● Kefas Akase
In a move stirring political tension and speculation, the Kaduna State Government has revoked housing allocations made on public school lands – allocations widely believed to have been approved during the administration of former governor Nasir El-Rufai.
Although the revocation was officially approved last year, it only recently came to light, reigniting questions over the political motivations behind it. “The revocation order has been conveyed to all allottees, while steps are being taken to refund amounts paid in respect of the sold houses as directed by His Excellency, the Governor of Kaduna State,” the government confirmed.
The timing of the revocation is particularly notable given El-Rufai’s recent defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) – a dramatic shift that has unsettled the political landscape in Kaduna. Critics and observers alike are questioning whether this bold policy decision is grounded in public interest or rooted in political vendetta.
Governor Uba Sani, however, insists the decision is part of a broader push to reclaim educational spaces and prioritize learning. “Effective learning can best take place in a conducive atmosphere without distractions and sundry interferences,” he said, underscoring his administration’s emphasis on education as a key pillar of human capital development.
Sani has repeatedly argued that education is “not just a leveler but also a ladder for upward mobility which can transform lives and improve livelihoods.” Since taking office, he has taken visible steps to bolster educational infrastructure across the state. One of his first decisions in office was a significant cut in tuition fees for state-owned tertiary institutions, announced on August 21, 2023.
His administration has since constructed over 2,336 new classrooms, renovated 707 more, and supplied thousands of furniture units for both teachers and students. “Indeed, the Sani-led administration has built over 2,336 new classrooms, renovated more than 707 others and provided 3,704 and 30,742 furniture, for teachers and pupils,” the statement noted.
In addition to this, the government has improved water and sanitation facilities, installing 918 cubicle toilets and drilling 51 boreholes in schools across all local government areas.
Yet, despite these achievements, the shadow of politics looms large. Was this revocation a long-overdue correction of potentially improper land use, or a strategic swipe at a former ally-turned-rival?
As the state continues to watch closely, the move could either burnish Sani’s reformist credentials- or fuel claims of political score-settling in Kaduna’s ever-volatile political arena. GMTNewsng
