By Adam Garba Mazan Kudi
Since 2023, our great party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Kano has come.under serious attack, intentionally hatched and orchestrated by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa. The state government and the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) empowered Bature to constantly launch grievous assaults against the APC and the party chieftains in the state. His major targets are bigwigs in our party who hold national positions such as the National Chairman of APC and former Governor of the state, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje; Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Ibrahim Jubrin; Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa. The Emir of Kano, His Highness, Aminu Ado Bayero also tops the list of Bature’s foes.
Bature was at the forefront of the illegal demolition exercise embarked upon by Governor Yusuf shortly after assuming office in 2023. He was used by the state government to launch a nefarious media campaign that justified the destruction of properties largely owned by members of the APC in the state. They claimed that the investment and state assets of Kano as the region’s center of commerce were hopelessly and fraudulently sold and those who acquired them are initiators and executors of the whole process. They made the media to wrongly believe that heavy corruption took place in the state during the Ganduje administration.
On May 29, 2023, the newly sworn-in Kano governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf of the New Nigeria Peoples’ Party (NNPP) made some announcements in his inaugural speech. The highlight of the announcement was the immediate demolition of what he branded illegal structures erected within some identified public places in Kano state, properties acquired by chieftains of the APC. Government properties erected by the APC administration which added value to the government of Ganduje were not spared.
Corroborating the stance of the government, Sanusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa said: “The structures erected in schools, mosques, playgrounds, graveyards, markets and hospitals are to be demolished to ensure strict adherence on the urban planning, beautification and safety of people.”
He added that, “these places are meant for public utilization, it is therefore, disheartening to witness the incessant destruction and conversion of public places that are used to render social services by unpatriotic citizens. We shall bring an end to land grabbing and indiscriminate erection of illegal structures in the state”
Recall that on Saturday, June 3, 2023, the Kano state government rolled out bulldozers and began the demolition of illegal structures allegedly erected on public properties. The demolition exercise was carried out by the state task force on mass demolition under the Urban Planning and Development Authority (KNUPDA), personally led by the governor, under the supervision of the Commissioner of Police.
Among the first set of buildings demolished in Kano state by the Kabir Yusuf-led administration include a three-storey building with 90 shops along the race course popularly known as Filin Sukuwa at the Nasarawa GRA. Another structure that the newly inaugurated administration demolished is the symbolic “Tumbin Giwa” roundabout along State Road in Kano. The roundabout was said to have been remodelled by the Ganduje-led administration at the cost of N160 million in 2017. The roundabout was built as a symbol to commemorate the state’s Golden Jubilee. Similarly, on Sunday, June 11, the state task force demolished shops built by the fence of Sani Abacha Stadium at Kofar Mata, GSS Kofar Nasarawa as well as buildings by GGSS Dukawuya, Goron Dutse.
It was Bature who plotted the purported suspension of Dr. Ganduje from APC by his Ward in Dawain Tofa. Bature used his “coup plotters” in Dawakin Tofa to orchestrate the illegal suspension of Ganduje which was largely celebrated in the media. That very political mischief caused embarrassment to our National Chairman which made him to Lodge a complaint in the police, calling for Ganduje’s arrest. It is very sad that the Governor has continued to block the arrest and prosecution of Bature even as the Inspector General of police has placed him on wanted list.
Ganduje was purportedly suspended by members of his ward, the Ganduje Ward in the Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State at the instance of Bature! The Governor’s spokesperson and his paymasters have also ensured the arraignment of Ganduje on flimpsy charges bothering on allegations of bribery, diversion, and misappropriation of funds, including the purported acceptance of $413,000 and N1.38bn in bribes. Even as Jafar Jafar, the inventor of the Ganduje bribery scandal, at a point, backed out from the issue, Bature used the Lagos press to give the bribery scandal escalating publicity that portrayed Ganduje as a corrupt public office holder. Targeting Ganduje and his wife, Hafsat, Bature also attempted to finish their business concerns including Lamash Properties Ltd, Safari Textiles Ltd, and Lesage General Enterprises.
Bature also used the North’s resentment of the proposed Tax Reform Bills at the National Assembly to attack the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Ibrahim Jubri. He employed the northern youths who attacked Deputy Senate President accusing him of being insensitive to the region. The paid youths, representing 19 northern states, said the lawmaker representing Kano North Senatorial District knows the bills would not serve the region’s interest. Their verbal and threatened physical attack made Senator Jubirn to cancel his daughters wedding with the son of Emir Aminu Ado Bayero which was scheduled to take at Nassarawa Palace in Kano. The wedding was shifted to Abuja for the fear that hired youths will disrupt the wedding and cause violence. Bature’s action was a calculated attempt to destroy the political image of Senator Bature who they see as a threat to Governor Yusuf’s second term agenda in 2027.
Bature is also at the centre of the Kano emirship tussle, using his contacts in the media to ensure that Emir Aminu Bayero is not recognized. The Kano Emirate is in crisis today following the reinstatement of Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II. The emirship crisis is the handwork of Bature and his co-travellers. The state government has said Aminu Ado Bayero is now a private citizen. It appears unrestrained in its resolve to demolish Nasarawa Palace where Ado Bayero resides. That is an unwise step by the state government.
Ganduje’s son, Abba is also the victim of Bature’s escapades. During the 2003 campaign, Bature had alleged that Abba used government’s fund to acquire vehicles, emblazoned with Abba Ganduje’s image, were set to be distributed to the APC ward chairmen of Rimingado, Tofa and Dawakin Tofa Federal constituency. He had called the EFCC to arrest and investigate Abba who was then vying for a seat in the House of Representatives.
Bature fought a respected member of the House of Representatives, Alhassan Ado Doguwa. He used his contacts in the media to rubbish Doguwa’s image who was practically arrested and arraigned by the police for false murder accusation. Bature was at the forefront of the case as he took it personal granting damaging press interviews designed to damage the image of Doguwa and bring him to disrepute.
Indeed, Governor Yusuf has continued to use Bature to attack and destroy our party chieftains with the intention to bring down their reputation and pitch them against the public as the 2027 elections draw near. It is very important for APC in Kano and it’s members to wake up and rise against this attacks. Bature is an enemy that needs to be dealt with at all cost before the 2027 elections. It is on this note that I appeal to our party chieftains who hold important positions in Abuja to use their contacts and influence to ensure that Bature is arrested and prosecuted. He should be seriously dealt with and put out of the way if APC is prepared to win the 2027 elections in the state.
Mazan Kudi writes from Rijiyar Lemo, Kano
