By Caleb Ishaya, Abuja
All Progressives Congress, APC, and Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, in the 2023 general elections, have been engrossed in a war of words as Kwankwaso accused the Federal Government of attempting to compromise security in Kano over perceived backing of deposed Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero.
APC in a press statement yesterday signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the party accused Kwankwaso a former governor of being insensitive to the APC-led administration of President Bola Tinubu , accusing him of attempting to create a new breed of Boko Haram terrorists and insurgents in northern part of Nigeria.
The release indicated that “Without any shred of evidence, he further alleged that certain individuals in the APC fold were goading the Federal Government with the goal of reclaiming Kano State through a declaration of a state of emergency. Kwankwaso’s wild and unhinged comments were made with reference to the lingering Emirate tussle in Kano.
“We consider Kwankwaso’s comments to be disappointing, highly incendiary and unconscionable for an individual of his standing. As a former Governor and Minister of Defence, we expect Kwankwaso to demonstrate high grade discretion, and a better grip of the severe social, political and security implications of unguarded utterances capable of fueling tension and strife in the good state of Kano”.
The release further said “It’s disturbing that Kwankwaso would so casually accuse the Federal Government of attempting to create a new breed of Boko Haram terrorists and insurgents, the same Boko Haram that has inflicted unspeakable and despicable acts of terror that have destroyed the lives of innocent citizens and our heroic men and women in uniform. It is grossly insensitive, unwarranted, and unacceptable for Kwankwaso to bandy such a serious allegation in such a cavalier manner.
“In his unhinged bid to lash out, Senator Kwankwaso ignored the Federal Government’s glaring neutrality on the emirate crisis in Kano from the very outset.
“As a government that thrives on respect for the rule of law and constitutional liberties, the Federal Government has confidence in our courts to fairly adjudicate the matter that is already before them, and has no need or reason to take side with any of parties in the emir-ship dispute”.
The APC pointed out that “Unguarded accusations like these coming from the highest level of leadership of the NNPP such as that made by the Deputy Governor of the Kano State, Comrade Abdulsalam Gwarzo, against the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, which he has since retracted and apologized for, are utterly unhelpful in the delicate context of Kano, and must be avoided.
“The leader of our Party, President Bola Tinubu is a pan-Nigeria bridge builder for peace, security and unity in our land, and will not, cannot, must not be directly or remotely tainted with flimsy and unjustifiable allegation of promoting violent crisis in any part of our dear country of which he is the President and Commander-in Chief-of the Armed Forces.
“As a statesman, Kwankwaso should busy himself with exploring and exhausting all avenues for political and peaceful solutions to the royal impasse rather than amplifying the drums of strife and upheaval.
“The situation in Kano State calls for calm as the nation awaits judicial or political resolution of all outstanding matters. The good people of Kano deserve to live in peace, unity and secured “.
It would be recalled that Kwankwaso while reacting to the ongoing emirship crisis following the return of His Royal Highness Muhammad Sanusi II Kano, yesterday accused federal security agencies of backing the deposed Emir, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero.
Speaking during the flag-off ceremony for the construction of 82 kilometres rural road networks at his hometown, Madibo, NNPP chieftain said the people of Kano would resist any attempt to undermine the constituted authority in the state.
In this vein, Kwankwaso said “We have mass followership because people believe in us, we are pro-people and the NNPP administration is determined to serve them anywhere …”.
“We will not fold our arms and watch enemies of the state destroy the peaceful co-existence of our dear state, as we shall do everything possible to support the governor to succeed. I am happy that he is not distracted and is focused on achieving his goals.
“There are people from Kano, enemies of the state, who also suffer mental illness and are the ones advising the Federal Government on how to take over Kano through a State of Emergency. This is the madness of the highest order that the good, peace-loving and committed people of Kano will resist”.
He, however, said that “We are open to dialogue, truce and reconciliation, but we will not accept intimidation and political harassment of any sort”.
AljazirahNigeria reports that Kano State House of Assembly recently passed a bill that returned Emir Sanusi II who deposed in 2019 by the then administration of ex-governor, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, currently National Chairman of APC.
The return of Emir Sanusi II has divided power brokers in the state, the Ganduje camp apparently backs deposed Alhaji Ado Bayero, while Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Yusuf and his NNPP’s leader Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso are for the Central Bank of Nigeria, ex-governor, now back on his throne.
The division created by the emirship crisis is also seen in the judiciary as the state high court has been giving orders in favour Emir Sanusi II, while federal high court orders have been in favour of the deposed Emir.
