By Kabir Dan-Katsina, Birnin Kebbi
Kebbi State Government has vowed to seek legal redress over false and malicious accusations levelled against it by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) regarding the demolition of a property built on illegally encroached land.
The position of the government was made known by the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Yakubu Ahmed Birnin Kebbi at a news conference held on Monday at the Government House in Birnin Kebbi.
Birnin Kebbi described the allegation as an act of desperation aimed at seizing power through lies, blackmail and falsehood.
He noted that the demolition of the structure near the Azbir Hotel, owned by the ADC governorship candidate, was carried out pursuant to a court order obtained by the rightful owner of the land, Umar Gulumbe, against the encroachers. He said the opposition had twisted the facts of the matter.
“The situation escalated when political aides to the ADC governorship candidate publicly attacked the government, insulted the governor and made highly inflammatory and derogatory statements unbecoming of individuals aspiring to lead a state or the nation,” he added.
He further noted that to the government dismay and embarrassment, the entire incident was simply a private land dispute involving individuals seeking to take possession of a plot belonging to another.
The commissioner said the state government was demanding that the ADC chieftains who recklessly made the allegations publicly retract the offensive statement and tender an unreserved and unconditional apology.
“Failure to do so will leave us with no alternative but to seek appropriate legal redress to protect the integrity, reputation and institutional dignity of the state government,” he warned.
