Covid-19: Ganduje Makes U-Turn, Wants Lockdown Obeyed

Kano State Governor, Umar Ganduje, has called for compliance with the lockdown in state two days after asking the Federal Government to ease the restriction.

The PUNCH reports that Buhari in a nationwide broadcast on Monday ordered a total lockdown in the state as part of measures to curb the spread of coronavirus disease.

But Ganduje asked the Federal Government to ease the 14-day total lockdown on Thursday, saying it would result in economic hardship in the state.

The governor’s appeal, however, led to an outrage on social media, with many commenters asking him to prioritise the health of residents.

On Friday, Kano recorded 92 new cases – the highest daily figure to be reported in any state in Nigeria within 24 hours.

After the new cases recorded on Friday, the governor in a series of tweets on Saturday said the lockdown was necessary to curb the spread of the virus.

He also urged residents to obey the lockdown order and maintain social distancing.

He tweeted, “We’re working fast to deal with the spread of #COVID19 in our great state with the conversion of some facilities in the state to isolation centres. The Abubakar Imam Urology Hospital, Murtala Muhammed Library Complex, Hospitality and Tourism Institute formerly Daula Hotel.

“Sports Institute at Karfi and the Nigerian Air Force Hospital will now house carriers of the pandemic going forward. The Murtala Muhammad Library Complex is expected to accommodate over 200 beds and also an estimated 300 beds will be provided at Karfi Sports Institute.

“I reiterate my plea for all Kano citizens to adhere to the lockdown rule. We need to slow down the virus and this is only possible with social distancing. Please stay in your homes.”

With the 92 new coronavirus cases recorded on Friday, confirmed infections in Kano have increased to 311.

Data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control’s website showed that Kano has recorded no recovery since Nigeria reported its first COVID-19 case on February 27.

The breakdown of the cases recorded by states showed that Kano has recorded the second-highest number of infections with 311 cases in Nigeria.

Lagos has the highest number of infections with 1,006 cases and Abuja third with 214 cases.

Cases in Lagos, Kano, and Abuja constitute over 70 per cent of the total cases recorded in Nigeria, The PUNCH reports.

A further breakdown of the data revealed that Kano is the COVID-19 worst-hit state in the northern part of Nigeria.

The NCDC said, “It tweeted, “On the 1st of May 2020, 238 new confirmed cases and ten deaths were recorded in Nigeria. No new state has reported a case in the last 24 hours".

Currently, 2,388 cases have been confirmed, 385 cases have been discharged and 85 deaths have been recorded in 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Kano State Governor, Ganduje, Asks Buhari To Relax Lockdown Over Ramadan

President Buhari had on Monday during a nationwide broadcast ordered a total lockdown on Kano following the rise of COVID-19 cases and the strange deaths in the state.

The Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to ease the 14-day total lockdown imposed on the state.

Buhari had on Monday during a nationwide broadcast ordered a total lockdown on Kano following the rise of COVID-19 cases and the strange deaths in the state.

Ganduje, while speaking on Thursday, while inaugurating a panel of experts to support the state task force technical committee, said it is important to relax the lockdown for a while in order to ease the hardship in the state, especially in the holy month of Ramadan. 

He said, “We would engage the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 to seek permission to relax the total lockdown imposed on Kano.

We are making this appeal on behalf of our people who are presently running out of food items. We would love the Federal government to relax the lockdown for a period of time to enable people stock their homes, especially now that majority of us are fasting. It will also ease the economic hardship in the state.”

Ganduje Under Fire for Allegedly Trying to Convert Young Christian Girl to Islam

Reactions have trailed a video on Instagram showing Kano State Governor, Umar Ganduje allegedly ‘trying to covert a Christian girl to Islam’.

The Governor, who spoke in Hausa language, was captured questioning a young girl who ‘reportedly had decided to change her faith.’

The Governor in the two minute clip told the young girl that a ‘Malami would put her through on what Islam is all about.’

Ganduje also asked her to pick a Muslim name

However, the video has generated reactions from Nigerians who accused Ganduje of forcefully converting the young girl to Islam.

Some Nigerians are of the opinion that the young girl was under duress to covert to Islam.

Here are some comments gathered:

@Mazi, “This is obviously a forced conversion. This girl child seems to be under duress & pressure. Has she attained the age of consent? Of all the plethora of challenges bedeviling Kano State, Governor Ganduje Gandollar selected to prioritize the conversion of a girl child?”

@Usihol, “Very unfortunate and sad. Northern Nigeria will remain a load the Nigeria Nation will carry for a long time to come.Imagine a governor. Gandollars gate is still a sad memory, here the same man come again.”

@Solomonaoenja, “If a Christian man does this to a Muslim girl in Kano, Ganduje will have his head on a spike for instigating disharmony in Kano State. The sheer hypocrisy of that act.”

@Angela201045315, “They deviate from governance hence they never deliver on their campaign promises.”

@Josiahufono, “Imagine a reverse case; a southern governor trying to woo a minor to his religion, The #north would have been on fire.”

@Reuelnafisu, “You see, no northern Muslim will see this as wrong, we housed a matured girl for two years cos her parents wanted her dead for converting to a Christian, she is 24yo, once married, from. Bauchi we have to take her to Jos.”

@Goldmurrhfranki, “If a Christian governor were to do this, arewa will be on fire. A simple statement which govern or Wike made, they didn’t sleep for a month.”

@eezakka, “I saw this video and I asked myself what exactly Kano is about that a sitting Governor would participate in the conversion of a minor to Islam. Sad!”

@freddymarshal, “Religion shouldn’t be prioritized by any Governor. Be it Christian or Muslim Governor, propagating ideologies that could not translate into economic well-being of d citizens is one of d thing hampering our growth as a Nation. Theaction of d Governor is shameful. It’s indeed sad.”

@philip15243792, “When we tell you people that northern Muslims have an agenda they will call us conspiracy theorists. If there’s no ulterior motives tell me what concerns a governor with converting a Christian to Muslim? You southern slaves supporting these people, kwantinue body go soon tell una.”

@ Festus_green, “She doesn’t seem to have attained the age of consent, she’s a child and could not have given consent?

No state in Nigeria has an official state religion, why is the Chief Executive of a state championing a conversion ? What is the identity of this girl, who are her parents?