A pro-democracy and good governance group – Coalition for Good Governance and Change Initiative (CGGCI) – yesterday gave the Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, a 72- hour ultimatum to stop the ongoing demolition in the Kano metropolis or face legal action.
The group also asked President Bola Tinubu to call the governor to order before he sets the state in a theatre of war.
National Coordinator of the group, Comrade Okpokwu Ogenyi, at a press conference in Abuja yesterday, challenged the Presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Alhaji Musa Rabiu Kwankwaso to condemn the governor’s action.
The Kano State government had embarked on the demolition of some structures in Kano City, including a cultural monument at a popular roundabout in the city inaugurated by the immediate past government of Abdullahi Ganduje.
Other structures destroyed include a three-storey plaza consisting of 90 shops and a five-star Daula Hotel almost completed with 90 rooms worth over N10 billion.
Condemning the development, the group said instead of the governor of studying the handing over notes from his predecessor and attending to the immediate needs of the common man, he embarked on demolishing structures built by citizens and investors, thereby inflicting pains on the people.
“We have watched with keen interest, the level of destruction done in Kano metropolis, including the loss of over 20 innocent Nigerians during the the unlawful demolition of property in the state.
“The government claimed that two persons died but our members who were in Kano said over 20 persons have died, which is a serious concern for the human rights community.
“The last three weeks have become a hell in Kano State with a cry in almost every home within the metropolis. Yusuf has become a shadow of good governance, even his supporters are no longer proud of him because of his inhuman action against the people of Kano State.”
“How can a Governor of less than a week old demolished property worth over two hundred and six billion Naira without studying the process talk more of compensation of the property owners? The Government claimed that the previous administration allocated government lands to individuals and corporate bodies, is it not the responsibility of the government to allocate lands? The land use act says individuals own no land, all land belongs to the government. What is the offence of the citizens who genuinely acquired land from the government?
“If it is true that the previous administration of Kano State illegally allocated these plots, why not call the immediate past Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje to answer questions and if possible charge him to Court instead of destroying property built by innocent Nigerians who applied for land and were allocated same by the state government. Is government no longer a continuous process? Most of these individuals got loans and invested them in Kano only to face this kind of devastating situation. How do you expect them to survive?
“We believed that the situation in Kano if not called to order is capable of causing unrest which may affect the whole country. Something must be done urgently to stop this madness.
“We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to quickly intervene and call Governor Abba Yusuf to order to stop further illegal demolition of the property leading to loss of lives in the State.
“We also call on the International Community to come to the aid of the people and investors in Kano State by prevailing on Governor Abba Yusuf to stop the demolition forthwith.
“Mr Kwankwaso who is the leader of the Governor is silent over the inhuman activities currently ongoing in Kano State, a bad signal that he is also part of the demolition plot, if he is not, we call on him to exonerate himself by joining religious leaders and other prominent Nigerians in condemning the evil act.”
Stressing that this act of misgovernance of the Governor can lead to a crisis in the state that is capable of negatively affecting the country.
“That’s why we are calling on the voices of reasoning now, not only to call Governor Abba Yusuf to order but to prevail on him to quickly reverse his actions by calling all the affected persons to a roundtable for amicable resolutions.
“We hereby give Governor Yusuf seventy-two hours ultimatum to retract himself and stop the ongoing demolition, call the affected persons and group for proper compensation or face legal action,” Ogenyi threatened.