To put record straight on the movement of Almajiri across states of the federation and how Kano embarks on the exercise, the Kano state governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje says “We agreed at the Northern Governors Forum 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.”
He 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.
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 indigines. 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, care giving.”
“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.