Former Kano State Governor and Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has dismissed his successor at the Kano State Government House as a clown who has reduced governance to a joke.
Ganduje’s remarks follow the Kano State Government’s disclosure that sensitive documents related to his alleged corruption trial were taken from the court by hoodlums who looted the Kano State High Court premises.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu, and made available to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday, Ganduje also alleged that the recent sporadic violence in the North West state, which followed the #EndBadGovernance protest, was instigated by the incumbent Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, to embarrass President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Ganduje insisted that credible intelligence reports reveal that Governor Yusuf was allegedly behind the protests in Kano State to undermine security in the North West region and tarnish the Tinubu administration’s image.
The statement read in part: “It is alarming that a sitting governor would incite such chaos and violence within his state, putting the lives and property of innocent citizens at risk.
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“We strongly condemn this reckless and irresponsible behavior, which is an attempt to destabilize Kano, undermine the peace and security of the region, and tarnish the good image of our President.
“We demand that the Federal Government, through the relevant security agencies, immediately launch a thorough investigation into this unfortunate incident.
“The sponsors of this violence must be brought to justice to ensure that this does not set a dangerous precedent for other states.
“Furthermore, we find the allegations that protesters looted and absconded with ‘sensitive documents’ related to the ongoing corruption trial of former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje as baseless and comical.
“It is laughable that governance has been reduced to a farce in Kano State, with the state government suggesting that demonstrators broke into a court, selectively removed documents related to the APC National Chairman’s trial, and took them away. In this digital age, no discerning mind will buy into such pedestrian propaganda.
“What happened to the documents with the government lawyers? The state government seems bereft of ideas on how to manage state affairs and has resorted to churning out numerous corruption allegations against former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and his family, who served the state diligently.
“This claim is nothing more than a desperate attempt by Governor Yusuf’s administration to divert attention from the violence that erupted in the state.
“The insinuation that such critical documents could be carted away during a protest is not only far-fetched but also a clear indication of the state’s growing incompetence in handling both security and legal matters.
“It is known that the day before the protest began, Governor Yusuf was grandstanding, telling people he would join them if they wished to protest. Unfortunately for him, the people hired to execute the protest against the APC government went astray from their initial plan.
“Governor Yusuf should understand that the words and actions of leaders carry weight and have dire consequences.
“We stand with the people of Kano and call on all well-meaning citizens to remain calm and law-abiding while the authorities conduct their investigations.
“The APC remains committed to promoting peace, justice, and good governance across the nation.”