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…Says Disputed Property Ownership Is a Private Matter, Not Government Action
By: Abdullahi Inuwa
The Kebbi State Government has dismissed allegations by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) linking it to the demolition of a property around Azbir Hotel in Birnin Kebbi, describing the claims as false, misleading and politically motivated.
The government has consequently challenged the opposition party to retract its allegations and tender a public apology over what it considers an attempt to misrepresent the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Alhaji Yakubu Ahmed-BK, made the government’s position known during a press briefing in Birnin Kebbi on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, attended by media aides to Governor Nasir Idris.
Ahmed-BK accused the ADC of allegedly exploiting the incident to spread misinformation and create unnecessary controversy, particularly as political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He explained that contrary to claims circulating on social media, the incident arose from a private land ownership dispute involving individuals, rather than an action initiated or authorised by the Kebbi State Government.
According to the commissioner, documentary evidence presented by businessman Alhaji Umaru Mohammed Gulumbe, who claims ownership of the disputed property, supports the position that the matter is a civil dispute between private parties.
He disclosed that one of the documents presented by Gulumbe was a Certificate of Occupancy bearing the signature of former Kebbi State Governor, Adamu Aliero.
The commissioner further revealed that Gulumbe had formally reported the alleged trespass to the police and submitted a petition to the Ministry of Lands and Housing, prompting the constitution of committees to investigate the competing ownership claims.
He said the committees examined the matter and confirmed ownership of the disputed plot in favour of Gulumbe.
Ahmed-BK categorically denied any involvement of the state government in the demolition, insisting that the administration of Governor Nasir Idris neither initiated nor participated in the action.
He described attempts to connect the government with the incident as misleading, arguing that the controversy had been wrongly presented to the public as a government-sponsored demolition targeting an opposition-owned property.
The commissioner also expressed concern that despite what he described as the emergence of facts clarifying the circumstances surrounding the dispute, the ADC had yet to publicly withdraw its allegations or apologise to the state government.
He maintained that political disagreements should not provide grounds for spreading unsubstantiated claims or distorting facts, stressing that disputes involving land ownership should be addressed through established legal and administrative channels.
The government reiterated its commitment to lawful procedures and urged political parties and their supporters to exercise restraint, verify information and avoid statements capable of misleading the public or inflaming political tensions.
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