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John Shiklam in Kaduna

The Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Kaduna, Dr. Idris Bugaje, has said that he had no hand in the demolition of the Panteka Market in Kaduna.

Speaking at the graduation of Panteka Artisans under the National Skills Qualification (NSQ) Certification, Bugaje, decried how former governor Nasir el-Rufai displaced ordinary traders in the markets he demolished and reconstructed.

He alleged that the newly constructed shops, especially in Kasuwan Barchi Market, were being sold to people who have nothing to do with the market.

Bugaje said the NBTE presented a proposal on Panteka and El-Rufai promised that the people of Panteka would not be displaced.

He added that he did not support the former governor on many issues including the demolition of Panteka.

He said he was delighted that Uba Sani who succeeded El-Rufai as governor has shown interest in promoting skills acquisition and will not tow the path of his predecessor.

Buhaji said, “I am happy the new governor of Kaduna state has shown interest (in skills acquisition).

“Senator Uba Sani as governor is going to be different from the last one. I am very sure of that.

“I am not condemning el-Rufai, but Uba Sani has human feelings, he has a human heart.

“I did not support the former governor on many issues (including the demolition of) Panteka.

“Before he (el-Rufai) was elected, we met at one of the functions where the Ulamas were gathered.

“When he finished his speech, we greeted and he said to me, ‘after my election, that your issue on skills, we have to work with you to ensure that we upskilled the people of Kaduna state.’

“Alhamdulillahi, he won that election and he called me over the phone and invited me to come to the government house.

“I couldn’t go because I was not feeling well, it was Engineer Ejike who went to see him and he presented to him our proposals on how to upgrade technical colleges in Kaduna state, how to upgrade the basic apprenticeship centres so that they will be issuing NSQ certificates.

“We also presented to him a proposal on Panteka and he promised that the people of Panteka would not be displaced.

“In the last government, we saw how ordinary traders were displaced in markets, such as Kasuwan Barchi where modern buildings were erected and people who had nothing to do with the market were buying the shops. In sha Allah this will not happen in Panteka.”