Kano: Gov Yusuf using Ganduje’s probe to divert attention from his poor performance – Northern Patriots

…say Kano judiciary lacks locus standi to prosecute APC National Chairman…

…urge Abba Yusuf to back down on witch-hunting Ganduje and focus on governance…

A group known as Northern Patriots has accused Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, of using the probe on his predecessor and the current National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, to divert attention from his poor performance in the state.

The group stated that Governor Yusuf had neglected his primary duty of providing good governance to the people of Kano, instead choosing to witch-hunt his predecessor while the state slips into penury.

The Patriots noted that Governor Yusuf has not achieved much in the state since he took office eleven months ago.

Comrade Dominic Alancha, the National President of Northern Patriots, featured in TVC programme, Journalists’ Hangout on Sunday.

Alancha said if Yusuf must probe Ganduje’s administration, he must do so transparently and accountably. He emphasized that Yusuf should also investigate the administration of his political godfather, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who has faced numerous allegations of corruption and misappropriation of state resources.

According to him, the charges against Ganduje by the Kano state government were “dead on arrival,” stressing that the state judiciary lacks the locus standi to prosecute the APC National Chairman, as ruled by a court of law.

He said, “It’s unfortunate that Governor Abba Yusuf is progressing in error. Instead of him focusing on advancing governance in Kano state which is the promise he made to the good people of Kano state, he is out on a witch hunt and political vendetta against his predecessor.

“I don’t think he is even aware that even on this matter that he is taking Ganduje to court, there’s a judicial pronouncement on it that the state cannot prosecute him. It’s the responsibility of the Federal High Court and that falls within the purview of the EFCC. So for me, this case is dead on arrival.

“If he is even transparent enough, he should have gone back to 2011 or 1999 to probe his political godfather, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. Because there are a lot of allegations against Kwankwaso that borders on corruption, misappropriation of state resources. For example in 2011, there was supposed to 5 kilometres of roads contract that was supposed to be allocated to the 44 LGAs that that resources was apprioprated for and till today, the good people of Kano can not point to 1 kilometre road in any of those 44 LGAs that those 5 kilometres of roads were apprioprated.

“What we are saying if you want to probe Ganduje, it should be done on the basis of transparency and accountability. This case is diverting the attention of the people from demanding for accountability and good governance in Kano state. He has shot himself on the foot. If you recall, with just three weeks into his administration, without looking at government records, he went ahead with the demolition of shops, businesses and people’s homes. Today as I speak with you, Kano people are living in penury. It has been eleven months since his administration came on board but he has nothing on ground to point as his achievements in the past eleven months. Rather he is going about setting up committees and probe panels to probe his predecessor.

“I think there’s a need for him to have a rethink and properly define his agenda in the next three years that he is going to spend as the governor of Kano state. Because from all indications it seems he is not well prepared. One of the popular sayings of Kano people right now is that he is an errand boy to Kwankwaso.

“What borders me as a Northerner and Nigerian citizen is the fact that there was a recent report that came out on good governance; how states are contributing in addressing the mirage of challenges that the country is facing, Kano is rating very poor. In fact, that report says there’s nothing on ground to show that he is doing anything at all to alleviate the challenges that the people of the state are going through; educationally, developmentally, economically, security-wise and all of that.

“So I think he doesn’t really need this distraction. People are not saying that he shouldn’t probe Ganduje but until he proves him guilty, he is still an innocent person.”

Alancha berated Governor Yusuf for dragging Ganduje’s wife Hafsat and his son, Umar, into his political animosity with the APC National Chairman even though they were not public officers while he is busy appointing his relatives and political godfather’s children into his administration.

He said, “What borders a lot of people is why bringing Ganduje’s family into it? Ganduje’s wife does not overseas any budget neither does his son. There is no official allocation of resources for the family to manage, now you are bringing them in. Whereas, in your administration you are appointing the children of your godfather and your relations to cabinet positions and other positions in the state.

“I think he is progressing in error. And for me, this case will not see the light of the day because it will not stand any judicial test anywhere.”

He urged Governor to back down from witch-hunting Ganduje and focus on providing good governance for the people of Kano state.

Alancha said, “The right step would have been for Governor Yusuf to hand over this matter to the EFCC. As I already said, there is a judicial pronouncement that the state cannot prosecute Mr Ganduje on this same charge. So the right thing for Governor Yusuf to do is to back down from this and allow the relevant agencies that have the capacity to prosecute this matter if there’s any case at all.

“If he really wants to push on this matter, it is not the responsibility of the state judiciary or the attorney in the state to push on this, by the court pronouncement. So he should obey court pronouncement on this matter and then hands off from this case because as I said it is dead on arrival.

“If he truly wants to serve the good people of Kano state, I think he should sit down and think of what are the needful for him to do and begin to do it. And governance for me, should be the number one priority or agenda on his table as far as Kano state is concerned.”