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From Ola Muhammad, Birnin Kebbi
The Kebbi State Government has strongly dismissed allegations by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) linking it to the demolition of a property around Azbir Hotel, along Sani Abacha Bypass, Birnin Kebbi, describing the claims as false, misleading and politically motivated.
Commissioner for Information and Culture, Alhaji Yakubu Ahmed stated this during a press briefing in Birnin Kebbi.
The Commissioner accused the opposition ADC of repeatedly resorting to unsubstantiated allegations, deliberate misinformation and distortion of facts in what he described as an attempt to discredit the Kebbi State Government and generate unnecessary publi controversy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He explained that the incident was essentially a private land ownership dispute which had been mischievously presented by some ADC supporters on social media as an action carried out by the state government against an opposition-owned property.
He disclosed that subsequent developments and documentary evidence presented by Alhaji Umaru Mohammed Gulumbe, a businessman claiming ownership of the disputed property, established that the matter was a civil dispute between private individuals.
Among the documents presented, according to the Commissioner, was a Certificate of Occupancy bearing the signature of former Governor Adamu Aliero.
The Commissioner further explained that Gulumbe had formally reported the alleged trespass to the Police and petitioned the Ministry of Lands and Housing.
He said committees constituted to investigate the matter examined the competing claims and confirmed ownership of the disputed plot in favour of Gulumbe.
The businessman, he added, had challenged anyone disputing his ownership to approach a competent court with relevant documents rather than resort to social media campaigns and political accusations.
The Commissioner maintained that the Kebbi State Government neither initiated nor participated in the demolition, stressing that the government had no involvement in the private dispute.
He described attempts to associate the administration of Governor Nasir Idris,with the incident as a calculated effort to mislead the public and tarnish the government’s image.
Commissioner expressed concern that despite the emergence of information clarifying the circumstances surrounding the incident, the ADC had not publicly retracted its allegations or offered an apology to the state government.
He maintained that political differences should never become an excuse for manufacturing allegations or misleading the public on matters that can be established through lawful procedures.
The Commissioner also criticised what he described as the opposition party’s tendency to exploit sensitive public issues for political advantage, particularly in its attempts to gain political relevance ahead of the 2027 elections.
He urged political actors to demonstrate responsibility and respect for established institutions rather than turn every public controversy into an opportunity for political attacks.
Recalling previous political controversies, the Commissioner alleged that on September 1, 2025, Abubakar Malami arrived in Birnin Kebbi with a convoy of supporters from Sokoto under the pretext of a condolence visit, an incident he said was followed by attacks on APC offices, vandalisation of vehicles and other acts of public disorder.
He further alleged that subsequent investigations raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the incident and its political implications.
The Commissioner also accused Malami of making exaggerated claims about casualties arising from security incidents in southern Kebbi State. Citing the June 2025 attack in Tadurga, Zuru Emirate, he recalled that Malami allegedly claimed that 200 people had been killed, whereas subsequent reports cited by the Commissioner indicated that the number of fatalities was fewer than 30.
He questioned why neither Malami nor the ADC had publicly addressed the discrepancy or offered clarification over the figures circulated.
Ahmed equally expressed concern over statements attributed to ADC chieftain Abubakar Shehu Koko, which he described as inflammatory and capable of deepening political divisions between the people of southern Kebbi and other parts of the state.
He maintained that political disagreements must not be exploited to create mistrust, undermine peaceful coexistence or portray the state government as being indifferent to the concerns of any section of the population.
The Commissioner said the recurring controversies surrounding the ADC’s public statements underscored the need for political leaders to exercise restraint, verify information before making public allegations and refrain from using sensitive issues as instruments of political mobilisation.
The Commissioner contrasted the allegations against the government with what he described as the ongoing development programmes and achievements of the administration of Governor Nasir Idris, stressing that public discourse should be anchored on verifiable facts, policy issues and responsible scrutiny of governance rather than speculation and political propaganda.
He called on the people of Kebbi State to remain discerning, resist the spread of unverified information and insist on evidence whenever serious allegations are made against public institutions or individuals.
While demanding for immediate retraction,the Commissioner advised the ADC officials who levelled allegation against the government to tender apology for the allegations concerning the Azbir Hotel demolition immediately retract their statements, publicly clarify the circumstances surrounding the incident and tender an unreserved apology to the Kebbi State Government.
He added that failure to comply would, ” leave the government with no alternative but to seek appropriate legal redress against those responsible for the allegations, in order to protect its reputation, institutional integrity and the dignity of the state government”, he warned.
