Youths, women and men today, June 26, took to the streets in Kano, protesting the demolition of property by the State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf.
The protesters carried visited some of the demolished structures, especially the one at the old Duala hotel.
They wielded different placards with which they expressed displeasure against the action of the governor.
Some of the inscriptions written on the placards read: “Your action, Governor Yusuf is sending investors away” “stop this bad action” “Your demolition is political” “The demolition is vendetta,” “We did not vote for you to demolish people’s structures” “Kwankwaso also allocated land to people,” among others.
The protesters started marching from the demolished Duala hotel to the state police headquarters in Bompai to deliver their protest letter to the Commissioner of Police.
At the Kano State Command, they were later dispersed by the police in order for the protest not to escalate.
While reading the content of the protest letter, the Director of Research and Government Coalition for Good Governance and Change Initiative, Comrade Zahradeen Sani Baba, said: “we are here to inform your good office about the later development happening in the state that are quite disturbing to us.
“It is our profound gratitude to address you today in protest against the illegal demolition of properties legally acquired by indigenes and investors by the Kano State Government without reasonable justification for such exercise.
“We want to thank the Kano State Commissioner of Police, who has displayed professionalism in handling security issues in the State. CP Gumel is a distinguished officer whose stance has restored dignity to the Force. Right from the time of elections, he separated the Police from politics and maintain that stance till date.
“We are here to present our grievances to you over the demolition of properties legally acquired by indigenes and investors by the Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf. We believe that, you will convey our massage to the Governor believing that, the Almighty God will touch his heart to listen to the cry of the people.
“The people of Kano State unanimously voted for Governor Abba Yusuf with a view to bring development to the State. It was believed that, the Governor is the messiah of the time who shall continue with people’s oriented programmes of his predecessor to salvage the people of Kano State.
“It is unfortunate that within six days in office, the perceived messiah became a source of sorrow to many residents and indigenes of Kano State, who acquired land from the previous administration of Abdullahi Ganduje when the Governor ordered demolition of properties worth over two hundred and twenty six billion Naira within three weeks in office.
“Let it be on record that six days in office is insignificant for a people’s oriented government to order the demolition of properties because the time allowed by law for such notice was not followed.
“It is our firm believe that Governor Yusuf is using the people’s hard earned investment to settle political scores with the previous administration which is a bad development. We expect him to know that once you emerge as a governor, you become a governor for all and not that of NNPP alone.
“The Land Use Act specified that, individual do not own land as all lands belong to the Government. It is true that government is also a continuous process where successors inherit assets and liability.”
