Kano State government has described the plot by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to form a ‘shadow government’ as a desperate attempt to destabilise Kano.
Former Secretary to the Kano State government and National Chairman of the APC Patriotic Volunteers, Alhaji Usman Alhaji, on Saturday, declared the group’s intention to form a shadow government to check the alleged failure of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s administration.

Reacting to the development yesterday, Commissioner for Information, Abdullah Ibrahim Waiya, in a statement, said the plot is illegal, reckless and would not be tolerated. The Commissioner said the state government would stand ready to take decisive action against any individual or group attempting to carry out any acts capable of disturbing the relative peace in the name of ‘shadow government’ in Kano.

Waiya said: “Let me remind these elements within the Kano APC that in a democratic system like ours, forming a government within a government is entirely illegal and unconstitutional. A shadow government, as practised in the United Kingdom (UK), exists within a parliamentary system where opposition parties appoint “shadow ministers” to scrutinise the ruling government.

“However, Nigeria operates a presidential system, which neither recognises nor supports such a structure outside the institutional framework of the law. Democracy does not permit anyone to lose their sense of judgment simply because they have lost relevance within their party’s political structure.

“Therefore, the right to freedom of expression does not grant anyone the liberty to make reckless statements or take actions that undermine constitutional governance and the sovereignty of an elected government.”

Waiya stressed that “Contemplating the formation of a shadow government is further proof of the APC’s continued plot to destabilise Kano State and create chaos, an action that will not be tolerated by the state government.”

He said: “It is on record that the APC, as a party in Kano State, has lost its political relevance and influence. This latest move by some self-deceiving elements only confirms the APC’s desperation to remain relevant after its overwhelming rejection at the polls.

“The Yusuf’s administration was duly elected by the good people of Kano State and has, within a short period, recorded remarkable achievements in developmental projects and policies aimed at improving the lives of the people.

“The New Nigeria People Party (NNPP)-led government in Kano State, under the visionary leadership of Yusuf, remains the most focused state government in the country, with clearly defined goals in key sectors. In education, it has allocated the highest budgetary resources in the country, ensuring significant improvements in learning infrastructure and access to quality education.”