ASHENEWS reports that the Kano state governor, Abdullahi Ganduje has confirmed writing the Presidency to postpone the scheduled inauguration of projects by President Muhammadu Buhari earlier scheduled to hold in the state.
Among other projects, Buhari was scheduled to inaugurate the Dala International Inland Dry Port, located at Zawachiki in Kumbotso local government area of the state on Monday, January 31, 2023.
This online platform however reports that the decision was taken at the Governor’s interactive session with legislators, scholars, political leaders, and the business community on Friday, “to avoid any unforeseen circumstance.”
Reason for postponement
Ganduje, in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary, Abba Anwar on Saturday, said the postponement was because of “the hardship caused by limited time given for halting use of old Naira notes by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and for security reasons.”
According to Ganduje, the state resolved and wrote to Presidency that the visit of the President to commission some projects be postponed.
“As we are waiting for this important visit, we found ourselves in this situation, which puts citizens into untold hardship. For security purpose, we wrote to Presidency that President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to Kano be postponed.
“We got an acknowledgement copy of the letter. People are really suffering because of this policy,” governor said.
During the meeting with sections of citizens in the state, they accepted that, the decision was a unanimous one. As they all spoke in support of the letter sent to Presidency.
Two serving Senators from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya and Barau Jibrin, 20 members of House of Representatives and 30 legislators from the State House of Assembly were among the groups that supported the governor.
“There are no banks in most of our rural communities. How these people get new Naira notes is of great concern. Just look at what is happening in our urban areas, people go and spend hours upon hours in banks. And without any assurances of getting the new notes,” Ganduje lamented.
“Even at Point of Sales (POS),” according to the governor, “one cannot transact with ease. Many of them closed shops due to uncertainty.”
He emphasized that, Kano being a commercial hub must be heard loudly, insisting that, “This problem affects all of us. Therefore our voice must be heard in all nooks and crannies. We are a commercial hub. As such our position must be loud and clear.”
Governor Ganduje further revealed further that, under one platform, Nigerian governors without consideration to party affiliation, sent delegates to President Buhari to complain to him about the hardship caused by the new development.
“Governors from all the political parties put heads together and sent delegates, but to no avail. So also traditional rulers followed the same path, but individually. But up to now there is nothing in that respect,” Ganduje disclosed.
In Kano, according to him, government calls leaders of all sections of people around, whenever situation like this arises.
“We invited scholars who were here yesterday. And today we are having this interactive sessions with you business community and our legislators.”
To revalidate the position of Kano people, as contained in the letter sent, governor Ganduje would take representatives from sections of the populace to go and see President Buhari and hear from them verbatim.
