The Kano State Government has taken its demolition spree to buildings around the ancient city wall.
The government identified some properties built behind the ancient city wall for demolition on Friday.
The properties were reportedly constructed on land sold by the administration of the immediate past governor, Abdullahi Ganduje.
The government, on the other hand, spared some shops on lands sold during the administration of Rabiu Kwankwaso, a former governor of the state and the state governor’s political godfather.
A filling station, shopping malls, a car mart, event centres, and sporting complexes are among the structures targeted for demolition by the Kano State Urban Planning Development Authority (KNUPDA).
SALBAS Oil and Gas, Matrix Gas Station, Matrix Petrol Station, Amna 9 Station, and Double Twins Event Centre are among the structures built behind the city wall from Dan’agundi gate to ‘Kofar Fanfo’ gate.
Following the marking, some residents were outraged, wondering why the exercise did not reach the Kofar Fanfo area, where Mr Kwankwaso’s administration sold some properties.
The state government, on the other hand, claimed that all government properties sold by the previous administration, both within and outside the state, were illegal because they were sold to top officials’ cronies.
In a Facebook post, Kano-based media consultant Isah Nasidi advised the government to ensure that the demolition exercise is legal.
Mr Nasidi believes it is unjust for the government to target only properties sold by the Ganduje administration while ignoring those sold by Mr Kwankwaso.
“Mr. Kwankwaso’s administration sold land on the city wall from Kofar Fanfo to Kofar Kabuga (gate). Ganduje did the same from Kofar Fanfo to Kofar Nasarawa (gate), now you mark for demolition the ones sold by Mr. Ganduje, which one is legal and illegal?” Mr Nasidi said.
“Some concerned citizens of Kano have disagreed with Mr Kwankwaso but he proved wayward and sold the land when he was at the helm, but when Ibrahim Shekarau came on board, he did not demolish the structure for public good.
“The demolition of these structures is an injustice to the people of the state,” said Mr Nasidi.
According to Nazifi Muhammed, a resident of the Fagge neighbourhood in the city, the state cannot develop with “vengeance politics,” and political actors should be held accountable for whatever happens in the state.
“Government lands and properties are being sold by governors and none of them can claim sainthood in this regard. If the new administration wanted to do justice to the matter let him (governor) institute a commission of inquiry and identify the ones legally sold and retrieve some sold illegally,” Mr Muhammed said.
Another respondent, Nafiu Ubale, claimed that the sale of government lands within the city wall began during the Dominick Oneya military administration, but became rampant in 1999 during the Kwankwaso and Ganduje administrations.
“I believe that the demolition was done for vengeance not for the interest of the people of the state. For me as a businessman, any land within the metropolis should be allotted to business people because Kano is known for business.
“This new governor claim(s) that he is demolishing the structures on the city wall to preserve our culture, you cannot destroy people’s business in the name of culture, what is a culture without wealth,” Mr Ubale said.
