By Suleiman Anyalewechi
The All Progressive Congress, APC, Kano State Chapter has raised the alarm over alleged plans by the Kano State Government to hound and persecute perceived political foes using the instrumentality of its recently constituted Panel of Inquiry.
This is even as it has insisted that the lopsided composition of the panels ,with mainly New Nigeria Peoples Party NNPP loyalists and sympathisers does not engender confidence and trust in the abilities of members to dispense justice.
In a statement issued on Saturday April,6 2024,the State Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, noted that the Commission has been assigned with the duty to witch-hunt and politically victimize the subjects of investigation in its unwarranted assignment.
The Source reports that Governor Abba Yusuf had, on Wednesday April 3, inaugurated two Commissions of Inquiry to separately look into cases of alleged misappropriation of public properties/Assets and politically motivated violence and killings in Kano between 2015 and 2023 .
But the Kano State APC Chairman says the NNPP led Kano State Government should be upright in its dealings by not restricting its investigative efforts to only the period covering the two tenures of its National Chairman Dr Abdullahi Ganduje
Abdullahi Abbas contended that the planned probe will make meaning if it is extended to also cover the Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’ s era ,when about 70% of Government properties were allegedly sold and or fraudulently allocated to friends and cronnies .
Instructively, according to the APC Chairman, the alleged sharing spree took place in the full glare and supervision of Governor Yusuf ,then Commissioner of Works,Housing and Transport.
“From 2011 to 2015 ,the controversial 5km road projects in the 44 local governments were awarded and only for the funds to be misappropriated without the projects executed
“During the same period under review,over #3 billion was also earmarked for a particular project but misappropriated by Kwankwaso during his presidential Campaign in Lagos when #70million was released by each local government ” Alhaji Abbas stated.
The APC in its statement insisted that the only way people will take the probe panel seriously,is for the Kano state Government to invite all the local council chairmen that served under Kwankwaso,’s administration to give account of what really transpired so as to properly situate the term” misappropriation of funds.
The APC further claimed that some of the most vicious and destructive violent activities in the history of kano were perpetrated during the reign of Kwankwaso as Governor of Kano ,adding that the trend has so far characterised the present. NNPP administration.
“Since 2019 when they were in the opposition,the people of kano were very much aware of how elements of this government and its supporters have threatened the peace of of the state .
“Even while in government,the violence perpetrated to celebrate its coming to power is still fresh in our minds.
“Some Government officials including the Secretary to the state Government SSG,a commissioner and two Advisers also threatened to kill judges of the 2023 Election Petition Tribunal in a viral video,and nothing was done to assuage the situation.
“It is shocking and disturbing that despite the threat to lives meted out by the commissioner against the judicial officers ,his name was resubmitted to the Kano state House of Assembly for confirmation as commissioner.. He has since been cleared by the said House of Assembly.
“It is no doubt that the clearance of the said commissioner clearly demonstrates that evil deed is a viable venture in the Government of kano state because the doers are encouraged,appeased and rewarded abundantly.
“Between. 1999 and 2003 ,the violence that erupted in Kwankwaso town of Madobi local government when people objected to the crowning of Kwankwaso’s father with traditional title ,lives were lost and properties vandalized.”the APC statement noted .
“Alhaji Abbas, therefore, warned that while the APC as a party and its supporters will continue to remain law abiding and peaceful,they will however not tolerate any attempt to witch hunt politically victimize,and persecute its members and leaders.”
