adminHausa traditional rulers have on Saturday voiced their worries over the escalating tension in Kano State following the governorship election.
The leaders under the aegis Southwest Hausa Traditional Rulers Association of Nigeria while cautioning political leaders not to ignite Nigeria over the governorship election described the development as “frightening.”
Recall that Kano state is tense in anticipation of the Supreme Court’s decision regarding the disputed election.
The two major political parties in the state, the New Nigerian Peoples Party and the All Progressives Congress, last week signed another peace accord to maintain decorum ahead of the last leg of the legal battle challenging Governor Abba Yusuf’s election.
Last month, the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja upheld the sack of Governor Yusuf, of the NNPP, and declared Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, the governorship candidate of the APC as the duly elected governor of the state.
In a unanimous judgment of a three-member panel delivered by Justice Moore Adumein, the appellate court dismissed the appeal filed by the Kano Governor against the judgment of the State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which declared Gawuna, as the winner of the state’s governorship election held on March 18.
Stating their position the traditional ruler, Sarki of Sagamu, Alhaji Inuwa Garba, called on Nigerian leaders to “use their knowledge and political wisdom in dealing with the Kano problem so as to avoid violence and mayhem.”
He asserts that Kano’s centrality and political influence in the North and Nigeria, the state’s relative economic dominance in the Northern Region and throughout Nigeria, the multiethnic makeup of Kano residents, particularly the South West population, who are primarily traders and labourers, and the people’s general social influence and political awareness could all contribute to the spread of any crisis from Kano throughout the country.
Garba said “As elders and traditional leaders, we are particularly worried that our South- West hardworking people might be caught up in the centre of the impasse since they are in possession of various assets like houses, shops and other businesses with immense investment.
“As a matter of fact, we are appealing to our esteemed leaders to use their knowledge and political wisdom in dealing with the Kano problem so as to avoid violence and mayhem.
“Not only that, the Kano problem might easily spread to other parts of the country as it happened during the ill-fated President Shagari era where the problem emanates from truncating democracy in the South-West.
“As such, with due regard to saving the people, their lives and property, we hope the Elders and Leaders will apply the wisdom to save the situation.”
He said the leaders were out to ensure peace and harmony reign in the country.
