Demolition: What we discussed with President Tinubu – Kwankwaso

The leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party ( NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso, said his meeting with President Bola Tinubu on Friday was to discuss the ongoing demolition of some properties the Kano State Government claimed were illegally sold by the immediate past administration of the state.

Express Radio in Kano reported that Mr Kwankwaso said the president invited him to discuss several issues, including the ongoing demolition.

Mr Kwankwaso said contrary to some reports that the demolition was targeted at some people, he told the president that the demolition is part of the NNPP campaign promises.

“The demolition we are doing is part of our campaign promises, and it’s what we are delivering. The Kano State Government set up a committee to investigate the sales of government properties that were improperly sold, and people complained about it.

“Five major places are considered for demolition because we believe that the former governor (Abdullahi Ganduje) sold them to his son. The shops at race course road and the Daula Hotel was an annexe of the State University of Science and Technology, Wudil. Go and search in the Corporate Affairs Commission. It belongs to Ganduje’s son.

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“Hajj Camp was also improperly sold to developers, and one of them met me and admitted that there was a mistake in the dealings,” Mr Kwankwaso claimed.

“The Eid prayer is only meant for prayer, yearly hosting the emir of Kano and other dignitaries, but the prayer ground was circled by shops after it was sold, and that is not security-wise because a snipper can hide in any of the shops and fire a dignitary during prayer. I noticed that earlier, which is why I ordered Bulletproof glass covering the elite section of the praying ground.

“We have also warned people not to buy the land there and build shops, but they refused. Places like Triumph Publishing Company are part of the government properties we promised to demolish,” Mr Kwankwaso said.

ALSO READ: Kano APC lists properties allegedly sold by Kwankwaso, wants governor to demolish them

Reacting to the allegation by the APC that he also sold some government properties to his cronies during the twilight of his second term as governor, he said two wrongs cannot make a right. He then called on the Kano State Government to demolish any place it found its administration sold illegally.

Meanwhile, the immediate past governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, has denied that he sold the properties to himself. He said his administration resorted to the law while selling the properties. He said those against the selling of part of the Eid prayer ground for commercial activities have lost touch with modern development.

“Even in Saudi Arabia, the Holy Site was surrounded by shops. People complaining about the Kano case are ignorant of modernity,” Mr Ganduje said.