‘Stop Politicizing Movement Of Almajiris’- Ganduje Laments

Kano state governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje on Sunday appealed to critics not to politicize the movement of Almajiris to their state of Origin.

Ganduje said the decision to move Almajiris to their state of origin was adopted at Northern Governors Forum and not a unilateral position.

A statement issued on Sunday by Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Abba Anwar and forwarded to Solacebase said Ganduje made this known to journalists at the State Task Force on COVID-19 media briefing at Africa House, Government House, Kano, Sunday, pointing out that, the exercise was not political and should not be politicized.

Solacebase recalled that the movement of the Almajiris to their various states of origin has been generating criticism especially with most of the states such as Kaduna and Jigawa among others complaining that those brought from Kano are COVID-19 Positive.

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According to the statement, to put record straight on the movement of Almajiri across states of the federation and how Kano embarks on the exercise, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje says “We agreed at the that all Almajiris moved to their states of origin. That is why we are sending, in good faith and procedures, all Almajiris that are not from Kano state to their respective states of origin.”

Governor Ganduje challenged that, “The way we are sending back Almajiris to their states of origin, we are also receiving Almajiris from other states who are Kano indigenes. But the fact that we are not making noise about it does not mean they are all healthy without COVID-19 infections.”

While making it categorically clear that, some of the Almajiris brought to Kano during the exercise, are also COVID-19 positive, he explained further that, “But we are not making politics out of it. Because we all believe that what they need most now, is not noise making or publicity. What they need at this critical point in time is, caregiving.”

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“People should also understand that these children were not infected in the process of transporting them to their respective states. So noise making is not fit as a way forward. All we are doing is simply to comply with the Northern Governors’ Forum decision that all Almajiris in our states should be taken back to their respective states, simple,” he reminded.