In the late hours of Saturday, bulldozers from the Kano State government pulled down buildings at Daula Hotel and Hajj Camp in the capital city.
The demolition happened less than 48 hours after Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf ordered developers at the Hajj Camp to stop construction immediately.
As of the time of this report, businesses around the affected locations did not open for fear of looters. Shops remained shut at 10 am despite the opening time of 8 am.
The multibillion-naira properties were pulled down just after a shopping complex at Race Course in Nasarawa Local Government was demolished around 1 am on Saturday by a joint task force led by the governor himself.
The demolition gave way to unhindered looting of building materials, a situation that elicited mixed reactions from the public.
The police could do little to stop the looting as they were outnumbered.
Kano State trended on social media throughout Saturday and the early hours of Sunday with many tagging the demolition exercise as a misplaced priority.
A Twitter user, @Waspapping_ wrote
“This politics of vengeance that Abba Gida Gida has embarked on won’t lead Kano state to anywhere positive. He needs to understand that Kano people voted him so he can bring positive change and impact the people. They didn’t vote him to witch-hunt Ganduje & demolish buildings.”
Abba Gida Gida is a very vindictive man, and at this rate that he’s going I won’t be surprised if he goes about demolishing people’s houses or denying them government privileges because they didn’t vote for him
— Sarki. (@Waspapping_) June 5, 2023
Also, @LeoAgbaakin18 was of the opinion that “the Governor is playing politics of bitterness.”
On the contrary, @Basafghali believed “Kano will experience a tremendous change in 100 days. They are getting what they voted for...”
Kano will experience a tremendous change in 100 days.
— Basaf (@BasafGhali) June 4, 2023
They are getting what they voted for...
🚶🚶🚶 pic.twitter.com/AGu4VLDQ28
@abubakaridris9 wondered “how some people who doesn't know anything about kano complaining of what @Kyusufabba is doing, somebody who's former commissioner of works, he knows ins&out of the state.” (sic)
Supporting the demolition, @Aliyu07Haruna wrote: “Yesterday the Government of the People of Kano, the people's Government gave back to the people that which was Stolen by Ganduje. Yesterday we Demolished Race Course and Polo Club, and this Morning Hajj Camp and Daula Hotel follow suit, more demolition to come.”
Governor Yusuf said the demolition will pave the way to restoring Kano State to its glory days.
His Chief Press Secretary, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, restated the claim on Saturday.
