Kano Gov opens up on ‘strange’ deaths

…Says mystery behind the occurrence will soon be unraveled

...PDP demands probe, calls for Presidential visit

….Group gives FG, Kano govt 7-day ultimatum to explain cause of strange deaths

After days of reports of ‘strange’ deaths in Kano, the state government, on Sunday, acknowledged the recent deaths in the city, promising that it is on top of the situation.

This is even as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has demanded an immediate investigation into the disturbing strange deaths in Kano state, urging a Presidential visit to the state.

Also, a non- governmental group, Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 Action Programme and Beyond, on Sunday, issued the federal and Kano State governments 7-day ultimatum to make public the cause of strange deaths and mass burials taking place in Kano State.

But in a statement made available to journalists in Kano, the state Commissioner of Information, Malam Muhammad Garba, said Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has already directed the state Ministry of Health to conduct a thorough investigation into the immediate and remote causes of the deaths.

Garba said although investigation into the cause of the deaths is still ongoing, preliminary report from the state Ministry of Health indicated that the deaths are not connected to the COVID-19 pandemic.

He added that reports from the state Ministry of Health has shown that most of the deaths were caused by complications arising from hypertension, diabetes, meningitis and acute malaria.

He further stated that Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje is earnestly waiting for the final report from the state Ministry of Health so as to take necessary action.

According to him, Governor Ganduje from the onset, demonstrated the zeal and political will to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the state.

“Governor Ganduje’s administration has been commended from within and outside the state over the proactive measures it took towards curbing the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This explains why Kano, apart from being the most populous state, did not record a case of the pandemic until lately. Though we agree that the situation on hand currently is serious, we are not resting on our oars in taking appropriate measures to ensure that the good people of Kano state, and indeed, residents in the state protect themselves from the novel COVID-19 pandemic,” he stated.

He further noted that part of measures taken by the state government to stop the spread of the virus include the on-going lockdown, closing of boarders, aggressive campaign for social distancing, washing and sanitising of hands, as well as strict adherence to and practice of the principles of personal hygiene.

READ ALSO: Hypertension, diabetes, meningitis, acute malaria reasons for rising deaths in Kano – Govt

He added that the government through the Kano COVID-19 Fund-Raising Committee, has been making palliatives available to the most vulnerable and the needy in the society.

Speaking further, Garba said: “The state government has three modern Isolation Centres where those tested positive to COVID-19 are being cared for, adding, “We are also hopeful of getting additional two Isolation Centres soonest”.

“The government has also hired a hotel where suspected cases are accommodated.

“Also, Kano State government is collaborating with Bayero University Kano (BUK) to establish a testing centre within the institution, which will be ready in two weeks time after being certified by the NCDC. This will, indeed, enhance our determination to ensure that every suspected case undergo test.

“Governor Ganduje has also sent a passionate appeal to the Federal Government to urgently work on the NCDC testing centre at AKTH which has been closed down for sometime now.

“We have enough medical manpower that can take care of the patients. What we are now asking for is financial assistance from the Federal Government and other donors to help sustain all this infrastructure and also continue the provision of palliatives to our people.”

He noted that, “the state government is concerned over what is happening. The Ministry of Health is already handling the situation. When they are through with the medical investigation, further necessary actions will be taken”.

“I urge the good people of Kano State not to panic. Government is on top of the situation. The mystery or whatever it is will soon be unraveled,” he added.

However, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has demanded an immediate investigation into the disturbing mass death in Kano State, urging a Presidential visit to the state, where no fewer than 640 citizens had reportedly died under mysterious circumstances in the last one week.

The party’s call was predicated on conflicting reports emanating from Kano State on the cause of the sudden deaths particularly at this time that the nation is battling with the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.

The call was contained in a statement on Sunday by the party’s national publicity secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan.

The PDP noted with dismay that the Buhari Presidency had failed to take any concrete step on this frightening development, but is, as usual, waiting to be prodded to stand up to the demand of the office and proceed to Kano State to identity with the people, find solution and contain the ugly situation.

The party described as lamentable that President Muhammadu Buhari, who promised to lead from the front, and who recently took up the toga of ECOWAS COVID-19 Response Champion, had rather receded into the safety of Aso Villa and failed to promptly activate any concrete and visible action to investigate and arrest the situation in Kano, where Nigerians are dying in their hundreds.

The PDP described the situation as yet another manifestation of leadership failure and insensitivity of the Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration to the plight of Nigerians at critical moments.

“Our party holds that the situation in Kano demands an immediate Presidential visit and investigation at the very high level. Those dying in Kano are Nigerians and must not be abandoned. The development deserves an utmost Presidential attention to avoid further escalation.

“This is particularly imperative as it is evident that Governor Abdullahi Ganduje and his APC-led administration in Kano State are totally incompetent and have become overwhelmed after failing to take appropriate measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus or whatever medical situation that has taken over the state.

“When Ganduje, who is being dogged by allegations of corruption, was expected to ensure compliance to preventive measures, he rather chose to abandon governance and spent executive time pursuing controversial extraneous issues that have no direct benefits on the lives of the people.

“It is even more ludicrous that Governor Ganduje chose to politicize the health issues in his state by resorting to unnecessary denials and pecuniary concerns.

“Such anti-people approach to governance is always symptomatic of a leadership that did not emanate from the mandate of the people.

“Furthermore, it is left for Governor Ganduje to explain why he failed to contain his daughter, Dr. Amina Umar Ganduje, whose reported overbearing attitude in the Kano State COVID-19 task force allegedly contributed to the crippling of the activities of those charged with taking preventive measures”, the statement read in part.

The party therefore called on Nigerians to hold Governor Ganduje and his APC administration responsible for the development in Kano State which had worsened due to the failure of both Kano state and the Federal Government to promptly investigate and contain the situation.

Consequently, the PDP charged President Buhari to immediately wade in and arrest the situation in Kano without any further delay.

Meanwhile, a non- governmental group, Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 Action Programme and Beyond, has issued the federal and Kano State government 7-day ultimatum to make public the cause of strange deaths and mass burials taking place in Kano State.

The interim chairman of the group, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), in a statement made available to journalists on Sunday, threatened to take steps within the law to compel officials if they failed to furnish it with the details of their findings.

Falana called on the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire and Kano State ministries to make available certified true copy of the report of the joint investigation.

According to the statement, the request was made pursuant to the provisions of the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act.

The group insisted that the report should include the nature and cause of the deaths, the number of casualties and patients currently undergoing treatment in hospitals.

“Request for Information on Strange deaths and Mass Burial in Kano State Pursuant to Freedom of Information Act.

“The report should include the nature and cause of the deaths, the number of casualties and patients currently undergoing treatment in hospitals as well as an outline of the measures being put in place by the Federal Government to stop the strange deaths involving mass burials.

“Take notice that if you fail to accede to our request, we shall not hesitate to invoke the relevant provisions of the law to compel official disclosure of the findings of the joint team constituted to investigate the cause of the strange deaths and mass burials in Kano State”, it stated.

The statement added that the group is disturbed that the burials have since continued without any official information on the cause of the strange deaths.

Meanwhile, some Kano residents have expressed concerns over the development.

Speaking during a telephone inteview with one of our correspondents, some of the residents said that they were living in fears.

The disclosed that the governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, was covering up the strange and alarming rate of deaths in the city in recent days.

According Alhaji Tanko Dalhiru, it was a strange occurrence that has never happened in the history of the state.

“This is strange to us. We are hearing that over 600 people were buried. I am sure there is something the government is not telling us.

“It is better they let us know so that we can know how to protect ourselves”, he said.

Meanwhile, another professor of Mass Communication at Bayero University in Kano, Balarabe Maikaba has died.

Maikaba is said to be the sixth professor to have died in one week in the state which has recorded harvests of death during the coronavirus pandemic.

The prominent persons, who died in Kano on Saturday alone are Prof Ibrahim Ayagi, Dr. Musa Umar Gwarzo, Alhaji Dahiru Rabiu (former Grand Khadi), Musa Tijjani (ex-Editor of Triumph Newspaper) and Adamu Isyaku Dal, who was a former Executive Secretary of the State Universal Basic Education Board.

Others are Alhaji Salisu Lado, Hajiya Shamsiyya Mustapha, Hajiyaj Nene Umma, Alhaji Garba Sarki Fagge, Dr. Nasiru Maikano Bichi, Secretary Student Affairs, North West University, Prof. Aliyu Umar Dikko of Physiology Department, Bayero University Kano, and Ado Gwanja’s mother, with many more unrecorded.

The Coronavirus testing centre in Kano had been shut down for some time now while cemeteries are already overwhelmed from the number of bodies brought in for burial every day.