The Elders in Kano State have pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene and stop Governor Abdullahi Ganduje’s move to borrow N300 billion from China for a light rail project in Kano State.
The Kano State Elders Forum made the appeal in a petition to Buhari, where they claimed that the move by the governor would plunge the state into unnecessary indebtedness.
They fear that Ganduje would use the money as a white elephant project and a liability several generations may find difficult to bear, the forum called on Buhari and other concerned authorities to plead with Ganduje to drop the loan move.
Meanwhile, even as the elders forum and others were opposed to the project and want it stopped, there some people in the state who are in support of it.
Among them was a group of youths under the umbrella of Collation of Kano State Students, Youth Parliament and Youth Traders Association, who on Monday staged a protest in support of the loan and the light rail project it is said to be meant for.
In a letter, the group’s leader, Rabiu Ibrahim signed, he applauded Ganduje whom he said was repositioning the state.
“With due respect and honour, we acknowledge your projects for the development of Kano State especially the light train project, Kano ultra modern market located at old Daula Hotel and street beautification with modern bridges such as Alhassan Dantata Bridge, Dengi underpass, Kofor mata Bridge, Katsina Road underpass.
“The main reason for our gathering is to condemn those who call themselves Kano elders while they have not contributed anything to the development of Kano State,” the group’s letter read in part.