House demolition: Ex-guber candidate, Nataro accuses Gov Idris of political vendetta
A former governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Kebbi State, Mallam Salihu Nataro, has accused Governor Nasir Idris of political vendetta, alleging that the planned demolition of his family house in Jega Local Government Area is politically motivated.
Nataro said the move was a reaction to rumours linking him to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and his public criticism of the government’s focus on “prestige projects” rather than initiatives with direct economic impact.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja over the weekend, he claimed the demolition threat followed reports that he and other APC chieftains, including former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), were considering defection to the SDP.
Although the defection rumours remain speculative, the governor has been acting on unverified information, treating political rivals as enemies,” Nataro said.
He alleged that his family home, which is a historic compound built by the early rulers of Jega and inherited from his father, had been marked for demolition without proper justification.
“This house belongs to the people of Jega. It was built by the ruling lineage of Ali Jangwarzo, who played a key role in the historical migration of Usman Danfodio to Sokoto,” he stated.
Nataro maintained that his criticisms of the government were based on the need for developmental focus, especially in human capital and infrastructure that directly benefit the people.
He also questioned the transparency of the proposed road expansion project, claiming it was not captured in the 2025 budget and lacked key planning elements such as environmental impact assessments and compensation procedures.
“If compensation is to be paid, when were the assessments done, and by whom? No one has seen the designs or the survey reports,” he added.
The state government explained that the road expansion project is part of a larger infrastructure rehabilitation plan and is being executed in line with established engineering standards.
In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ahmed Idris, the government said the Ministry of Works had been engaging affected property owners and that the project would include drainage, embankments, and culverts.
“The governor is committed to development and will not act out of political malice,” the statement said.
