Re: Of Buhari and technology used in Ganduje videos

I read with utmost surprise a malevolent and naughty article, published on page 42 of Daily Trust of Wednesday, January 23, authored by Mr. Audu Bulama Bukarti, an over ambitious, self-styled human rights and anti-corruption lawyer struggling, at all cost, to gain recognition. Having carefully studied and analysed the piece, the emotion of the hatched […]

I read with utmost surprise a malevolent and naughty article, published on page 42 of Daily Trust of Wednesday, January 23, authored by Mr. Audu Bulama Bukarti, an over ambitious, self-styled human rights and anti-corruption lawyer struggling, at all cost, to gain recognition. Having carefully studied and analysed the piece, the emotion of the hatched men is laid bare. Additionally, taking cognizance of the personality of the author, I decided not to venerate the crummy item with a response but to laugh it off and move on. However, knowing fully well the writer’s flair for outright vituperation, sneer, derision or outright envy of public figures, particularly as regular feature in Freedom Radio programmes, one is tempted to put out a response, because the professional liar who authored the claptrap presented tissues of lies in a way that may look factual to unsuspecting public who knows not. It could also help in deterring him and his likes of muckrakers hired with a mandate to smear any target personality by every available spit they could get.

It is degrading of Mr. Bukarti, a budding lawyer who is trying to cut his teeth in the profession to compromise his career by writing injurious articles just for peanuts to survive. We are very much aware of the evil machination of the opposition elements who are ready to spend their last kobo by sponsoring the likes of Bukarti to damage image, character and personality of His Excellency, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, particularly in this time of electioneering campaign.

Having smelled defeat at the polls, these desperate politicians are using all the missiles in their arsenals to ensure that the people are deceived, but they have always misfired! Bukarti’s narrative in the said article, indeed, exposed the desperation of a frustrated young man who is not only struggling to make cheap money, but to gain popularity by all possible means. His attempts to analysing the statement of President Muhammadu Buhari questioned his integrity as a trained lawyer and a clear indication that he was all out to make mischief in favour of his paymasters within the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

In all the issues that the writer raised, I must state clearly that Mr. Bukarti who has made himself a court of law did not get it right when he insinuated that Governor Ganduje shunned Kano state House of Assembly! This is not true. In the letter of invitation addressed to Governor Ganduje by the House Investigative Panel, three options were made available to him, which included sending a proxy to appear before the Committee, which he did and the Committee accepted it.

In fact, when Governor Ganduje received the letter of invitation, as a responsible and patriotic leader who believes in the Rule of Law and the principles of Separation of Powers, he complied with the Rules of the House, just as he provided answers to the questions asked pertaining what they needed to know as per the allegations contained in the doctored video clips.

After all, what on earth would make Governor Ganduje to be afraid of appearing before the Panel since his hands are clean and the world has come to know that the real reason behind the emergence of the said video was to bring the name of Governor Ganduje to disrepute ahead the 2019 general elections? This is so because the publisher of Daily Nigeria, Mr. Ja’afar Ja’afar who used the free passage of all garbage offered by the handy social media, to circulate the clips, confessed before the House Panel that he did not care to contact Governor Ganduje on the issue before going ahead to publish the malicious and doctored video – an action that is outrightly against the codes and ethics of journalism.

Not only that, in the same proceedings, Ja’afar was asked whether he was the person that recorded the video or he was there when the recording was going or, he witnessed any of the actions contained in the video. He unambiguously answered in the negative and added that the video clips were given to him by a whistle blower. How can a reasonable and trustworthy person take oath over hearsay evidence? This shakes the credibility of the publisher. To cast additional doubt on the publication of Ja’afar, recently he published fake news in which it was alleged that FCT High Court ordered for the arrest of Ganduje’s wife. After a thorough investigation, it is discovered that there was no such order given by the Court.

The author asked President Buhari to direct relevant Agency under the Presidency to investigate the allegation. Surprisingly, he stated in the same paper that the Chairman of the EFCC publically informed him that he was in London for some forensics and other matters on the purported video. This simply means investigation is ongoing. Surprisingly, he was accusing the Chairman of not publicizing the outcome of the investigation. Is that the position of the Law or procedure? The answer is no. You can’t publicize the outcome of uncompleted investigation.

Governor Ganduje did not at any time or in any way interfere with the business of the House Investigative Panel during their proceedings, as being portrayed in Bukarti’s article. A group of lawyers known as Lawyers for Sustainable Democracy in Nigeria, challenged the legality of the powers of the State House of Assembly to conduct criminal investigation and the Court entered Judgment in their favour; that only Agencies with the power to investigate crimes could do so but not the State House of Assembly. Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has already instituted a defamation suit before the Kano State High Court of Justice, claiming damages against the publisher, Jafaar Jafaar.

Another case over the video, is pending before the High Court of Justice of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, holden at Maitama, with a Suit Number: CV/344/18 and Motion Number: M/887/18, between Incorporated Trustees of Hope Development And Empowerment Foundation Against (1) Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), (2) Government of Kano State of Nigeria  (3) All Progressives Congress (APC).  The nagging question is: what was wrong if Mr. President said that he expects answers from Court. Legally speaking, we all know that once a matter is before the Court no one is allowed to preempt the decision of the Court. The President made a clear statement which is in line with the Law and procedure.

Finally, it is important to state it clear that the malicious video clips which was viciously circulated in the Social Media simply to bring down Governor Ganduje cannot deter him from taking Kano state to the Next Level. His modest achievements so far have become a nightmare to the likes of Mr. Bukarti and his paymasters. The electorate are wiser. Kano people know who is who. So, no amount of propaganda, blackmail or castigation will make them take the wrong decision. It is clear that Kano electorate have already made the right choice; and that choice is Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

Malam Garba is Commissioner for Information, Youths and Culture, Kano state.