From Okwe Obi, Abuja
Following the legal battle over the authentic emir of Kano State, the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has warned the All Progressives Congress (APC) against using the judiciary to set the state ablaze.
Its National Publicity Secretary Ladipo Johnson, in a statement, yesterday, said the call by the state APC chairman, Abdullahi Abbas, for the arrest of Rabiu Kwankwaso, should be disregard as irresponsible.
Johnson said the APC should be concerned about the invasion of the military in Kano State in support of Ado Bayero, rather than call for the arrest of Kwankwaso.
According to him, the suffocating economy, terrorism and the daily blood-letting by criminal gangs across the country, should be major concerns of the Federal Government rather than dabbling into chieftaincy matters in Kano as a political weapon ahead 2027.
He said: “So the call by APC State Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, for the arrest of Kwankwaso was irresponsible without addressing his concern that the invasion of Kano with full military in support of Ado Bayero, a deposed emir, was a greater threat to peace in Kano.
“Also, Abba’s remark that Kwankwaso is leading a cult-like Kwankwasiyya is nothing new, he only re-echoed the same line of their Tribunal-lawyer and the similarity of thought is understandable.
“Of course, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is a statesman and patriot. Nigerians should realise that the unfolding development in Kano is rooted in politics which is a dangerous thing to cultivate amidst the numerous challenges confronting the Federal Government particularly on the issue of security of lives and property.
“The suffocating economy, terrorism and insurgency, kidnapping and the daily blood-letting by criminal gangs across the country, we believe, should be major concerns of the Federal Government rather than dabbling into chieftaincy matters in Kano as a political weapon ahead 2027.
“Now, the inference among the good people of Kano is that the situation is degenerating with the key objective to cause violence on a scale that would lead to the declaration of a state of emergency in Kano, thereby paving the way to take over Kano.
“In which case they want to achieve what they failed to achieve through the the ballot box and the Court.
“This is the game plan but it would be disastrous for any desperate power monger in this respect because the good people of Kano will stoutly defend their mandate freely given to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, who is doing them proud on account of his sterling stewardship.
“The truth is that losing Kano to the NNPP still rankles the new opposition in the state but the people’s will should be respected as a democratic enterprise.
“After celebrating 25 years of democracy, Nigerians expect that we won’t be contending with actions detrimental to peace and democratic ideals reminiscent of military dictatorship as we now see in Kano.
“The affront on the Constitution is at the heart of this matter and it is regrettable.
We can only hope that reason will prevail.”
