One year after post-election violence – Kaduna, Kano, others pick up pieces

Many politicians, mostly members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had their houses, offices or other properties destroyed. Even the presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) General Muhammmadu Buhari had the windscreen of his vehicles smashed by irate youths along Zaria-Kaduna road.   One year after, the properties that were torched or […]

Many politicians, mostly members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had their houses, offices or other properties destroyed. Even the presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) General Muhammmadu Buhari had the windscreen of his vehicles smashed by irate youths along Zaria-Kaduna road.

 

One year after, the properties that were torched or destroyed during the violence in Kaduna metropolis and Zaria are in different conditions. While the owners of some of the properties have since renovated them, others are still wearing the effects of the violence.

However, the Tudun Wada, Zaria residence of the Vice President, Muhammad Namadi Sambo, has not received any attention after it was razed by the post election rioters. Some sources confided in Weekly Trust that the house of the VP was left in that condition in order to continue to be a proof on what actually happened during the post election riot “and in case, if the government decides to pay compensation, it would be easy to appreciate the damage done to the house.”

In the same vein, the house of the VP’s sister in Tudun Jukun, Zaria, which was also razed and demolished by protesters, did not witness any repairs. The house remains in bad shape, one year after. A reliable source also confirmed to Weekly Trust that the VP’s sister has recently lodged a complaint with the police wanting to know why those suspected to be behind her predicament are allowed to be moving freely. The house, according to our investigation, is also left in its present condition to also serve as a proof “in the event of further investigation or payment of compensation.”

However, the house of the former chairman of Ikara local government area of Kaduna State in the Gaskiya layout Zaria, now the state commissioner for commerce, has since been renovated and is wearing a different look making it one of the best houses in the area. It was not clear whether Alhaji Gambo Lawal has received any compensation from the government.

In Kaduna metropolis, the story is not much different from that of Zaria. The house of former SSA to the Vice President on ICT, Dr Baba J. Adamu, located at Ungwar Kaji, close to the Trade Fair Annex Complex, was burnt.

Weekly Trust visited the Kaduna residence of the Emir of Zazzau in Unguwar Sarki, which is one of the properties razed during the post election riot. Renovation work on the house has reached advanced stage. It was also observed that armed soldiers now guard the house. Weekly Trust’s photographer, however, managed to get a shot of the house after attempts by the Army personnel to stop him. As at the time of filing this report, it is not clear who is footing the bills of the repairs.

The Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission’s (SIECOM) office was also burnt down during the post election riot. The office is however still wearing the effects of the riot as no repairs were carried out on the office. The state electoral commission is at now using a temporary site for its operations. Weekly Trust cannot ascertain why the electoral office is left to its fate.

Another building in Kaduna metropolis that was torched during the riot was the Peoples Democratic Party’s office in Unguwan Sarki. The building has been since renovated and party activities are now going on in the office.

The house of the former Kaduna north local government chairman, Shehu Ahmad Giant, was also on target during the riot. The house located behind the Sultan Bello Mosque is, however, wearing a new look. It has been fully rehabilitated by the owner; a reliable source informed Weekly Trust.

For Hajiya Halima Labo, now a commissioner in the Yakowa government, who house was burned in Tudun Wada, Kaduna South, she has since relocated to the GRA.

Generally, in Kaduna metropolis and Zaria, which recorded the highest damages to properties during the post election riot, aside some towns of southern Kaduna, the properties torched or destroyed by the rioters are experiencing mixed blessing. While some owners have decided to fully rehabilitate their properties, others are still the way they were after the riot; perhaps the owners are waiting for compensation.

In Kano State, the house of former Speaker Ghali Umar Na’abba; the house of former ANPP presidential candidate Alhaji Bashir Tofa; the residence of the Galadima of Kano, and others were set afire. The Emir of Kano’s Dorayi palace was attacked and burnt.

In Bauchi State, Weekly Trust found that most of the victims whose houses or campaign offices were destroyed during the violence that greeted last year’s presidential election were yet to rebuild their structures.

The North East Zonal Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party Alhaji Sani Al’amin told Weekly Trust in Bauchi that “I am also a victim; my car was destroyed. Governor Isa Yuguda’s campaign office was destroyed; FCT minister’s building at Kofar Idi was vandalised; Bauchi State PDP Chairman house in Katagum and houses of the Secretary to the Bauchi State Government and that of his father and were destroyed. INEC offices and Police stations in Alkaleri, Giade, Dambam, Bauchi and Jama’are were also affected.”

Al’amin said they did not get any assistance from the Federal Government but that their members who were the ones affected took the matter as destined. He called on both Federal and state governments to come to the aid of the victims.

A PDP chieftain whose house was also vandalized said he is yet to rebuild his house and he is not expecting anything serious from the Federal Government, “because this is the government that did not rebuild INEC offices and police stations. Even the wealthy individuals affected did not rebuild their destroyed places, how can they assist an individual?”

In Gombe, an attempt to burn down the house of the former state governor, Danjuma Goje was foiled but the house of the then Gombe State PDP chairman was not that lucky.