KANO, Nigeria — The celebration of Abba Kabir’s inauguration as the new Governor of Kano State took a dangerous turn on Monday, May 29, 2023, when the stage at the Sani Abacha Stadium collapsed moments after the ceremony.
The Governor, his Deputy, and the acting Chief Judge were all on the podium when the incident occurred.
Some youths, who were seen climbing on the rooftop of the podium, are believed to have caused the collapse.
Despite the sudden incident, the governor and his deputy were confirmed to be safe. The condition of other attendees and officials present at the scene remains unclear.
The event marked a significant political transition in the North-West state as Kabir, an ally of New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP, presidential candidate Rabiu Kwankwaso, succeeded Abdullahi Ganduje of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
The incident underscores the often perilous state of infrastructure in the region and has raised questions about the oversight of such high-profile events.
The new Governor’s administration is expected to launch an inquiry into the circumstances leading to the podium’s collapse to prevent any similar occurrences in the future.
