Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has disclosed that the State requested in writing to the Presidency that the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari’s (ret.d) visit to commission various projects be postponed.
At his Friday interactive session with academics, lawmakers, political figures, and members of the business sector in the State at the Government House in Kano, he made this known.
He stated that the choice was made to prevent any unanticipated circumstances.
Referring to the crisis over the new naira notes, the governor said: “As we are waiting for this important visit, we found ourselves in this situation, which puts citizens into untold hardship. For security purposes, we wrote to the 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.”
They acknowledged that the decision was made unanimously at the meeting with different groups of State people.
Thirty members of the State House of Assembly, members of the House of Representatives, and two serving senators from the ruling All Progressives Congress, Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya and Barau Jibrin, were among the groups that supported the governor.
He lamented that “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.”
The governor stated that it was difficult to conduct business even at the point of sale, adding that many businesses had shut down because of the uncertainties.
He insisted 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 went on to say that under one platform, Nigerian governors sent delegations to President Buhari, talking about the hardships brought on by the new development, regardless of their party allegiance.
“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 up till now, there is nothing in that respect,” he disclosed.
