From Desmond Mgboh, Kano
Kano state government has counseled the governor-elect of the state, Abba Kabir Yusuf to wait until he is sworn –in as Governor before issuing advisories on state affairs.
A statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Muhammad Garba, on Friday , declared that the advisory issued by the governor-elect had generated a lot of tension and was likely to cause unnecessary confusion in the state.
Garba said that the action of the governor-elect by issuing directive on laid down policy while an incumbent is yet to run his full term amounts to jumping the gun.
The statement reminded the Governor – elect that as far as the transition of power is concerned as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje remained the governor of the state until May 29th and therefore, reserved the right to carry out his functions in public interest even on the eve of his exit.
The statement also noted that, “Until he (Abba Kabir Yusuf) subscribes to the oath of office as governor on May 29th, he remains what he is- A governor-elect and does not have the powers of the governor.
“All he can do is to reverse some of the actions taken by his predecessor when he assumes office if there is a valid reason to do so. No governor-elect has the constitutional or legal powers to determine the direction of a state until he is sworn- in,” the statement asserted.
It also observed that governors have powers to allocate plots in their state, reminding the Governor- elect that based on available records, the previous government of Engineer Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, whom he served as Commissioner, equally allocated plots in public places.
Areas where the previous administration allocated plots, the statement held, included the city wall, allocation of land from Kofar Nassarawa to Kofar Mata; shops at the Kofar Mata Eid Prayer Ground facing the Orion Cinema and from Kofar Mata to ‘Yan yashi opposite the Eid Ground and from Kofar Kabuga to Kofar Famfo facing the old Campus of Bayero University.
The statement therefore called on individuals and organisations who acquired land after following due process and procedures not to be threatened by the directive issued by the governor – elect.
It could be recalled that the Governor – elect had earlier issued an advisory to individuals, groups and organistions to discontinue ongoing construction works on public places, warning that anyone who elects to contravene the advisory, was doing that at his own peril.
The incoming governor warned that all construction works within and around schools, religious and cultural sites, hospitals, grave yards and along the city walls must be discontinued.