The political temperature in Kano has risen to a disturbing degree following discordant tunes by supporters of the ruling NNPP and those of the APC over plans to arraign the immediate past governor of the state, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, and his immediate family.
The city has been polarised along two political divides sequel to the formal summon extended to the former two-term governor, his wife and 6 others by a Kano State High Court last Tuesday over allegations of financial impropriety while in office.
The NNPP-led administration in the state had launched a political assault on two major grounds: a commission of inquiry to probe Ganduje’s eight years tenure and litigation over alleged abuse of office.
Support for or against the impending litigation in the volatile city has dominated political discourse on local Radio stations and social media amid caution and threat.
The heat generated by the proposed court action appeared to have taken the shine off the ongoing Salah celebrations in the city, as discussion on the arraignment dominates space over the safety of the people of the ancient city.
Palpable fear that engulfed the city was further reinforced by the Governor, Abba Kabir, who had vowed to prosecute his predecessor over alleged abuse of office.
Many residents, who spoke about the current development, expressed apprehension that the war may snowball into a security breach against the backdrop of deep-seated animosity between the feuding parties.
Yakubu Isa, a resident of Hotoro, said: “I think the timing and every other time isn’t the best to instigate a political war against one another, afterall, the religion is against probe.”
Tanimu Auwalu of Rijiyar Lemo, on his part, advised Governor Abba Yusuf to draw a line and face governance to justify his mandate.
Lemo explained that “the government should preoccupy itself with execution of blueprints instead of declaring a needless war on political opponents.”
Another resident of the city, Hajiya Ayi Isa Dosa, appealed to Governor Yusuf to resist all forms of distraction “because time is not on your side. Voters will be swayed by the level of infrastructure on ground than what Ganduje has done wrong.”
On his part, Garba Kore, a stalwart of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in a radio interview that is being serialised in Kano, warned that the Governor’s action isn’t in good faith.
Kore accused the Governor of “fighting a proxy war against a respected former governor,” stressing that “in the interest of equity and fairness, let them extend Dr. Ganduje’s probe to cover his tenure as Kwankwaso’s deputy.”
Similarly, another Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Musa Iliyasu Kwankwaso, warned: “Let it be known to Governor Yusuf that who lives in a glass house shouldn’t throw stones, because the stone may eventually hit him as well.”
The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Kano Chapter, Prince Abdullahi Abbas, in his reaction to the ensuing face-off, warned that “the party will continue to be law-abiding, it will not, however, condone witch-hunt, political victimisation and persecution.”
Reacting to the situation, the Kano State Police said “the city is safe, and we will continue to make it safe for dwellers.”
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Usaini Gumel, in a telephone chat, explained that the “police didn’t prepare charges against the former governor. In other words, we are out of it.”
“The State Government should speak on it, and I think the Attorney General is in good stead to speak. However, the city is safe for the citizens,” Gumel added.
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