The last is yet to be heard of the crisis rocking the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kebbi State, following moves by the state government to demolish the House of a former governorship aspirant Salihu Nataro.

Nataro, in a chat with reporters in Abuja, alleged that the plan to demolish his family house in Jega was because he called on Governor Mohammed Idris to concentrate on priority projects that would impact directly the lives of Kebbi people.

Stressing that the plan to demolish his family house in Jega Local Government Area was politically motivated, he called on Idris to address the state on the speculations regarding the disagreements with the state’s Accountant General over VAT disbursement.

He said the Kebbi State Governor decided to pull down the historic Nataro compound to punish him for criticising the government for undertaking bogus prestige projects instead of socially impactful programmes that could lift the people out of economic destitution.

Nevertheless, he faulted the story making the rounds that he would defect to the opposition social democratic party (SDP).

“I know this is political vendetta, because before some people were going about telling the governor that Nataro would run again for the governorship,” he said. “Then I had an interview with journalists where I urged the governor to reassess his governance strategies and focus on projects that will help improve the economy.

“This house that the government wants to demolish was inherited from my very philanthropic father. Was marked for Demolition by the Governor of Kebbi State. The house in question belongs to the people of Jega because it was put up by the first ruler of Jega – Sarkin Marina.

However, the Kebbi State Government has said that it was embarking on the road expansion as part of its infrastructure rehabilitation programme, pointing out that the Ministry of Works in the state has been reaching out to owners of properties to be affected.

In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ahmed Idris, the government maintained that the road dualisation project conforms with engineering and design specifications.

“The expansion will entail drainage, embarkments, including stone-pitching, access culverts,” the statement added, pointing out that the governor, Dr. Nasir Idris is determined to ensure the best for Kebbi and does not pander to base sentiments,” he said. (The Guardian)