Kano State Government has told the governor-elect, Abba Kabir Yusuf, that Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, is still in charge of the state.
This is contained in a statement issued by the commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Malam Muhammad Garba on Friday, March 31, 2023, in reaction to a directive issued from the office of the governor-elect, warning individuals, groups and organizations undertaking construction on public places to keep off.
“Kano State Government has called on Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as governor-elect to exercise patience and desist from issuing official pronouncement in form of public advisory in order not to cause unnecessary confusion in the state,” the statement read.
He said 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 statement also noted that 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 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 has 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.