Senator Rufai Hanga, representing Kano Central Senatorial Zone has revealed that the Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero has requested him to forward the proposal of the Emirate Council to constitution review committee for strengthening traditional institutions in Nigeria.
Sen Hanga, a three-time Senator, disclosed this at his maiden press conference since his election, held at his constituency office in Kano recently.
According to the Senator, the emir deemed it fit to reach out to him as a member of the constitution review committee, to forward the request of the Emirate Council to empower traditional institutions, in view of their importance to nation building.
The lawmaker added that he had since asked the Emirate Council to put the proposal in writing and promised to forward it to the committee for consideration.
“I am a three-time Senator. I reached a level of director at federal government. I am also now a member of constitution committee. So I have a requisite experience to help my country and constituency.
“As a member of constitution review committee, the Emir of Kano has requested me to forward his proposal to the committee on how to empower traditional institutions in the country.
“The emir is of the opinion that traditional institutions are indispensable to nation building, as such they need to be strengthened for more development in the country.
“I asked him to put the proposal in writing for onward transmission to the committee for consideration.
“I am now waiting for the emirate council to submit the proposal to me,” he disclosed.
On the controversial issue of donating clay pots and “likkafani”, a white cloth used to cover dead persons, Mr Hanga said he did it for sake of Allah and based on request by his constituents.
Recent reports have shown that the Senator was under fire last week for donating the materials used for burying dead persons to 15 Local Government areas under his Senatorial District.
Addressing the issue at the crowded press conference, Sen Hanga said the donation is a legacy he grew up to see in his family house, adding that he had done it to please God.
Hanga said the gesture was something he had been doing even before his election and it was a family legacy he grew up to see and inherited, hoping to continue to do throughout his time on earth.
“We made the donation to Kano state committee for the graveyards headed by Dangoribar Kano and district head of Tarauni Local government. We had found out that clay pots and were lacking in most of our graveyards and decided to donate,” he explained.
“It was donated based on request and at presence of Ulamas, Imams and traditional rulers. Therefore all these criticism from some group of individuals will not deter me from doing this kind of donation, which I do find Allah’s love and mercy” he said
The Senator stated that despite facing health challenges after his election as senator, spending seven months in hospitals in Nigeria and later flown to Egypt and England, where he spent 3 months each on hospital bed, he had inserted several developmental projects in the 2024 budget for his zone.
The lawmaker said despite his health condition which he is still recuperating from, he managed to make meaningful contributions to make life better for his constituents from his personal resources.
He said he would be up and doing to ensure that those projects are implemented for the betterment of his constituents.
Some of the projects, according to him, include road projects completion and construction, schools, empowerment, health among others.