Kano police fear recent court judgement in governorship elections could lead to ethnic pogroms

KANO State Police Command officers have arrested seven persons for participating in a protest following the recent Court of Appeal judgement sacking Governor Abba Yusuf amid fears that it will lead to ethnic pogroms.

Earlier this month, the Court of Appeal upheld a judgement of the election tribunal nullifying the election of Governor Yusuf of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP). It ruled that Nasiru Gawuna of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was the winner of the election and should be sworn in as governor.

However, Governor Yusuf has appealed to the Supreme Court and will remain in office at least until the matter is heard. These legal gymnastics have created tension in Kano, however, as there have been several protests against the judgement and there is now concern within the Yoruba community that their members may become the targets of attack.

Over the last few days, the Concerned Yoruba Community in Kano has expressed fears that its members might come under attack because people here will believe that they were cheated by a Yoruba president. Hussaini Gumel, the Kano State police commissioner, said seven protesters were arrested around Kano Line while heading to State House.

Mr Gumel said: “We have succeeded in preventing the protesters and we have arrested seven of them. We have deployed armed policemen to the area and we have since commenced an intensive investigation and will update you in due course.”

He enjoined residents to go about their lawful businesses as the police along with other security agencies had taken adequate security measures to prevent a breakdown of law and order. He further asked local people to report any person or group of people engaged in any form of protest in and outside the metropolis to law enforcement agents.

Taofeek Olaosebikan, the general secretary of the Concerned Yoruba Community in Kano, said: “We are using this platform to call on our leading obas and leaders to come to our assistance by engaging President Bola Tinubu on the political situation in Kano. The average man already believes that the judiciary has been interfered with.

"We are calling on our fathers, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and the Oni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, to intervene without further delay. We are also calling on Oba of Lagos, Alake of Agba, Awujare of Ijebuland, Olubadan of Ibadan and other and other Yoruba leading lights to come to our aid as we won’t find it easy if the situation degenerates further as we actually expect it would.

“The people here will believe that they were cheated by a Yoruba president. That’s the word going around now. A stitch in time, they say saves nine.”