The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, characterized as absurd and unreasonable the assertion made by Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, that he (Ganduje) engaged individuals posing as protesters to infiltrate the state high court and abscond with certain ‘sensitive documents’ pertinent to his (Ganduje’s) corruption trial.
The Yusuf administration has lodged at least two corruption charges against Ganduje, one of which implicates the former governor, his spouse, Hafsat, their son, Umar, and others in a bribery scheme amounting to $413,000 and N1.38 billion.
In a statement released on Thursday by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu, Ganduje remarked that Yusuf’s allegations regarding the purported theft of court documents raise serious doubts about his ability to manage the security and judicial affairs of Kano State.
Labeling Yusuf’s assertions as insincere, Ganduje questioned the logic behind the claim that if miscreants had indeed taken the documents from the court, there would not be a copy retained by the government’s attorney overseeing the case.
On Wednesday, Yusuf informed reporters in Kano that ‘enemies of the state had employed undesirable elements’ to vandalize the state high court, a significant historical structure, and to remove the files related to the corruption charges against the APC national chairman.
This statement followed his visit to the court, which had been damaged by hoodlums during the recent nationwide protests against hunger. He asserted that it was evident the vandals were on a mission that had been sponsored.
However, Ganduje’s spokesperson dismissed the allegation as ludicrous and unfounded. He stated, “It is comical that governance in Kano has devolved to such a level where a state government would stoop to suggesting that protesters broke into a court and meticulously selected documents related to the trial of the APC national chairman, all while handpicking and removing them in this digital era.”
A discerning individual will not be swayed by this simplistic propaganda. What has become of the documents involving the government’s legal representatives? The state government appears to lack innovative strategies for managing state affairs and has consistently resorted to generating numerous allegations of corruption against Ganduje and his family, who have served the state with dedication.
“This assertion represents a futile effort by Governor Yusuf’s administration to shift focus away from their involvement in the violence that has transpired in the state. The suggestion that such important documents could be removed during a protest highlights the administration’s increasing ineptitude in addressing both security and legal issues. “Governor Yusuf must recognize that the statements and actions of leaders bear significant weight and can lead to serious repercussions. We stand in solidarity with the citizens of Kano and urge all responsible individuals to remain composed and law-abiding while the authorities carry out their investigations.”
