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The Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku yesterday accused Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of reducing the Kano Emirate’s throne to a subject of partisan politics, with the selection of former CBN governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the new Emir.
Also yesterday, the Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Abdul Jelili Adesiyan sternly warned the Kano governor over his comments linking President Goodluck Jonathan to the protest in the state following the emergence of Sanusi as Emir.
Meanwhile, the new Emir eventually moved into his palace yesterday afternoon after operating from the Government House for six days due to the protests that followed his appointment.
Maku in a press statement yesterday challenged Kwankwaso to explain to Kano people, the role played by the leadership of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the selection of the new Emir.
He also alleged that Kwankwaso was responsible for the riot that followed the selection of Sanusi and he should face the consequences. Instead of attempting to shift blame to the President.
"Governor Kwankwaso should face the anger of his people and leave President Jonathan and the Federal Government alone. Kwankwaso as it is well known to the public, went on a highly politicized selection process, turning the ascension to the throne of Kano into a partisan political enterprise during which prominent APC leaders and some governors moved to Kano reportedly to influence the outcome," he said.
Maku added that the result of Kwankwaso's politicised selection was the outpouring of anger and protests in the ancient city with unfortunate breakdown of law and order.
He said Kwankwaso should singularly be held responsible for the violence in his state.
"Successions to other traditional institutions in other parts of the North in recent years have not witnessed the kind of public anger and protests and violence that greeted the exercise conducted by Kwankwaso at the Government House in Kano," he added.
The Minister cautioned that the Presidency should not be dragged into the succession crisis raging the city.
According to Maku, it is a known fact that the appointment of traditional rulers is within the purview of state governments and “it is surprising why Kwankwaso has chosen to drag the name of the President into the succession crisis rocking the Kano Emirate.”
Maku continued: "Instead of throwing tantrums and casting aspersions on imaginary enemies, Kwankwaso should face the people of Kano and explain to them the role he and APC leaders played in the imbroglio."
The Minister described as desperate and paranoid the alleged campaign of calumny by Kwankwaso against the Federal Government and President Goodluck Jonathan.
He added that the Police in Kano had offered explanations on why officers and men were deployed to guard the palace.
The minister said: "The recent outbursts of Kwankwaso have lent credence to the observations in some quarters that the governor is now afraid of his own shadow as the people of Kano become increasingly impatient with his years of one-man rule under which he imposes his will on the state in total disregard of the wishes of the people of Kano.
"His altercation with the late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero shortly before the Emir’s death is a case in point. Governor Kwankwaso has no respect for anyone; not even for the traditional institution of his own state. After the recent denial of freedom of choice for the people of Kano by imposing local government chairmen and councillors on them, he then took on the late Kano Monarch, shortly before his demise.
"The police authorities in the light of the violent opposition to the highly political selection process of the new Emir of Kano only helped to restore law and order and to protect the historic palace of the throne of Kano from being razed down or destroyed by irate and aggrieved people of Kano. To turn round to blame President Jonathan or the Federal Government for the crisis is the height of delusion and irresponsibility on the part of Governor Kwankwaso. He is the architect of the crisis and violence and if he has a conscience, he should examine his role in these entire unfortunate and needless crisis he has plunged the ancient city of Kano and its respected traditional institution into in recent weeks.
“The federal government however urged people of Kano to remain peaceful and law abiding and to shun recourse to violence in spite of the highhandedness of Governor Kwankwaso and his associates in the selection of a new Emir.”
Adesiyan chides Kwankwaso…
Meanwhile, the Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Abdul Jelili Adesiyan also sternly warned the Kano State Governor over his recent comments linking President Jonathan to the protest in Kano following the selection of Sanusi as the new Emir of Kano.
Adesiyan admonished the governor to “guard his utterances which is undermining the office of the president.”
Kwankwaso had on Wednesday accused Jonathan of sponsoring the protest that greeted the appointment of a former Central Bank of Nigeria’s governor as the Emir of Kano.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Wale Akinola, the minister described Kwankwaso's accusation as unfortunate.
According to the minister, no responsible governor could raise his voice and abuse the sitting president with a view to scoring a cheap political goal.
"It is rather unfathomable that Kwankwaso could use the protest that followed the appointment of Sanusi as the Emir of Kano as an opportunity to insult the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria the way he likes. His recent outburst is an indication of a failed governor who acts against the will of the people.
"Have you ever seen the opposition party insulting the President of the United States of America or the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom or Chancellor in Germany? It is only in Nigeria that those who lack patriotism like Kwankwaso can insult the president at will.
Rather than reflect and ever remain grateful to PDP for giving him the platform to become a governor and a minister, Kwankwaso now has the audacity to abuse the president.
“While I recognise the inalienable right of citizens to hold opinions and identify with political platforms of their choice, I find it very difficult to understand the type of bitterness that has taken hold of an elected person like Kwankwaso who hugely benefited from the PDP on which platform he was twice elected governor in addition to being appointed minister.
“Kwankwaso has not only shown his aversion to the unity of the nation but also the agenda of his party, the APC, to attack well-meaning individuals and leaders as a means of causing confusion among Nigerians and destroying our oneness as a people.
"Police have the mandate to protect the lives and property of every citizen of Nigeria and Kano State cannot be an exception. When there is protest, the Police should be able to protect people's lives so that it will not lead to a major crisis. That was what the police did in Kano to stop the youths who were dissatisfied with the appointment of Sanusi as the Emir of Kano. But instead of appreciating the efforts of security agents in bringing about peace in the state, Kwankwaso was abusing our president.
"I think Kwankwaso needs to be educated on the role of Police and other security agencies in the society as well as the functions of the President of Nigeria in order to give him an insight on their operational procedure."
Sanusi moves into palace…
In a related development, the new Emir of Kano, after reported interventions and horse-trading, yesterday relocated to the palace after he led the first Friday prayer at Government House Jumaat mosque.
In a sermon to the congregation, the new emir called on all Muslims to have the fear of God in all their dealings.
Sanusi also pledged to continue to exhibit high sense of transparency, fairness and treat everybody as equal.
He said: “God gives power to whom he wants and though I may not have been the best among the candidates but God has chosen me to lead."
It was also observed that the new emir departed Kano Government House at about 3.30pm for the palace in a long convoy of well wishers supporters and palace guards.
Sanusi who drove into the palace in the official vehicles of the emirate, entered into the palace through a new gate erected for him as part of the tradition.
Sanusi had been conducting affairs of his new office as Emir of Kano from the Government House as there were riots and siege on the palace by security agents.
Unconfirmed reports say some respected traditional rulers from the northern part of the country had to intercede for the security siege on the palace to be lifted, making it possible for him to move to the palace.
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