Senator representing Kano Central Senatorial District, Rufai Hanga
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Senator representing Kano Central Senatorial District and Senate Minority Whip, Rufai Hanga has clarified that his recent donation of 2,000 clay pots and 10,500 yards of while cloth to muslim graveyards across his constituency was family tradition.
The opposition lawmaker on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP reacted to trail of criticisms over his donation, stating that the “contributions were charity donations and personal gestures aimed at honouring a family tradition, and not his constituency projects as being erroneously bandied around.”
He dismissed those criticizing him, and said, what he did was to please God, while he is using the charity to seek eternal reward, declaring that those criticizing him in Kano are his political opponents who know about muslim and family tradition.
In an interview with journalists in his office on Thursday in Abuja, he said, donation of while cloths for muslim burial has been a legacy that he grew up with, saying: “It’s a practice I hope to sustain for as long as I live.
“You can only criticize what you don’t know. Those people talking bad about my donations are either my opponents or people that are not from here, who don’t understand our tradition.
“Once a person dies, it is expected that the person should be buried immediately. But I have discovered that some people who lose their loved ones, will start going around seeking for donation for burial. So, I have stepped in to solve that problem,” Hanga stated.
“The donations were not part of my constituency projects, but personal and traditional which cut across 15 local government areas in the Kano Central senatorial zone. Its wasn’t a misuse of public fund as netizens are reacting on social media.
“For my constituency projects, I have started with underground work providing start-up capitals for some women especially widows, provided relief materials during Ramadan, and also given towards Education
Hanga also detailed the practical needs the burial donations meet, explaining that the clay pots are crucial for maintaining the graveyards, a need that had been identified by the Kano State Committee for the Graveyards.
“We had found out that clay pots were lacking in most of our graveyards and decided to donate,” he explained, noting that the committee is chaired by Dangoribar Kano and the District Head of Tarauni in the Kano Emirate.
Speaking about his constituency projects, the lawmaker said that he has has distributed JAMB scratch cards to 1,135 students at no cost, enabling them to take the university entrance examination.
He also said that he provided 10,000 books and various learning materials to primary school pupils to enhance their educational resources.
Furthermore, Senator Hanga said that he has paid registration fees amounting to N45 million for 200 indigent students of Bayero University, Kano (BUK). He maintained that the gesture is to demonstrate his commitment to supporting education in Kano State.
He further stated that had also awarded scholarships to no fewer than 200 students from the area at Kano State Polytechnic.
According to him, “These initiatives indicate Hanga’s dedication to empowering students and promoting education in my constituency”.
Hanga said, “I have also empowered 1,116 women across the 15 Local Government Areas of Kano Central with a capital of N50,000.”
He hinted that the move was to enable them to start small businesses which will enhance their economic status.
Aside from that, “This is in addition to free medical outreach for treatment of people for various diseases which I sponsored across the 15 Local Government Areas and 172 wards.
“I also repaired boreholes to address water scarcity in my constituency’’.
”I built an Islamiyya school at Gobirawa ward in Dala Local Government Area and donated one plot of land to Maikalwa community of Kumbotso Local Government Area to expand their mosque.”
