ν Ganduje to Yusuf: Wait till May 29 before issuing directives
From Desmond Mgboh, Kano
Kano State governor, Abdulahi Ganduje and the governor-elect Malam Abba Yusuf are on a collision course over counter directives issued by the governor and his impending successor. Yusuf had on Friday, through his spokesman, Sanusi Dawakin-Tofa issued a public advisory to all individuals, groups and organisations to stop on-going construction in public places immediately.
“You are advised to discontinue any construction work on public land within and around all schools in the state, religious and cultural sites, hospitals, graveyards and along the city walls of Kano,” he said.
The statement also advised the public to discontinue the demolition and construction on all existing public buildings belonging to the state government. But the state government quickly counselled the governor-elect 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.
“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.