the north with the latest being the Emir of Ningi, Alhaji Yunusa Danyaya, who on Thursday pleaded with President Buhari to save the traditional institution in the North from being destroyed by urgently intervening to resolve the festering crisis
The royal father, who spoke with newsmen at his palace in Ningi, said: “I am begging the President as a father to all to please in the name of Allah to intervene in the problem happening in Kano and settle this dispute between the Emir and the Governor.”
“I have high hopes that Buhari will not allow the traditional institution to be humiliated and bastardised,” he added. – Additional reports from NAN
