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Demolition: Our Lives are in Danger, Kano Community Cried Out, Looters Police Attack Journalist

Published

1 year ago

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A building marked for demolition

 

 

Residents of Salanta Quarters along B.U.K Road in Kano State have raised the alarm over fear of their safety after looters numbering over 1000 invaded their community last night alongside officials of Kano State Government who descended on the area for demolition of houses marked as illegal structures.

Muhammad Aliyu, who spoke on behalf of the community’s forum said, there was pandemonium in the area last night after the said hoodlums and thugs took over the area attacking and beating up people including a pregnant woman who is currently battling for her life in the hospital.

According to him trouble started in the community a day after officials from the Kano State Urban Planning and Development Agency (KANUPDA) visited the area marking structures for demolition, a development which prompted them to rush to the agency to have an audience with the Managing Director but to no avail.

“KANUPDA officials were here earlier on Thursday to mark our houses for demolition. We quickly rushed to their office to see the MD to inform him that we have every necessary document for our houses but we were told the MD was not available and we should go back and just pray”.

We also tried to secure court injunctions to stop the state government from carrying out the demolition but to our greatest surprise, the courts refused to grant us our request on the ground that the state government has ordered them not to grant such order”.

“Behold, we came under attack last night (Friday) at about by 10pm by looters not less than a thousand who accompanied KANUPDA’s officials for demolition exercise which you can see for yourself. We were left in panic; no one was able to sleep last night.”

“Just the way you were attacked today, that was how we were attacked last night in the presence of Civil Defense Officials who accompanied them but refused to protect us”.

He added that the exercise was carried out in the presence of the secretary to the state government, Baffa Bichi and the reinstated state Anti-Corruption agency, Bar. Muhuyi Magaji which further affirmed that the looters are having their field day under the protection of the state government” we have lost billions of naira between last night to this afternoon. My building alone cost me over 150million not to talk about others”.

Aliyu pleaded on human right organizations, the Federal Government and other relevant stakeholders to come to their rescue as they fear more damages could be done in the area as the police have informed them that they have been asked to keep away.

 

On his part, the secretary of the Public Property Recovery Committee of Kano State Government, Barrister Muhuyi Magaji Rimin Gado, stated that they did not go to Salanta as alleged in the media reports. Instead, the government have taken steps to demolish illegal buildings erected at the Kano State Polytechnic.

He emphasized that in Kano, where the population is projected to quadruple every decade, the former Government of Kano State corruptly diverted part of Kano State polytechnic and allocated to families and crannies which he vowed the incumbent will never be allowed to be swept under the carpet. This is because future citizens of Kano would have no place to study.
He maintained that it is a misinformation and mischief for someone to claim that he was victimized in the process as according to him the government is in possession of video evidence of all the process to counter the narrative.
“Without prejudice to the position of government on any private building erected in that public owned polytechnic, yet no single house was demolished but the government started reclaiming fenced lands you can go and verify “

Yakubu Salisu a journalist with Blazon news Nigeria and acting chairman online journalists association Kano chapter came under attack after scores of looters descended on him with stones and other dangerous weapons for capturing them on pictures and videos. Shortly after the narrow escape, Anti-Daba police officers who rushed to the area also pounced on this journalist and took away his phone deleting pictures and videos saying that they were not authorized to be there as such will be in danger should the videos and pictures show their faces that they came on their own discretion to chase away the looter and took off immediately.

 

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FG Obeys Court’s Order, Stops FAAC Allocation to Rivers State

Published

6 hours ago

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November 22, 2024

By

Senator Bola Ahmad Tinubu

 

The Nigerian government under President Bola Tinubu has confirmed that it has stopped the October monthly Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) revenue payment to Rivers State.

The development comes amid the ongoing face-off between Governor Simi Fubara and the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesome Wike.

According to the Spokesperson of the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Bawa Mokwa, the decision to stop the payment was made in respect of a court order.

Mokwa disclosed that the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) will respect the court order, which barred the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian government from disbursing monthly allocations to the Rivers State government.

His words: “What I got is that the October 2024 FAAC has not been distributed yet. However, the Federal Government will obey the court order on the matter of Rivers State allocation.

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“We are going to follow due diligence as long as there is no contrary order. In case there is a contrary, the status will remain.”

He added, “The process of disbursement of the October 2024 monthly allocation is going.”

The court order was obtained by the factional Rivers State Assembly, led by Martin Amaewhule, who had filed an originating summons against the Rivers State Executive, under the leadership of Simi Fubara.

The Amaewhule faction had alleged that the Rivers State Executive was yet to comply with the order of a Federal High Court directing it to re-present the 2024 appropriation bill to the faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

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Kano Civil Society Forum Board of Trustees Lacks Authority to Suspend Members, Says Amb. Ibrahim Waiya

Published

6 hours ago

on

November 22, 2024

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The Kano Civil Society Forum (KCSF) Board of Trustees (BOT) has no power to suspend or dismiss any bona fide member of the KCSF, according to Amb. Ibrahim Waiya, the Executive Director of Citizens for Development and Education (CDE).
Waiya’s statement comes in response to reports that the BOT, led by Prof. Mohammad Tabiu, has suspended him from the forum.

Waiya addressed the issue in a press statement, clarifying that the information circulating on social media and other platforms was misguided. “The misguided information in the press release, published on some media platforms, was said to have been signed by one Alhaji Hamisu Isa Sherifai, who paraded himself as the Secretary of the KCSF Board,” Waiya stated.

He emphasized that he does not typically engage in trivial disputes but felt compelled to set the record straight for the benefit of those misled by the media propaganda. “The only crime Amb. Ibrahim Waiya and his colleagues committed was their objection to a kangaroo election organized by BOT to elect the new leadership of KCSF,” Waiya explained. He noted that less than 50 out of 200 registered organizations participated in the election, which he described as lacking accountability, transparency, inclusiveness, and credibility.

Waiya criticized the BOT for not understanding the KCSF constitution and overstepping their boundaries. “KCSF BOT has no right to outrightly suspend any registered member, except on the recommendation of the Executive Council, after a thorough investigation of any offense,” he asserted. He added that the BOT should not assume the role of managing the day-to-day affairs of the organization.

Highlighting the importance of fair hearing, Waiya pointed out that the Nigerian constitution guarantees this right to every citizen. “It is clearly spelt out even in the Nigerian constitution that fair hearing is a fundamental right of every citizen,” he said. Waiya questioned how the BOT received a recommendation from the executive council, given that the BOT-anointed leadership is currently standing trial in a case challenging the validity of the election.

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Waiya appealed to all patriotic members of the KCSF, associates, partners, friends, and colleagues to remain calm and disregard the negative propaganda against him. “We must also note that Kano development, the North, and Nigeria are the primary priority of Amb. Ibrahim Waiya, not his reputation,” he stated. Waiya assured that the purported suspension letter holds no water and that the action will be challenged in court.

The statement was signed by Bahir A. Bashir, Media Aid to Amb. Ibrahim Waiya.

 

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Mutiu Adepoju Urges NFF to Retain Augustine Eguavoen as Super Eagles Coach

Published

13 hours ago

on

November 22, 2024

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Former international, Mutiu Adepoju, has urged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to keep Augustine Eguavoen in charge of the Super Eagles.

Eguavoen took charge of the Super Eagles in interim capacity in September.

The 59-year-old guided the team to qualify for AFCON 2025 with three wins, two draws and one defeat.

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The NFF are reportedly still planning to hire a foreign coach for the three-time African champions.

Adepoju however said his former teammate should stay in charge of the team.

“I would rate him very well. Number one, we’ve qualified for the AFCON, which is one of the objectives,” he told Brila FM.

“I would say he has done well and is still doing well.

“They should keep encouraging him. I believe he’s getting things done, I will rate him high, let just keep supporting him.”

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