The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, has called on Governor Abba Yusuf to expand the scope of his administration’s probe beyond the immediate-past governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, and investigate administrations dating back to 1999 when Nigeria returned to democracy.
In a statement personally signed by Abbas, he urged Governor Yusuf to specifically extend the probe to cover the periods of 1999-2003 and 2011-2015, during which time his political mentor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, served as governor of Kano State.
Abbas alleged that during these periods, a significant portion (70 per cent) of government properties were sold or fraudulently allocated to friends and families.
Abbas’s call for a broader probe comes in response to two panels recently set up by the Kano State government to investigate the administration of Abdullahi Ganduje, who currently serves as the National Chairman of the APC.
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Additionally, bribery charges have been filed against Ganduje, his wife, son, and others, accusing them of receiving kick-backs amounting to $413,000 and N1.38 billion.
The Kano APC chairman stated, “The judicial commission of inquiry set up by the state government to investigate the immediate past administration in the state ought to have started from 1999-2003 and 2011-2015 when 70 per cent of government properties were sold or fraudulently allocated to friends and families.”
He further alleged that during the period of Kwankwaso’s administration (2011-2015), funds allocated for projects such as the controversial five-kilometre road projects across the 44 local governments were misappropriated without project execution.
Additionally, Abbas accused Kwankwaso of misappropriating over N3 billion earmarked for a project during his presidential campaign in Lagos.
The Kano APC also called for an investigation into the 44 local government council chairmen who served during Kwankwaso’s administration.
Abbas criticized the composition of the probe panels, alleging that they were made up of members of the ruling New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and suggesting that this indicated a politically motivated witch-hunt.
The statement highlighted incidents of violence and unrest during past administrations and accused the current government of threats to peace, both during its opposition period and after coming into power.
Overall, Abbas’s statement reflects the ongoing political tensions in Kano State and underscores the demands from the APC for a comprehensive investigation into previous administrations beyond Ganduje’s tenure.
