A group, Coalition for Good Governance and Change Initiative (CGGCI), has petitioned the governments of the United States of America, the European Union, China, and others over the recent demolition embarked upon by the Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf-led government in Kano state.
The Coalition, in a petition signed by its national coordinator, Okpokwu Ogenyi, demanded a visa ban on the governor and his family over what they described as his “anti-democratic activities and human rights violations” orchestrated barely six days after assuming office as governor.
According to the acknowledged copies made available to TheGuardian on Saturday, lives were lost during the demolition exercise in the state, which is a serious concern to the group as a civil society organization. The Guardian could not independently verify if lives were lost during the demolition exercise.
The petition reads: “On behalf of the aforementioned organization, we commend your steadfastness in maintaining world peace and sustainable democracy in Africa, Nigeria in particular. Your interventions have reversed harsh government policies, reduced corruption, and improved military actions, among others.
“We write to formally bring to your attention the anti-democratic activities and human rights violations orchestrated by the Executive Governor of Kano State, Abba Yusuf, who was inaugurated on the 29th of May, 2023.
“Exactly six days after his assumption of office, Abba Yusuf ordered the massive demolition of properties belonging to Kano State indigenes and investors who have committed their hard-earned resources to purchasing landed property in Kano metropolis. Our investigation revealed that the previous administration had allocated lands to individuals and corporate allottees who legally applied for land in Kano State. Some of those to whom the lands were allocated had sold them to other interested parties and had transferred ownership with evidence of financial payment to the State Government treasury.
“In one of the plots, a ninety (90) room hotel was built at the cost of over ten (10) billion Naira, an investment that is intended to create job opportunities for unemployed youths in Kano State, serve as a resort, and convert a criminal hideout into a befitting business environment. It is sad that Governor Abba Yusuf demolished it within six (6) days of taking office without following due process. Furthermore, Governor Abba Yusuf also demolished, without due process, a ninety-shop plaza that was already completed in Kano metropolis.
“He went further and demolished a beautiful roundabout designed and built by a female architect living abroad, an indigene of Kano State, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Kano State, which cost about one hundred and sixty million naira (N160,000,000.00).
“In addition, houses of people perceived to have been allocated land by the former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje’s administration were demolished without any provocation. As of today, Governor Abba Yusuf has demolished properties worth over two hundred and six billion naira (N206, 000,000,000.00), with almost every home crying in Kano metropolis.
“Further inquiry revealed that the Governor is demolishing these properties because the plots were allocated by the previous administration of Abdullahi Ganduje to slight the former Governor and satisfy the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) political desire of destroying any development linked to the former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje’s administration.
“We insist that the former Governor is not the owner of these properties, and the people should not be made to face pain and loss because of political differences between the current and former Governor. If the former Governor has done anything wrong, the State should invite him to answer questions instead of inflicting unwarranted pain on the people.
“During this demolition exercise, lives were lost, which is a serious concern for us as a civil society organization. We had given the Governor of Kano State a seventy-two (72)-hour ultimatum to stop further demolitions and call a roundtable discussion to compensate the affected persons whose houses were demolished.
“It is clear that the Governor has refused to listen to the voice of reason as he went further and marked more houses for continuous demolition. It is devastating to watch your property being destroyed before your very eyes. The Governor should be called to order.
“In view of the above, we request a visa ban on the Executive Governor of Kano State, Abba Yusuf, all Kano State officials, and the National Leadership of the NNPP. This measure will go a long way in reshaping the State Government’s anti-people’s policies, which are politically motivated, and redirect the state government’s focus to even development.
“At the moment, the visa ban is the only measure that could call the Governor to order and indeed prevail on him to practice democracy in a democratic manner.”
