Analysis: Demolition of Illegal Structure by Gombe State Urban Planning Development Authority is for security reasons, says the Executive Chairman
By Ben Ngwakwe, Gombe
There is a saying that law is not a respecter of person, social status or riches one has acquired but in our clime, it is different, even when the law clearly defines its positions and reasons thereof.
Therefore, because of the volatile nature of the society, every good intention of Government is politicized and interpreted negatively both by the general public, politicians and stakeholders.
This Phenomenon is a big factor facing the people now at this critical time when election campaigns will kick- off by September thereby heating the polity and politicising the system.
The case is not different in Gombe State, the Jewel in the Savannah as the campaign of misrepresentation seems to be rearing its ugly indications ahead of the proper kick starting of electioneering campaigns by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Last year precisely, 21st December, 2021, the Gombe State Urban Planning Development Authority (GOSUPDA) under the Executive Chairman of the Agency, Group Captain Peter Bilal (rtd) stated that one organisation by name Association for Good Governance in Gombe state obtained temporary approval to operate from them.
Incidentally, the law clearly says no political institution should be allowed to operate few meters within the vicinity of Presidential Lodge or Government House because of security reasons, this is applicable because of the sensitive nature of such institutions.
Be as it may, this Association for Good Governance that obtained temporary approval few months later, tactfully and diplomatically claimed that they have “gifted” the approved facility to Alhaji Jibrin Dan Barde who is the People’s Democratic Party, PDP Gubernatorial Candidate for his political campaign activities and office.
Now the issue of politics has cropped in because the Jibrin Dan Barde is contesting the governorship seat for 2023 Governorship election with the current Governor, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya who is the candidate of All Progressive Congress, APC in Gombe State.
Nobody is talking about security reasons where lives are involved but presenting a political dimension to the issue of contentious nature, without considering the security challenges in the Zone.
However, the Gombe State Urban Planning Development Authority, out of magnanimity issued the organization demolition notice regarding the dangers of operating a political institution near the Presidential Lodge of the Gombe State Government but the Association ignored the directive rather it went ahead to obtain a court injunction on the falsification of registered name while the GOSUPDA also went to court to counter their claims with a fresh court order restraining them from operation or face demolition.
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The Chairman in his statement claimed that Jibrin Dan Barde went ahead with the expired court order parading his legitimacy of running the office that is why today the law took its course by legally demolished the facility.
The Executive chairman, Group Captain Peter Bilal who is also, the Special Adviser to the Governor on the Gombe State Urban Planning, Development Control and Enforcement at a press briefing on Tuesday in Gombe said, “ they obtained temporary approval from GOSUPDA precisely on the 21st December,2021, with the name Association For Good Governance in Gombe State knowing fully well that the law clearly says no political institution will be allowed to operate within the vicinity of Presidential Lodge for security reasons but few months later they tactfully claimed to have gifted the temporary approved facility to Jibrin Dan Barde (PDP Gubernatorial aspirant) for his political campaign activities, we issued them quit or demolition notice but they ignored our directive by obtaining Court injunction on falsification of registered name and we went to court to counter their claims with a fresh court order restraining them from operation or face demolition but Jibrin Dan Barde went ahead with the expired court order parading his legitimacy of running the office that is why today, the law took its course by legally demolition the facility”.
On, 30th August, 2022, the Gombe State Government in their statement clarified their positions on the demolition of illegal structures with the view that the unauthorized structure contravenes laws of the Land and it was sited directly opposite Presidential Lodge which is capable of compromising security and noted that the action is not politically motivated but for the purpose of reclamation of distorted Master-plan.
In the Statement by the Director- General, Press Affairs, Government House, Gombe, Mallam Ismalia Uba Misilli stated that the Gombe State Urban Planning Development Authority (GOSUPDA) said the demolition of an illegal structure belonging to Gombe Good Leadership Association was carried out in the spirit of the ongoing reclamation of the development Masterplan and maintaining the prevailing peace and tranquility the state enjoyed.
He disclosed that the Executive Chairman of GOSUPDA, Group Captain, Peter Bilal Rtd told Journalists shortly after supervising the demolition exercise of an unauthorized structure which was clandestinely converted into a campaign office of the People’s Democratic Party, Governorship candidate in Gombe state, Mohammed Jibrin Barde.
He further said that the demolition exercise became necessary because the building in question not only contravened some sections of the Land Use Act Decree of 1978, Urban and Regional Planning and Development Board Law of 2001 and other development laws of the state but turned into busy political arena in a location directly opposite the Presidential Lodge within Government House vicinity and area clearly marked for residential and Government Offices and is capable of compromising security if allowed to operate as a political office.
He recalled that, “on the 29th of December, 2022, an organization, Gombe Good Leadership Association applied and secured an approval for the erection of a temporary structure for the conduct of its affairs but that activities at the site took a different turn when the State Urban Planning Development Authority noticed the construction of a permanent building in contravention to the earlier approval.
“The authority in several notices, had asked the Association to come forward to regularize their documents but they didn’t.
“it was later claimed that one Jibrin Barde, the Governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party was given the said property. However, if that happened as claimed, the new owner has the responsibility to effect a change of ownership before embarking on any construction.
“The right to own and enjoy possession of property has corresponding obligations that must be complied with”.
Group Captain Bilal said that the authority in the discharge of its statutory responsibilities as enshrined in section 27 of the Gombe state Urban Planning and development 2011 approached the construction site and served it with stop and demolition notices.”
He said despite a partial demolition of the structure to allow owners of the building do a controlled demolition, illegal construction work continued through the erection of billboards belonging to the PDP Gubernatorial candidate in the state which was an indication that the site has been converted to a party office.
“The Location of the Gombe Good Leadership Association’s office which was clandestinely converted to the PDP Gubernatorial Candidate State Campaign Office does not only violates the town planning laws of the state but seats directly opposite the presidential Lodge and other Government establishments and security wise such is not permitted.”
The Executive Chairman of GOSUPDA maintained that the administration of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya is committed towards the entrenchment of law and order in the state and will not fold its hands and watch the actions of individuals or groups that are capable of disturbing the peace of the state. He explained that GOSUPDA’s work and operations are not based on directive from any political party or figure, but in line with the provisions of its established laws.
Meanwhile, the PDP Governorship candidate, Alhaji Jibrin Dan Barde on Tuesday condemned the destruction of the campaign office and promised to continue to take legal means to address what he described as politically-motivated action from the state Government.
He said “our campaign office has been demolished by the Gombe state Government in spite of an order of interim injunction prohibiting the state government from demolishing or attempting to demolish the building.
“sometimes in December 2021 we planned to complete the construction of the main reception office and we went to the state development Board to validate an already existing approved building plan alongside our billboard which was approved sometime in 2018”.
Also, Gombe resident, Abdullahi Hussaini warned politicians to toll the path of peace, stressing that violence would not augur well for anyone.
According to him, “Politicians should come to the table and understand where the gap is coming from, Politics is not a do or die affair. I want to call on youths to stay off political thuggery and allow peace reign, they should be engaged where necessary.”
Reacting on the demolition by Some of PDP supporters in the state said, “the recent demolishing of the campaign office of the PDP Gubernatorial candidate in Gombe by Governor Inuwa Yahaya of APC is a clear indication of anarchy and a sign that Governor Yahaya will be defeated in 2023.
“The truth is, since the creation of Gombe State in 1996, no Governor has divided the people of the state along tribal and religious lines like Governor Inuwa of APC. He has successfully destroyed the fragile unity and harmony among the two major religions and tribes in the state.
” Therefore, the anarchy of Inuwa and APC must be resisted by all well-meaning voters”, “Gombe state Government of APC has demolished the office of Gombe State Governorship aspirant in PDP this Tuesday morning”. According to MJ Dan Barde 11 network mobilisation in Gombe state in their platforms said, “Silence is not fear, it is running from words, and this demolishing the office of our contestant, by the grace of God is a sign of victory. With or without office, we are PDP members”.
Periscope Nigeria gathered that these are some of the statements of the PDP members over the demolition by the authority but incidentally, the security consideration which was the top most factor was ignored by the political gladiators in state. Sadly, similar fate befell the Gombe Children and High School, Gombe, sometimes ago, a College that was one of the oldest private schools in Gombe state then,
No doubt, the structures of the College was touched by the State Government based on the good intentions of not compromising security, although with a strict warning not to erected storey- building close to it but heavens did not fall but the demolition of the structure belonging to one Association which was allegedly converted to PDP office, mouths have wax as being politically motivated.
Investigations revealed that Gombe Children and High School was in existence as far as 1982 when Gombe was still under the defunct Bauchi State while the present Government House that shared boundaries with the College, was Gombe Local Government Lodge then before the state was created in 1996 and the Government wanted the expansion of its facilities to ensure that the present modern Government House wears an International outlook that house the Chief Executive of the State hence the college was affected then.
