Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Kano early Monday morning to express their displeasure with the government over the demolition exercise being carried out across the state.

The protesters gathered in large numbers and called on the Kano State government to reconsider its plan to go ahead with the demolition of properties.

New Kano State governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has already brought numerous structures to the ground while several others have been marked for demolition.

The government’s rationale behind the action is that the land on which the affected structures were built was unlawfully allocated by the previous administration.

However, the protesters, marching in their numbers held placards with inscriptions such as “Gov Yusuf, your action is sending away investors,” “Don’t bring insecurity to our state, Mr Governor,” and “Let the law take its course”.

They congregated at the site of the demolished Daula Hotel before marching to the police headquarters to register their grievances.

“If the incumbent governor has any issues with his predecessor, we urge him to summon him to answer questions, instead of punishing innocent Nigerians and destroying their investments,” Zahraddeen Sani Baba of the Coalition for Good Governance and Change Initiative said on behalf of the demonstrators.

Meanwhile, governor Yusuf on Monday announced plan to rebuild the iconic silver jubilee monument demolished at the state government house roundabout in a more secure place.

According to a statement issued Sunday night by the governor’s acting spokesperson, Hisham Habib, the new iconic silver jubilee monument will be located at the Naibawa flyover which is a few kilometers away from the city.

Habib in the statement expressed the governor Yusuf’s commitment to infrastructure development in Kano state.

Yusuf, as disclosed by Habib also met with the architect of the Golden Jubilee edifice, Kaltume Hana, at the new site for the building of the structure.

“The Kano state government is dedicated to fostering infrastructural development while preserving the rich cultural heritage of the region,” Habib said.

“The relocation of the roundabout design is a testament to this commitment.

“Governor Yusuf said the place is suitable for the work and will not pose any challenge after a careful survey was conducted and assured the citizens of better projects ahead.”

Yusuf initially said he approved the demolition of the monument citing security reasons.

The monument was constructed in 2017 to mark Kano at 50 by the immediate past governor, Abdullahi Ganduje.

It was shortlisted among demolished properties by the new government in its bid to restore Kano state’s masterplan.
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