Group Gives Kano Gov 72-hour Ultimatum to Stop Ongoing Demolition

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

A group, Coalition for Good Governance and Change Initiative, has given a 72-hour ultimatum to the Governor of Kano state, Abba  Yusuf  to halt the ongoing demolition in the state, compensate the affected persons or face legal action.

The National Coordinator of the group, Okpokwu Ogenyi, gave the ultimatum yesterday  while addressing a press conference in Abuja.

He described as worrisome 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.

Ogenyi added: “It happened in Imo State when former Governor Emeka Ihedoha maliciously demolished edifice built by the administration of Rochas Okorocha, the Governor of Niger State is also demolishing property perceived to have belonged to his predecessor, what  a show of shame.

“The last three weeks have become 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.”

The group described the ongoing demolition as a sad era in the history of Kano where a government saddled with the responsibility of protecting lives and property was the one demolishing structures legally built by citizens and investors with their hard-earned resources thereby inflicting pains on the people.

It noted that the inhuman activities orchestrated by the Yusuf-led administration which was  barely three weeks old was saddening.

The group noted that the state government demolished a three storey plaza consisting of 90 shops, the five star Daula Hotel almost completed with 90 rooms worth over N10 billion.

It stressed that 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.

It stated: “We have watched with keen interest, the level of destruction done in Kano metropolis including the loss of over 25 lives of innocent Nigerians who 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 25 persons have died which is a serious concern for the human rights community.”

The group said it  believed that the situation in Kano, if not called to order, is capable of causing unrest which might affect the whole country.

“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,” it noted.

The group also called on President Bola Tinubu to quickly intervene and call Yusuf to order to stop further illegal demolition of property leading to loss of lives in the State.