Fear and uncertainty grip Kano as the government under Abba Kabir Yusuf gears up to prosecute the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and former Governor of the State, Dr Umar Abdullahi Ganduje, on charges of financial misappropriation.
Reports suggest some residents are considering leaving their homes to avoid potential violence from political thugs.
The ruling New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP, and the state government have brought charges against Ganduje, his wife, and six others at the Kano State High Court.
This follows the NNPP-led administration’s recent actions, including launching a commission of inquiry into Ganduje’s tenure and pursuing litigation for alleged abuse of office.
Public opinion on the impending legal battle has become a focal point of political discussions on local radio and social media, tinged with caution and threats.
Many residents fear that the situation could escalate into a security crisis given the deep-seated animosity between the opposing factions.
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, after all, the religion is against probe.”
Tanimu Auwalu from Rijiyallemo urged Abba Kabir Yusuf to take a decisive stance and focus on governance in order to validate his mandate.’
Rijiyallemo explained that “the government should preoccupy itself with the execution of blueprints instead of the needless war on political opponents.”
READ ALSO: Kano High Court Fixes Date for Ganduje, Wife, Son’s Arraignment Over Multimillion-Dollar Fraud
Hajiya Ayi Isa Dosa made an appeal to the governor, urging him to remain focused and avoid any distractions, emphasizing that time is of the essence.
She stressed that “voters will be swayed by the level of infrastructure on ground than what Ganduje has done wrong.”
In a radio interview segment airing in Kano, Garba Kore, a prominent figure within the APC, cautioned that the governor’s actions lacked sincerity.
Kore leveled accusations against the governor, alleging a “proxy war” against a respected former governor. Emphasizing equity and fairness, Kore urged an extension of the Dr. Ganduje probe to cover his tenure as Kwankwaso’s deputy.
Likewise, Alhaji Musa Iliyasu Kwankwaso, another APC figure, cautioned Governor Yusuf, advising against throwing stones while living in a glass house, lest one gets hit.
The Kano APC, represented by Chairman Abdullahi Abbas, asserted its commitment to lawfulness but denounced witch-hunts, political victimization, and persecution.
In response to the heated exchanges, the Kano police assured the public of safety. Commissioner Ussaini Gumel clarified that the police had not prepared charges against the former governor and deferred to the state government and Attorney General for further clarification. Nevertheless, he affirmed the city’s safety for its residents.
(Daily Post)
