Posted by The Kano State Governor, Yusuf Abba, has been given a 72-hour deadline by the Coalition for Good Governance and Change Initiative to stop the destruction that is now taking place in the state and recompense the impacted parties or face legal repercussions.
The group’s national coordinator, Okpokwu Ogenyi, issued the ultimatum on Tuesday in Abuja during a news conference.
The group described the ongoing demolition as a sad period in Kano’s history where a government charged with protecting lives and property was instead responsible for tearing down buildings that were legitimately constructed by citizens and investors using their hard-earned money, causing suffering for the populace.
It stated that the saddening inhumane actions carried out by the Yusuf-led administration, which had just been in power for three weeks, were observed.
The group claimed that the state government destroyed a three-story mall with 90 stores as well as the nearly finished, five-star Daula Hotel, which had 90 rooms and was valued at over N10 billion.
It emphasized that thousands of people have been displaced as a result of this callous conduct, and the government has paid no heed to their suffering.
“We have closely followed the level of destruction done in Kano metropolis, including the loss of over 25 innocent Nigerian lives who perished during the process of the unlawful demolition of property in the state, with keen interest,” it was noted in the letter.
The human rights community is gravely concerned because “the government claimed that two persons died, but our team members who were in Kano said over 25 persons have died.”
Ogenyi cited as concerning the practice of succeeding governors erasing the accomplishments of the prior government in an effort to disparage the outgoing governor, either out of animosity or concern for public opinion.
“What a show of humiliation,” he said, “the Governor of Niger State is likewise demolishing property thought to have belonged to his predecessor, the same as what happened in Imo State when former Governor Emeka Ihedoha cruelly destroyed an edifice built by the administration of Rochas Okorocha.
“Kano State has descended into hell over the past three weeks, with sobs coming from practically every home in the city. Even his supporters no longer think highly of Governor Abba Yusuf due of his inhumane treatment of the Kano State population.
According to the group, if Kano’s condition is not brought under control, it might lead to instability that could have an impact on the entire nation.
“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,” the statement said.
The organization also urged President Bola Tinubu to act promptly and issue a summons to Yusuf to stop additional illegal property demolitions that endanger lives in the state.