By Longtong Yakubu, Kano
The newly sworn-in governor of Kano state, Abba Kabiru Yusuf, has expressed dismay over the absence of outgone Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje to personally hand over power to him.
“I’m very surprised at the departure from the established democratic traditions. The outgoing governor is supposed to be around,” Abba said in his inaugural speech.
“I see no reason whatsoever why former Governor Ganduje could not spare his time to hand over, to witness this historic event.
Mr. Yusuf received the handover report from Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Usman Alhaji, who represented the former Governor at the Government House, Kano.
The governor said he is surprised because it has never been in the state’s transition process since 1999 to 2015 for outgoing governors not to witness the transition event.
Yusuf said his team received a letter through the SSG informing them that the outgoing governor wanted to hand over by 9.00 pm on Sunday, but they declined.
“If I had come here by 9. pm, it would have been an illegality against the federal constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria.
“We insisted it has to be today as the tradition dictated and we were surprised again that the former governor had handed over to his SSG – that has never happened in Kano state,” he stressed.
The new governor said his team received a scanty handover report which they will study and take action where necessary.
Gov. Yusuf expressed dismay over the high debt profile of N241.7 billion left by Ganduje, stressing that Kano state has a poor internally generated revenue base.
“The internally generated revenue is nothing to write home about. I’m sorry I just have to express that so that the good people of the state will understand our predicaments.
“Why the use of consultants? So many consultants, as draining conduits of the resources of the people of the state.
“We are going to look at it. We are going to look at it, I am not satisfied,” he stated.