Ganduje, Kano governor-elect clash over advisory on state affairs

Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, on Friday cautioned the governor-elect, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf, to exercise patience and desist from issuing official pronouncement in the form of public advisory in order not to cause unnecessary confusion in the state.

“I am still the governor,” Ganduje stated.

The governor spoke in a statement by the commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Malam Muhammad Garba in reaction to a directive issued from the office of the governor-elect, warning individuals, groups and organisations undertaking construction on public places to keep off.

“The action of the governor-elect amounts to jumping the gun by issuing directive on a matter affecting government laid down policy while the incumbent is yet to run his full term,” the governor said.

According to Malam Garba, as far as the division of power is concerned as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje remains the governor with executive powers until May 29 and reserves the right to carry out his functions in public interest even on the eve of his exit.

“Until he subscribes to the oath of office as governor in May 29, he (Yusuf) remains what he is -a governor-elect and does not have the powers of the governor.

“All he can do is to reverse some of the actions taken by his predecessor when he assumes office if there is a valid reason to do so.

“No governor-elect has the constitutional or legal powers to determine the direction of a state until he is sworn in,” the statement added.

The commissioner noted that state governors wielded enormous powers to allocate plots and therefore every government has undertaken such exercise including the previous administration which the governor-elect had served.

He also stated that based on available records, the previous administration had made land allocation in some of the public places the governor-elect categorically mentioned which include the city wall, with allocation of land from Kofar Nassarawa to Kofar Mata; shops at the Kofar Mata Eid Prayer Ground facing the Orion Cinema and from Kofar Mata to ‘Yan yashi opposite the Eid Ground and from Kofar Kabuga to Kofar Famfo facing the old campus of Bayero University.

Malam Garba explained that the advisory issued by the governor-elect has generated a lot of tension in the state and advised him to desist from such in order to avoid causing confusion.

He also called on individuals and organisations who acquired land after following due process and procedures not to be threatened by the directive.

It will be recalled that the Governor – elect had earlier issued an advisory to individuals, groups and organistions to discontinue ongoing construction works on public places, warning that anyone who elects to contravene the advisory, was doing that at his own peril.