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The Three Senators Representing Kaduna Are Useless -El Rufai

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Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-rufai, at a public function on Friday cursed three senators representing the state for opposing a $350 million loan being sought from the World Bank by his government.

He also described the senators as ”enemies of the state, people and All Progressive Congress”.

The state government had earlier vowed to go ahead with its request despite the decision by the Senate that the Nigerian government should not guarantee the facility.

The Senate decided not to approve the loan request after a committee headed by Shehu Sani (APC-Kaduna) advised against it on the ground that the state is the second most indebted in the country.

Mr Sani, who is the chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign and Domestic Loans, argued that the new loan if approved will erode economic viability of the State.

His position was supported by two other senators from the state: Suleiman Hunkuyi (Kaduna North) and Danjuma La’ah (Kaduna South).

Mr Sani and Mr El-Rufai have been having running political battles for the past few months and have been engaged in several altercations in the past.

Reacting to the federal lawmakers’ decision, the state government said nothing can stop it from obtaining the loan for the development of the state.

The state Commissioner of Finance, Suleiman Abdu Kwari, at a news briefing in Kaduna said the excuse given on the floor of the Senate as to the size of the state’s loan was ”baseless”.

Mr Kwari said with the way the three senators from the state spoke against the loan, it was apparent they had put ”their personal frustrations above the right of the people of the state”.

He said the World Bank was convinced the state has met the conditions before given its approval for the loan.

But a furious Mr El-rufai on Friday said the state electorate did not send the senators to the National Assembly ”to work against the interest of the state”.

Mr El-rufai also cursed them publicly while addressing party supporters at the flag-off of the APC’s campaign for the state local government elections held at the Township Stadium.

“They (Wolrd Bank) decided to support us with $350 million loan so that we can support projects that will improve the lives of the people of Kaduna State. But the enemies of our people, the three enemies (senators) of Kaduna State in the Senate blocked it. May Allah curse them!

“They are behaving as if their personal ego is more important than the 10 million of people in the state,” he said.

The governor said the World Bank approved the loan for the state because it were convinced of the viability of the projects. He threatened that the electorate would vote out the senators for their action against the wish of the people.

He also had unkind words for those in the National Assembly ”opposing the government of President Muhammadu Buhari”.

“These politicians of deceit, selfishness are doing similar thing at the national level to cripple the government of our leader Muhammadu Buhari. They kept the budget of 2018 in limbo, they are threatening to impeach the President after their conspiracy on changing the order of election collapsed.

“We didn’t sent these senators to Abuja to conspire against our people or against our party and President,” he said.

He said the 16 years of the PDP ‘misrule’ in the state and nationally were regrettable when put side by side ”the acheivements of the APC”.

According to him, to move forward, ”the APC has 1293 projects at various stages of completion across the state (Kaduna)”.

“This government has spent more than N60 billion on schools, hospitals, roads and water projects,” he said, adding that, ”our local government elections will be the first ever in Nigeria conducted by electronic voting.”

The Party’s National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun; Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed and senior officials of the Kaduna APC were in attendance.

Meanwhile, Mr Odigie-Oyegun, commended the state for introducing electronic voting machines

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Governor Sani Commissions 35km Road Linking 76 Communities, Longest in Kaduna Since 2004

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Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has commissioned a monumental 35-kilometre asphaltic road described as the longest single infrastructure project delivered in the state over the past two decades, connecting 76 farming communities across three local government areas.

The historic road, inaugurated on Monday at a ceremony attended by traditional rulers, community leaders and residents, stretches from Gadan Gayan through Gwaraji to Kujama Junction, linking Igabi, Kajuru and Chikun local governments.

A standout feature of the project is a 130-metre bridge spanning River Kaduna, providing vital access to rural populations who had previously faced isolation during rainy seasons when the waterway became impassable.

Governor Sani characterized the infrastructure delivery as a watershed moment in Kaduna’s development trajectory, emphasizing that the project reflects his administration’s commitment to inclusive, people-centered governance that prioritizes underserved communities.

The governor recalled that when construction commenced in January 2024, his administration promised to deliver a durable and efficient transport corridor, adding that disciplined planning and professional execution ensured that pledge was fulfilled within record time.

Beyond physical mobility, the road addresses critical economic needs by creating direct linkages between agricultural production zones and commercial consumption centers across the state.

“By traversing agriculturally productive rural communities across three local government areas, this road directly links farms to markets, aggregation centers, processing facilities, and urban consumption hubs,” Governor Sani explained, noting the infrastructure would dramatically reduce post-harvest losses while strengthening agricultural value chains.

The governor highlighted that agriculture remains the leading contributor to Kaduna State’s gross domestic product growth, making rural connectivity essential for sustaining the sector’s economic dominance.

Early indicators suggest the infrastructure investment is already generating multiplier effects, with new filling stations, markets and small businesses emerging along the corridor even before formal commissioning.

“This is the quiet but powerful multiplier effect of well-planned infrastructure,” the governor remarked, pointing to the organic economic revival happening in communities previously isolated from development opportunities.

The project specifically targets historical inequities in public infrastructure distribution, particularly in Kajuru Local Government Area, which had not benefited from any road construction initiative for over twelve years prior to this administration.

“This prolonged neglect constrained economic activity, and that reality was unacceptable,” Governor Sani stated, adding that his administration is deliberately reversing decades of underinvestment in marginalized communities.

The commissioned road also provides an alternative route that reduces dependence on the frequently congested Kaduna metropolis, cutting travel time and transportation costs for commuters and traders while improving emergency response capabilities.

“Emergency services will respond faster, schoolchildren will reach classrooms with greater ease, and families will enjoy improved access to healthcare, markets and social services,” the governor noted.

Managing Director of Kaduna Road Agency Abdullahi Baba-Ahmad commended Governor Sani for executing massive infrastructure projects across the state, describing the 35-kilometre road as a landmark achievement that demonstrates commitment to delivering democratic dividends to all parts of Kaduna.

Baba-Ahmad revealed that the current administration has completed over 1,300 kilometres of roads across the state, significantly boosting commercial activities, easing travel and improving productivity.

Governor Sani explained that the commissioned road forms part of a broader infrastructure programme encompassing 140 road projects totaling 1,335 kilometres across Kaduna State, with 66 already completed while others are between 60 and 75 percent completion stages.

The infrastructure push follows an earlier achievement in May 2025 when Governor Sani broke another 20-year road construction jinx in Kagarko Local Government Area, underscoring systematic efforts to end infrastructure neglect across all parts of the state.

Traditional rulers and community leaders who spoke at the commissioning ceremony described the road as transformational, with many residents testifying about revived livelihoods, revitalized local economies and communities emerging from years of isolation with renewed confidence in government.

The project’s completion within approximately 14 months from flag-off demonstrates the administration’s capacity for rapid infrastructure delivery despite Nigeria’s challenging economic environment and budgetary constraints affecting many state governments.

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Wole Olanipekun, Taiwo Oyedele Urge South-West Governors to Maximise Tinubu Presidency for Regional Growth

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Senior  Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Wole Olanipekun, and Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele, have called on South-West governors and political leaders to fully leverage President Bola Tinubu’s administration to drive accelerated development across the region.
The duo made the call on Monday in Akure, Ondo State capital, while speaking at a public lecture organised as part of activities marking the 50th anniversary of Ondo State’s creation.
They stressed that the South-West must prioritise massive investments in infrastructure, industrialisation, and economic reforms during Tinubu’s tenure to secure long-term regional prosperity.
Olanipekun cautioned that the political advantage of having a South-West president is temporary, noting that President Tinubu’s tenure will come to an end after his second term in 2031.
According to him, the region must act decisively within this window to strengthen its economic base and ensure sustainable development beyond the current administration.

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BREAKING: Malami Tells Court He Earned ₦12bn+ Legitimately, Seeks Release of Seized Properties

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Former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has disclosed details of his earnings while asking a Federal High Court in Abuja to set aside an interim order authorising the seizure of 57 properties allegedly linked to him.
Malami made the disclosure through his counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN), in a motion on notice filed before the court. The application seeks to vacate an interim forfeiture order affecting three of the 57 properties currently under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
According to the court filing, Malami stated that he had fully and transparently declared his sources of income in his asset declaration submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).
The document outlined multiple income streams, including:
₦374.63 million earned from salaries, estacodes, severance allowances, and related entitlements.
₦574.07 million generated from the disposal of personal assets.
₦10.01 billion recorded as turnover from private business ventures.
₦2.52 billion issued as loans to various businesses.
₦958 million received as traditional gifts from personal friends.
₦509.88 million realised from the launch and public presentation of his book titled “Contemporary Issues on Nigerian Law and Practice: Thorny Terrains in Traversing the Nigerian Justice Sector – My Travails and Triumphs.”
Malami’s legal team argued that the declared earnings sufficiently explain the source of funds used to acquire the properties in question, urging the court to lift the interim seizure order.
The matter remains pending before the Federal High Court as the EFCC continues its forfeiture proceedings.

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