Kaduna Govt Denies Sealing Arewa House Ahead Of Atiku’s Town Hall Meeting

The Kaduna State Government has denied allegations that it sealed the popular Arewa House in Kaduna ahead of a town hall meeting scheduled for Wednesday by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, describing the claim as “totally untrue” and a deliberate attempt to tarnish the image of Governor Uba Sani.

The state Commissioner for Information and Culture, Alhaji Ahmed Maiyaki, said the government had no involvement in the alleged sealing of the facility, insisting that Arewa House was not a state-owned property.

Earlier former Vice President and Presidential Candidate of the African Dem ocratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has condemned the alleged sealing of Arewa House in Kaduna, the proposed venue for his consultation with Northern stakeholders on Thursday.

Maiyaki, reacting to Atiku’s claims, said the property belonged to the Federal Government and was owned by Ahmadu Bello University, stressing that the state government had no business with the former vice president’s rally or any event being planned there.

“It is not true. We do not own Arewa House.”

“It is the property of the Federal Government, owned by Ahmadu Bello University,” he said.

The commissioner accused those behind the allegation of seeking a scapegoat for the challenges surrounding the planned meeting, insisting that the government would not be intimidated by what he described as unverifiable and fabricated claims.

“We cannot be harassed into such claims that are unverifiable and untrue.”

“It is totally untrue. We have no business with their rally.”

“We have no business with their events. We have no hand in whatever they are planning,” Maiyaki insisted.

He maintained that Kaduna State remained open to opposition political activities, provided such events complied with the rules governing the use of state-owned facilities.

To him, the government has no objection to any political party holding its activities in state-owned properties, provided the established procedures are followed.

Maiyaki further described the allegation as a deliberate attempt to damage the reputation of Governor Uba Sani, whom he said had built a longstanding record of democratic and civil society advocacy.

“It is a deliberate act of tarnishing the image of a governor who is a democrat and has built a reputation over decades of civil society and pro-democracy campaigns.”

“He cannot be the same person today muscling the opposition.”

“If they are looking for a scapegoat, they should look elsewhere. But in Kaduna, we cannot be harassed into such fabricated lies,” Maiyaki added.

Earlier, Atiku alleged the action was part of a troubling pattern of obstruction against his campaign by the APC-led government.

In a statement signed by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication, ADC Presidential Campaign Council, the party also disclosed that Justice Peter Lifu has finally released the duly authenticated copy of his judgment, on the final day of the seven-day period prescribed by the Constitution.

The party said releasing a consequential judgment on the last permitted day leaves the ADC with precious little time to study it and prepare its next legal steps.

Section 294(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provides:

“Every court established under this Constitution shall deliver its decision in writing not later than ninety days after the conclusion of evidence and final addresses and furnish all parties to the cause or matter determined with duly authenticated copies of the decision within seven days of the delivery thereof.”

“The ADC will study the judgment and pursue every lawful remedy available. But the timing of the release raises serious concern, especially as our party continues to face actions that obstruct its campaign and political consultations,” the statement said.

On the sealing of Arewa House, the ADC said the historic building is part of the shared heritage of the diverse peoples of Northern Nigeria, and sealing it to prevent a political consultation is an affront to their culture and dignity.

“In Kaduna, the APC-led government has sealed the historic Arewa House, the proposed venue for our presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar’s consultation with Northern stakeholders on Thursday. Arewa House is part of the shared heritage of the diverse peoples of Northern Nigeria. Sealing it to prevent a political consultation is an affront to their culture and dignity,” it said.

Atiku said: “My campaign team had proposed the Arewa House as the venue for our consultation with stakeholders on Thursday and, today, the APC government decided to seal the building.”

“This is a troubling pattern. During our campaign flag-off in Sokoto, the APC government also tried to frustrate us. The people stood firm, and their will prevailed. Now, as Atiku prepares to consult stakeholders at Arewa House, the venue has been sealed,” the statement added.

The party said it holds President Bola Tinubu and the APC politically responsible for the pattern of obstruction.

“We hold President Bola Tinubu and the APC politically responsible for this pattern of obstruction. An outgoing president and a ruling party should respect democratic competition, not use public authority to impede the opposition, restrict political consultation or weaken Nigerians’ right to choose,” it said.

“We will not be intimidated. We thank Nigerians across the country for their massive support, solidarity and encouragement. Your resolve strengthens ours. The ADC will continue its consultations, pursue its legal rights and take its message of a new direction to the people,” it added.