The leaders of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), led by Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, have raised concerns about alleged intentions by the government under Governor Nasir El-Rufai to demolish 48 IMN-owned structures across different areas of Kaduna State.
Speaking to reporters in Kaduna, one of the Movement’s leaders, Engineer Yunusa Lawal, accompanied by fellow leaders, denounced the planned demolitions as not only illegal but also driven by vindictiveness. The Kaduna State government’s reasoning behind the demolitions, according to Lawal, solely rests on the ban imposed on IMN as a group.
While the Islamic Movement has not received any official notification of the impending demolitions from the Kaduna State Government or its agencies, they came across a leaked memo revealing the Director-General of the Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Authority (KASUPDA), Ismail Umaru-Dikko, seeking Governor El-Rufai’s approval to proceed with the demolitions.
Yunusa Lawal noted that: “We are constrained by the memo to address you arising from the premeditated attempt/approval given to carry out the demolition exercise.
“It is baffling to note the manner and timing of the proposed exercise! Could it be part of Mr. Dikko’s severance package?! The DG, KASUPDA and his cohorts should know that their intention to destroy people’s properties/structures is evil and could be consequential sooner or later!
“It is noticed from the memo, 48 structures belonging to the Islamic movement is earmarked for demolition across the state; 1,860 security personnel will be involved and N20,253,500 will be the cost of the demolition exercise. The sinister motive is to particularly clamp down on the Islamic movement once again.
Yunusa emphasized that “To cover up the deception for the exercise, 7 other locations were earmarked, but NONE of those locations will cost up to N2,500,000 and NONE will require above 180 security personnel to execute! The total cost approved for the exercise is N29,523,500 and the total security personnel required is 2,510.
“It is, therefore, disheartening to observe that the main purpose of this demolition exercise it to again subjugate and oppress members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria. We view this as an act of provocation and suppression that tantamount to the infringement of our fundamenta human rights as citizens and indigenes of Kaduna State.
“From the memo, the acronym ‘IM’ is alien to the Islamic Movement under the leadership of Allamah, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakkaky (H) and members of the movement have their various hard earned properties/structures as citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“We are aware, throughout the 8 year tenureship of El-Rufai’s stewardship; he has had NO regard for the rule of law! He has been a loose cannon trampling over whoever he does not likel! He has been law into himself since becoming Governor.
“Furthermore, we would like to seize this opportunity to call on the Government to release the International passport of our leader, Sayid, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky (H) and that of his wife, Malama Zeenatudeen Ibrahim, without further delay to enable them seek medical treatment abroad. We also demand for the release of hundreds of our members that are in detention centres across the country.” Yunusa concluded.
