Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in the 2023 general election, has stated that the controversial demolitions of structures within Kano metropolis by the incumbent government are aimed at rectifying past mistakes.
The former Governor of Kano State also refuted allegations that he is acting as the de facto governor of the state or pressuring the incumbent governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, to demolish buildings owned by members of the perceived opposition parties. Senator Kwankwaso clarified that the discontentment stems from dissatisfied former members of his Kwankwasiyya movement.
“We have been saying since 2019 that any governor who constructs on schools, mosques, or Badala will not be tolerated. This demolition, for us, is a correction, and it is evident that only specific areas were affected. No policy in the world supports the demolition of a university to construct shops,” Kwankwaso stated in an interview with Radio France International (RFI).
Regarding the issue of allocated lands along Badala road during his tenure as Governor, Kwankwaso affirmed that he did not allocate any land belonging to educational institutions, from primary to tertiary, to anyone.
“The records are clear; I have not granted any land along Badala. I have never given such an order. Demolition is not a waste of resources. It is easier and cheaper to do the right thing than to do the wrong thing. I made this statement even before the campaign, and it is widely known,” he asserted.
Kwankwaso further explained that during the development of land layouts in Kano, such as Kwankwasiyya and Danladi Nasidi, ample compensation was provided, often surpassing expectations. People were even hoping for their houses to be demolished to receive compensation, he added.
