With 2020 behind us, Chronicle reviews some major happenings during the year in Kano State. The year, undoubtedly, came with a lot of good, bad and even ugly issues. Below are 10 major issues that put Kano in the news in the 2020.
Chaos at House of Assembly over Sanusi’s investigation
- Kano anti-corruption agency uncovers fraud in states scholarship scheme, says N7bn paid since 2015 to date
- ‘Fair creates platform for 400 start-ups in Kano’
On March 9, the Kano State House of Assembly descended into chaos over the report of its committee that investigated allegations against the then Emir of Kano, Malam Muhammadu Sanusi II.
Five lawmakers, who reportedly opposed the report of the committee, were suspended from the house for six months for misconduct and violation of the rules of the house.
Those suspended were Garba Yau-Gwarmai (APC) representing Kunchi/Tsanyawa Constituency, Labaran Abdul Madari (APC) representing Warawa Constituency, Isyaku Ali Danja (PDP) representing Gezawa Constituency, Mohammed Bello (APC) representing Rimin Gado/Tofa Constituency and Salisu Ahmed-Gwangwazo (PDP) representing Kano Municipal.
The lawmakers were later reinstated by a court order.
Dethronement of Muhammadu Sanusi II as emir of Kano
The saga between the traditional leader and the political leader of Kano State reached its peak on March 9, when Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje dethroned the 14th Emir of Kano, Malam Muhammadu Sanusi II.
The deposed emir was later banished to Loko in Nasarawa State, then to Awe, before he later got a court order which enabled him to finally move to Lagos.
Sanusi was then replaced with the then Emir of Bichi, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, as the new Emir of Kano. The Turakin Kano, Alhaji Nasiru Ado Bayero (Aminu’s younger brother) was also made the new Emir of Bichi.
Detection of Kano COVID-19 index case
There was a lot of commotion and pandemonium in the state following the detection of the first case of the deadly novel coronavirus in the state on April 11, 2020 from a former ambassador who returned from Lagos through Abuja.
From the first index case, the state continued to record new cases almost daily. Barely two weeks after, the state government imposed a total lockdown in the state.
Ganduje sacks commissioner for ‘celebrating’ Abba Kyari’s death
Following the death of former Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Malam Abba Kyari, on April 17, the then Kano State Commissioner for Works, Engineer Mu’az Magaji made a series of posts on the social media considered indiscreet on the late Kyari.
The commissioner was sacked by Governor Ganduje for his ‘Win-Win’ comments, interpreted to be celebrating the death and suggesting that Nigeria would be free following his death, though afterwards he denied celebrating. Later in the year, the governor appointed him as Chairman, Kano State Gas Pipeline Project Delivery and Gas Industrialisation Committee.
Mysterious deaths during COVID-19 lockdown
In what was termed as ‘mysterious deaths’, Kano recorded deaths on a daily basis during the lockdown especially in May and early June. It was reported that more than 1,000 people died.
The state government refuted reports that the deaths might be linked to COVID-19 but the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 confirmed that the deaths were in fact linked to the virus and that over 587 had died.
Prominent people who died include the Emir of Rano, Alhaji Tafida Abubakar Ila and Jarman Kano, Prof Isah Hashim.
Mother stabs own children to death
In October, an ugly incident of a mother, Hauwa Aminu, hacking to death her own children, Yusuf and Zahra’u, put Kano in the news again.
Hauwa, a resident of Diso Quarters in Gwale Local Government of the metropolis, was arrested and subsequently arraigned for killing her two children.
Flood kills more than 20 people, destroys over 50,000 houses in Jigawa
Flooding in Jigawa State destroyed over 50,000 homes and affected 17 out of the 27 local government areas (LGAs).
The State Emergency and Management Agency (SEMA) reported on September 5 that as many as 20 people died in the flooding.
Identical twin brothers marry identical twin sisters
On November 22, two identical twin brothers – Hassan Suleiman Indabawa and Hussein Suleiman Indabawa, of Dan-Agundi quarters in Kano Municipal Local Government Area, married another set of identical twin sisters – Hassana Ado Ashir and Husseina Ado Ashir of Unguwar Dabai in Gwale Local Government Area.
The wedding Fatiha took place at Karmawy Juma’at Mosque of Unguwar Dabai.
16 Danbatta youths die in tragic accident
On Tuesday, December 8, a commercial bus carrying 19 passengers all from Danbatta Local Government Area, travelling from Kano to Lagos, had an accident at Rigachikun in Kaduna State where only three of them survived.
Kano State government had earlier alleged that they were killed by gunmen along Kaduna-Abuja road, but the police in Kaduna and a survivor of the incident denied the allegation and attributed the unpleasant incident to a motor accident.
One of the survivors, Yusufa Umar, confirmed that they were never attacked, but that the tyre of their vehicle burst and the vehicle somersaulted.
Kano youth marries American woman
The much talked about wedding ceremony of Suleiman Isah, 23, of Panshekara in Kano metropolis and Janine Sanchez, 46, from California in the United States, whom he met on Instagram some two years back, was finally held on December 12.
The wedding, which took place at MOPOL 52 Barracks Juma’at Mosque in Panshekara, Kumbotso LGA, had thousands of well-wishers from within and outside the state in attendance to witness the historic event.
Resignation of Kano Assembly Speaker, Gafasa
Also in December, Honourable Abdul’aziz Garba Gafasa resigned as the Speaker of Kano State House of Assembly along with the House Majority Leader, Kabiru Hassan Dashi, over what they described as “personal reasons”, though news of a rift between Gafasa and the state governor on one hand and Gafasa and his colleagues on the other hand, continued to make rounds.
Gafasa was replaced with the former Deputy Speaker and member representing Makoda Constituency, Hamisu Ibrahim Chidari, as the new Speaker, and Zubairu Hamza, a member representing Sumaila Constituency, was elected as the new Deputy Speaker while the member representing Warawa Constituency, Labaran Abdul Madari, was re-elected Majority Leader of the House.
Jigawa women contribute money to buy car to convey pregnant women to hospital
Sometime in September, the story of some women in Bordo village of Jahun Local Government Area of Jigawa State who contributed N1,000 each to raise N1million to buy a car to be used in conveying pregnant women to hospital for delivery trended.
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