From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
Kano All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders have warned that an imminent clash in the state is looming tomorrow unless there is urgent intervention by the security agencies.
Addressing newsmen at the party’s headquarters in Abuja, yesterday, Rabiu Suleiman Bichi, director general, Gawuna/Garo Campaign Organisation, who spoke on behalf of Kano State APC stakeholders, said the inevitable clash is on the coincident of its programmes with the members of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) on the same day.
The Kano State party stakeholders warned that though they are law-abiding citizens that will not do anything to disturb the peace of the state, however they will not hesitate to protect their lives and belongings tomorrow.
Bichi further claimed the leaders of NNPP have resolved to unleash violence targeted at not only eliminating APC members in Kano but also making the state ungovernable in the event of Supreme Court judgment goes in favour of the APC.
Explaining the imminent clash tomorrow, the leader of the delegation, said: “We have it from reliable sources that they are planning a mass protest tomorrow during which key figures of the APC will be targeted, if possible to eliminate them. It coincided with the rally for democracy and peace the APC is planning for the same day.
“It is on this note that we called the Kano State Police Command and other security agencies to be alive to their responsibilities and take appreciative measures to avoid loss of life and property. We are law-abiding citizens and will not do anything to disturb peace, but we will not hesitate to protect our lives and belongings.
“Kano remained peaceful throughout the eight-year administration of APC as evidenced in the increased number of governmental, non-governmental organisations and corporate bodies rushing to Kano to hold their conferences, seminars, symposia and annual general meetings and importantly inflow of Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs).
“Since the conduct of the 2023 governorship election and the declaration of the NNPP as the winner, the APC, as peace peace-loving party, remained calm and shunned any form of violence.
“However, the people of Kano have been living in perpetual fear of intimidation and threat to life and property, since the assumption of office, starting with the orgy of violence by elements of the NNPP, targeted at the APC.
“Apart from public property, the state headquarters of our party and properties of some leading figures of the APC were torched, all in the name of celebration.
“The APC, as a party that has always been promoting the cause of democracy and the rule of law, rejected the outcome of the election and sought to reclaim its mandate through the appropriate channel as laid down in the Electoral Act and the constitution.
“After filing its case at the state governorship election petition tribunal that sat in Kano, the APC patiently pursued it for months up to the pronouncement of the stage where the three-man panel of judges fixed the date for the judgment.
“However, sensing defeat, the NNPP resorted to threatening to kill the judges of the tribunal should the verdict of the court eventually be announced and not in their favour.
“The threats by the NNPP government’s cabinet members included among others, the Secretary to the Kano State Government, Baffa Bichi, forced the tribunal to deliver its judgment via Zoom for fear of their lives.
“Things appear to be getting worse since the embattled leader of the NNPP, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, came back to Kano on Sunday, where he held a meeting of the party’s stakeholders, at the end of which they come up with line up of activities that included unleashing of violence to not only eliminate the APC in Kano but also to make it ungovernable in the event of Supreme Court judgment in favour of the APC,” the stakeholders said.