Coalition for good governance gives Kano governor 72 hours ultimatum to stop demolition

Following the demolition of property and destruction of investment in Kano State, a group under the aegis of Coalition for Good Governance and Change Initiative has given the state governor Abba Yusuf, seventy-two hours ultimatum to retract himself and stop the ongoing demolition.

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Recall that before he was sworn in, Yusuf had repeatedly threatened to demolish illegal structures in and around government landed property that is currently generating public outcry, as most of the affected buildings were constructed under Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.

The Coalition in a press conference delivered by the National Coordinator Comrade Okpokwu Ogenyi, in Abuja on Tuesday said the situation in the state is a sad era in the history of Kano State where a government saddled with the responsibility of protecting lives and property is the one demolishing structures legally built by citizens and investors with their hard-earned resources.

“Ladies and gentlemen, it is a sad era in the history of Kano State where a government saddled with the responsibility of protecting lives and property is the one demolishing structures legally built by citizens and investors with their hard-earned resources thereby inflicting pains on the people.”

Ogenyi lamented that the government demolished a three storey Plaza consisting of ninety shops, the five star Daula Hotel almost completed with ninety rooms worth over 10 billion Naria.

” As a result of this inhuman activity, thousands of people have been displaced with the government paying no attention to the suffering of the people. In fact, the government has vow to cause more harm to the people by continuing the demolition exercise.
the lost of over twenty lives of

The coalition alleged that over 20 innocent Nigerians have died during the process of the unlawful demolition of property in the state.

“The government claimed that, two persons died but our team members who were in Kano said over twenty persons have died which is a serious concern for the human rights community.

“More worrisome is the trend of successive governors destroying legacies of the previous administration in a quest to slight the out-gone Governor either based on hatred or fear of popularity among others.

“The last three weeks has become a hell in Kano State with a cry in almost every home within the metropolis. Governor Abba 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.

He stated that the Government claimed that, the previous administration allocated government lands to individuals and corporate bodies.

“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 it 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 property leading to lost 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.

“We are making this appeal in the National Interest because we know the implications of any possible crisis in Kano state being the most populous state in Nigeria. If misgovernance of Governor Abba Yusuf leads to crisis in Kano state (God forbid) it will affect negatively the whole of Nigeria.

“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.”