Dr. Baffa Bichi, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), has said the symbolic Tumbin Giwa roundabout at Kano Government House was demolished because it carried a Christian cross.
Governor Abba Yusuf had come under heavy criticism over the demolition of structures erected by his predecessor, Abdullahi Ganduje.
The Kano Government was particularly criticized over the recent demolition of the symbolic Tumbin Giwa roundabout at Kano Government House. The roundabout serves as a symbol of the state’s Golden Jubilee.
Speaking while featuring on a radio program in Kano, the SSG said they demolished the roundabout because it carried a symbol that was not only against the norms and values of the state but also the teachings of Islam.
Bichi said apart from the demolished roundabout, another flyover in the state, which was constructed by the past administration was equally portraying a Christian cross. He said it would also suffer the same fate.
He said: “If you take a drone to take the picture from the top, you will see a cross. In Kano, you cannot do that. Not only that it is in Kano, but in the Government House roundabout. This is against our norms and values and also against the teachings of Islam.
“Another reason is that the roundabout is blocking people from seeing others from different directions. That is causing holdup and accidents along Government House road. This is not a wise decision.
“Secondly, the Hotoro interchange flyover is also carrying a big cross. We have to look at that too. This means if you are viewing Kano from the top using a drone, you will see two big crosses. That of the Government House and the flyover. We will not let that be.”
The SSG said they will continue until they recover all the looted land of the state, faulting the past administration’s decision to build business places in residential areas and other worship places.
“How can you build shops inside mosques and residential area? This is wrong and that is what we are trying to address. That is why we ask everyone from the places that are wrongly built to remove their belongings. We gave notice severally, even before swearing in,” he said.
Bichi stated that the Kano State government would not pay compensation for the building destroyed, urging the victims to claim their money from people that defrauded them.
