Angry residents on Monday blocked streets in Kano State in protests to express their displeasure with the ongoing demolition exercise of the state government.
The protesters stormed the streets early Monday, armed with posters carrying different inscriptions such like “Gov Yusuf, your action is sending away investors”, “Don’t bring insecurity to our state, Mr Governor”, and “Let the law takes its cause” among others.
The protesters who proceeded to the police headquarters to register their grievances, after converging at the demolished Daula Hotel, demanded that the government rescind its decision.
Comrade Zahraddeen Sani Baba of the Coalition for Good Governance and Change Initiative, while speaking on behalf of the protesters, said if the incumbent governor has anything against his predecessor, “please call him to answer questions instead of punishing innocent Nigerians and destroying their investments.”
The Governor Abba Yusuf-led administration had marked multi-million naira plazas and filling stations for demolition in continuation of the highly-controversial exercise in Kano State.
It was learnt that the properties are located along popular BUK road.
This is said to be part of the government’s ongoing effort to remove what it deems as illegal structures on public lands.
The property are those built around the ancient Kano city wall (Badala) which the incumbent governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, accused his predecessor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, of illegally allocating for development.
While a few of the structures marked for demolition the Kano State Urban Planning and Development Authority (KNUPDA) are under construction, majority of them have been completed.
It was learnt that one of the completed plazas belongs to the state government under Kano State Investment and Properties Limited (KISP) while others belong to individuals and business owners in the state.
Among the structures that exist around Badala are filling stations, car lots and one of the biggest filling stations in the state (SALBAS OIL).
The Quest Times had reported that Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State ordered immediate demolition of a roundabout structure located near the State Government House.
Recall that Governor Yusuf had in his inaugural speech on May 29, directed security agents in the state to commence demolition of structures believed to have been “illegally” built by the immediate past Abdullahi Ganduje-led administration.
Yusuf had said that the demolition exercise was part of the fulfillment of his campaign promise to “restore” the urban development masterplan of the state capital.
It was gathered that two former governors of the state, Rabiu Kwankwaso and Ganduje had separately met President Bola Tinubu over the demolition issue in the state, but despite their meetings with the President, the incumbent governor has continued with the demolition exercise with the roundabout adored by many residents constructed near the Kano Government House affected.
Many structures are said to have been demolished and revoked by the new governor since he assumed office on May 29.