· Block road, burn tyres, throw stones on president’s convoy
· Power project ‘ll help to revive ailing industries in the state – Buhari
The fears expressed by the governor of Kano state, Abdullahi Ganduje when he advised President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday against visiting the state as planned, eventually played out when the president visited the ancient city, yesterday.
Ganduje, had at an interactive session with some stakeholders including scholars, legislators, political leaders and business community in the state, revealed that his government had requested the President to postpone the trip, saying that the state was deeply concerned about the hardship principally induced by the ongoing cash swap from old to redesigned notes.
He said the decision was taken to avoid any unforeseen circumstance.
Consequently, the state government wrote a letter to the President outlining the reasons why the planned visit was no longer auspicious at this time.
A statement issued on Saturday by Abba Anwar, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, said the decision to advise the President against the visit was endorsed by the critical stakeholders of the state.
The statement by the governor’s spokesman reads in parts: “Deeply concerned with 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, the Kano State governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, reveals that 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.
However, on Sunday, Ganduje made a volte-face and led a delegation to Daura where he told journalists that President Buhari could come for the commissioning as planned.
Ganduje changed his mind after he led a delegation from the state to meet with President Buhari in his country home in Daura, Katsina State on Sunday.
According to him, “We are now ready to receive him and we have a lot for him to commission including federal government projects and state government projects. They are state-of-the-art projects.”
Same day, the Central Bank of Nigeria through its governor, Godwin Emefiele announced that the president had given approval for extension of the new Naira swap policy to February 10.
Following this, President Buhari went to Kano yesterday for the commissioning ceremony of $16 million 10 megawatts solar power plant.
According to reports from our correspondents, major roads in the ancient city of Kano were deserted as residents refused to give a rousing welcome to President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit.
Aside refusing to give rousing welcome to the president, some residents also blocked a road leading to one of the project sites lined up for commissioning by President Buhari, throwing stones on his convoy and burning tyres to scare away people.
Usually, at every visit of Mr.President to the state, large crowds usually troop out to give him a rousing welcome, but this time around things changed completely as residents shunned his visit, as most of the streets in Kano metropolis and its environs were deserted.
It will be recalled that President Buhari who enjoyed a red carpet reception whenever he visited the state,tactically avoided the roads after arriving Kano and flew by Helicopter from the airport straight to Dala Inland Dry Port project site and to the Emir’s Palace.
Unconfirmed source hinted that at Hototo quarters, alleged angry residents barricaded the road leading to one of the project sites in the area with stones and inter-lock blocks, attacking some vehicles in the convoy.
However, the situation was later brought under control after tear gas were fired by the police to disperse the crowd who were already burning tyres.
It was also stated by another source that Mr.President had left the scene of incident when some vehicles in his convoy were allegedly attacked with stones.
As at the time of filling this report, there was no confirmation of arrest of any suspects by the Police.
Some source stated that the ugly incidence might, however, not be unconnected to what majority of people described as unprecedented hardship forced on the people by Buhari’s Government especially, the recent redesigned naira notes and the initial January 31 deadline issued by the CBN.
Commission of $16 million 10 megawatts solar power plant in Kano “ll revive ailing industries – Buhari
However, President Muhammadu Buhari, while commissioning the $16 million 10 megawatts solar power plant in Kano,stated that the project will help to revive ailing industries in the state that depended on electricity to power their giants plants.”
While expressing his appreciationhe said, the project would also support industries and the host community in Kano.
Earlier, the Managing Director and the Chief Executive Officer of the NSIA Aminu Umar Sagir, described the project as a progress for the people towards adding value to the economy.
He added that “All the necessary support and funds were provided for the implementation of the project and hopefully the impact of the project would be felt via creation of fresh employment opportunities.”
According to him, as the project begins to supply power, it would put a smile on the faces of families through employment opportunities to be created for individuals and collective families.
“At the close of the day peace and security would reign Supreme as Nigerian masses would no longer starve over lack of food because they would be paid emolments at the close of the end of the day.
He addedthat “That project is to be supervised and managed by the NSIA which is jointly owned by the federal government, Kano state and the host community, Kumbotso.
“The project is currently the largest grid-connected solar PV plant and is proof of successful mid-sized solar PV deployment in Nigeria.
“This would catalyst growth in the power sector as it shows that renewable projects of this magnitude can be successfully delivered. It also buildseq Nigeria’s creditials in the fight against climatey change and our commitment to attaining net zero carbon emissions by 2060,” he added.
Other projects commissioned by the president during the one day state visit include the Dala Inland Port, Dangote Skills Acquisition Centre and Galaxy Backbone among others.