Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State has addressed the issue of government property sales, firing back at claims by the incoming governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).
POLITICS NIGERIA reports Ganduje asserts that it was the administration of Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, during which he served as deputy governor, that initiated the practice.
Ganduje made this statement in a recently leaked audio recording, in response to the incoming government of Abba Kabir Yusuf from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), who intends to investigate all government property sales carried out during the Ganduje administration.
Yusuf, a protégé of Kwankwaso, has already issued “public warnings” to developers who purchased government properties, advising them to halt any ongoing development or work on the properties.
This implies that the sales may be reviewed once the governor-elect assumes office on May 29.
Governor Ganduje, in his response to these statements, dismissed the notion that the sale of government properties was a new phenomenon. He suggested that Yusuf should seek clarification from his political mentor (referring to Kwankwaso) on how the policy originated.
Ganduje served as Kwankwaso’s deputy during two terms, from 1999 to 2003 and from 2011 to 2015, before succeeding him as governor. However, their relationship deteriorated early on during Ganduje’s first term.
In the leaked audio, Ganduje can be heard saying, “Kwankwaso and Ganduje’s government were the ones who introduced that policy. We sold houses, many of which went to workers, some to politicians.
“They claim we sold government houses, not realizing that his political father and grandfather were the ones who began the sale of government properties.
“If he denies this, let him go to a radio station, and we can obtain the list of government houses his grandfather sold. Houses that his political father sold. But this is not the time to delve into that chapter.
“If I were to reveal the names of senior government officials and politicians who bought government houses, we would be counting all night.”
Governor Ganduje emphasized that the sale of government properties was not a new practice, asserting that it had existed for some time, continued during his tenure, and was not a criminal offense.
“This is nothing new. When I worked in Abuja, I resided in a government house that the federal government eventually sold to me,” he added.
The governor added, “From the Federal to state level, the government is no longer building houses for its workers to reside. The ones it has have been sold to workers. It is nothing new.
“Government workers residing in its houses, most of them have been sold but those who bought them couldn’t reside because government workers are occupying them.
“Because there are new houses, government workers are being transferred into these kinds of offices and leave the houses to those who bought them.”
