‘Political Guerrillas’ Behind Ganduje’s Recall Of Students On Scholarship Abroad

Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State has been asked to halt alleged ongoing plans by his administration to recall indigenous students who are under the state government’s scholarship scheme abroad.

In a statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Ikonomwan Francis, Southern Mandate of Nigeria (SMN) has petitioned Acting President Yemi Osinbajo to call Governor Ganduje to order over moves to recall about 37 students among those being sponsored by the state government in Egypt.

Mr. Francis said the state government plans to recall the students on the grounds of alleged “poor performance”.

He further said, however, that the move is a deliberate attempt by the Ganduje administration under the sponsorship of some “political urban guerrillas” to dent Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso’s image ahead of the 2019 election.

The statement reads in part: “It has come to our knowledge that the governor has perfected his plans to repatriate students who are on scholarship home and abroad. This act is shocking and disheartening.

“Former Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso offered scholarship to the youths to study relevant courses which would enhance human capital development in the state.

“Members of Southern Mandate of Nigeria (SMN) are surprised at the motive behind Ganduje asking that the students be repatriated without considering the effect of this inhuman decision, even at this critical moment of our national development.

“It should be on record that Ganduje was part of the decision to sponsor these students. Kano State is highly populated but educationally deficient in some key professional areas like Medicine, Nursing, and Aeronautic Engineering etc.

“Having observed these lapses, Kwankwaso decided to develop these key areas by sponsoring youths abroad, a decision that was accepted and applauded locally and internationally.

“We view it as barbaric and cynical, that such gigantic project is about to be cut short to score cheap political points. It is worthy of mention that the Kano State government has invested so much in these students in the last three years, and they, on their part, have invested their time and energy to succeed.

“We know Ganduje is being sponsored by some political guerrillas who see Kwankwaso as a major threat in the 2019 election. They, however, fail to realise that Kwankwaso can never be intimidated by his political foes.

“We call on Acting President Yemi Osibanjo and the national, leadership of the APC to call Governor Ganduje to order, otherwise the devastating effect of the visceral on Kano State and the students alike will be unquantifiable.”