Abba Gida-Gida defies Ganduje, halts loans without Gov-elect’s approval

Governor-elect of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf, popularly known as Abba Gida-Gida, has asked lenders to seek permission from him before granting any loan to the administration of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.

The incoming governor gave the directive a few hours after Ganduje countered him over a public advisory on government lands.

The governor-elect had asked people to stay off public buildings and to avoid constructing anything on government lands, schools and other public places.

Ganduje had asked Yusuf to desist from making official pronouncements in order to avoid confusion.

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Speaking through the commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Malam Muhammad Garba, Ganduje said he was still in charge of the state till he hands over to his successor.

“The action of the governor-elect amounts to jumping the gun by issuing directive on a matter affecting government laid down policy while the incumbent is yet to run his full term.”

“Until he subscribes to the oath of office as governor on May 29, 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,” Ganduje had said.

But hours after the governor’s response, Abba Gida-Gida issued another public advisory.

“I wish to issue this public advisory to prospective and subsisting lenders ( domestic & foreign) that effective from 18th March to 19th May, 2023, approval of loan facilities to KNSG should be with the consent of our incoming government.”

There is no love-lost between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), the incoming government.