By Daniel Maduka
Until the very last minute before Nigeria’s Apex Court pronounced its judgement on the legal tussle for the Kano State seat of power on Friday January 12,2024, not a few political plaudits and observers had envisaged a State that will be engulfed in a monumental conflagration, regardless of the side the pendulum of the Court’s ruling would swing.
Yet, it was not a perception anchored on nothingness, but on the trajectories of a political enclaved widely acknowledged for its near zero tolerance for manipulative political tendencies over the years.
However, from the point of the pronouncement of the ruling in favour of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to his triumphant return to the anxient commercial city on Sunday, January 14, Kano continued to cut an image of not only a State at peace with itself, but classical case study in political tolerance, hence rendering nugetary all permutations to the contrary.
The Source News magazine findings have revealed that Dr Nasiru Gawuna, the rival All Progressive Congress, APC’s speech in Abuja, immediately after the Supreme Court ruling was a soothing balm, as his message accepting defeat and premising same on the Will of God was said to have resonated with majority of APC followers in the state.
According to a chieftain of APC in the State, Gawuna’s speech and congratulatory massage to Governor Yusuf and the rival NNPP, apart from serving to sooth frayed nerves was believed to have prompted many outside the NNPP family to join in the rousing welcome party for the Governor.
The Source News Magazine reports that the reception/ victory rally which commenced from neighbouring Kaduna State, saw thousands of enthusiastic crowd line up from the Chiromawa / Karna Dangora axis of the boundary between Kaduna and Kano waiting all day to welcome back Governor Yusuf.
“We normally believe that power belongs to God.And He gives same to any one He chooses.
“The APC as a Party and our amiable flagbear Dr Gawuna have fought a good battle.
It is time to move on. But it is our prayer that the APC as a party will find a way to continue to tap from the potentials and sterling leadership qualities of Dr Gawuna”, Hon Seyi Olorusogun a chieftain of the party in kano told The Source.
A peaceful and calm Kano post Supreme court ruling, The Source News Magazine gathered, has continued to rattle Security Agencies, which had, in the wake of the tensions, anxiety and palpable apprehension that trailed both the tribunal and Appeal court rulings, embarked on series of proactive measures to secure the State.
The State Police Command had, on December 22 2023, in the aftermath of Political missiles being hauled from all the political camps , declared no fewer than 72 alleged notorious thugs operating in some parts of the Kano Metropolis wanted.
According to the State Commissioner of Police, Mohammad Hussaini Gumel, the 72 wanted thugs are linked with the alleged criminal activities of one notorious bandit – Bahago Afah, whose primary aims are the instigation of crises as well as capitalizing on the situation to disposes innocent people of their valuables. He noted that by their alleged criminal activities, they have proved to be enemies of the society” and we hereby declare them enemies”
The proactive security measures also led to the ringing of tight survailence on some politically exposed persons and perceived trouble makers in all the political camps.
The huge security presence climaxed on Thursday January 11 after a joint meeting of all the Heads of Security Agencies in the State, with the deployment of combat ready and sophisticated security equipment to all the perceived flash points across the state, with the Police Commissioner gleefully noting that they are on top of the security situation.
However, as it has turned out, the commercial center of the Northern Region appears not only to radiate peace, but seems not ready to court violence.
Meanwhile, Governor Yusuf has annouced plans to inaugurate a Security Trust Fund, in a move to curtail insecurity in the state .
The Governor, who spoke at the occasion of the commemoration of the 2024 Armed Forces Remembrance Day on Monday January 15, promised to prioritize the protection of lives and property of the citizens .
“Very soon we are going to invite eminent kano Residents and other Nigerians we feel can assist so that we take measures to curtail the level of insecurity in the State” Governor Yusuf stated
