By Suleiman Anyalewechi
An Advocacy Group, War Against Injustice, WAI, has described as unacceptable and a misappropriation of funds, Kano State Government’s allocation of about N100 million for the purported renovation of the Nasarawa Mini-Palace.
Kano state Government- dethroned Emir Aminu Ado Bayero is presently holding forte at the mini-Palace. His fellow contender to the Kano Emirate Royal Stool, Emir Muhammad Sanusi, is holding forte at the City Palace.
But on Thursday, June 20, the Kano State Government in the wake of the verdict by a Federal High Court Kano nullifying the processes that led to the reinstallation of Sanusi as the 16th Emir of Kano, announced its plans to demolish and renovate some sections of the mini-Palace .
It also directed the State Police Command to evict Emir Bayero from the Palace to free it for the renovation efforts.
The Police has since ignored the directives, citing a subsisting court process over the issue as reason.
But rising from an Executive Council Meeting on Saturday June 22, the State Commissioner for Information, Halilu Dantiye, informed that the Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf led administration has approved N99.9 million for the renovation exercise.
He said that the amount is what will be needed to put in to shape defective parts of the palace wall ,other dilapidated sections and surroundings.
However, in a statement on Sunday, the WAI knocked the Kano State Government for embarking on such an elephant project at a time the people are reeling under heavy economic difficulties.
Comrade Umar Ibrahim, Executive Director, WAI emphasized that rather than waste scarce resources on unviable projects, Governor Yusuf should prioritize the wellbeing of the suffering citizens and residents of the State.
He urged the Kano State Government to, as a matter of urgency, re-route the amount to the provision of basic amenities for the common people.
The Source reports that following the eviction order, the second in the series, and the expression of intent to demolish and renovate by the Kano State authorities, Security Agencies have enhanced security arrangements at the mini-palace in an obvious readiness to thwart the efforts.
Muhammad Hussaini Gumel, the Kano State Commissioner of Police had on Friday June 21 insisted that the Kano State Government eviction order, if implemented, will be prejudicial to an ongoing litigation in that regard.
It will be recalled that following the return to Kano on May 25, after his purported deposition and subsequent 48-hour dateline to vacate the Palace, on May 23, Governor Yusuf had ordered the arrest and detention of Emir Bayero.
Although security agencies shunned the order, Emir Bayero, however, instituted a legal challenge at a Federal High Court .
Only last Friday, June 14, Justice Simon Amobeda, while ruling on the application, slammed a-N10 million damages against the State Government for infringing on Emir Bayero’s fundamental rights.
The State Government has since appealed against the ruling.
