The Kano State Government has alleged that “some enemies of the state” were bent on causing a breakdown of law and order to destroy the state.
Mr Haruna Dederi, its Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, made the allegation on Saturday in Kano while briefing the press on recent developments in the north-western state.
Dederi’s text to the press had the caption: “Who is plotting to cause anarchy in Kano?”
He alleged that “agents of destruction and rejected politicians” were “desperately making plans to plunge the state into unnecessary and avoidable anarchy”.
He particularly accused the state Police Command of trying to undermine the constitutional authority of the governor.
“Some people are dishing out instructions to security chiefs in the state so much that the state Commissioner of Police(CP), without any consultation with the State Chief Officer, has issued an order banning Eid-el Kabir festivities in Kano State.”
He expressed surprise that the governor only got to hear of such a ban through social media.
“Who is pushing the CP to usurp the authority of the governor?” he queried.
Dederi accused the CP of “consistently disobeying the legitimate instructions of the governor as a chief security officer”, and wondered who was pushing him into such actions.
Delving into the background of the crisis in Kano State, he recalled that the State House of Assembly, on May 23, passed the Emirates Council repeal bill which the governor assented to.
According to him, the governor gave his nod after consulting with all the relevant stakeholders, including law enforcement agencies.
The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN), reports that with the new law in place, the five Emirates created by former Kano Governor Abdullahi Ganduje in 2019 were dissolved.
The state government, thereafter, merged the five Emirates into one and appointed Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the 14th Emir, to return as the 16th Emir.
Ganduje had sacked him in March 2020, citing insubordination.
Dederi explained that the move was necessitated by the need to correct the wrongs committed against the people of the state.
He noted a recent ruling by a Federal High Court, sitting in Kano, on the deposition of the 15th Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero.
The court had declared that Bayero’s rights were infringed upon as he was placed under house arrest.
It also awarded costs against the state government, in Bayero’s favour.
While declaring the state’s intention to appeal against the ruling, Dederi faulted the court’s claim that Bayero’s fundamental rights were infringed upon.
“In our view, no fundamental rights of Bayero were infringed upon.
“No one forced him into Gidan Nasarawa, belonging to the state government.
“He went in there and stayed on his own volition, accompanied by security guards. No one put him under house arrest.
“The state governor has the constitutional duty to ensure the protection of lives and properties.
“When Bayero came in, accompanied by hoodlums, he (governor), had a duty to act, that was why he issued an arrest order.
“Even then, the arrest was never effected by the security agencies,” he said.
He said that Bayero was staying in Nasarawa “against the instruction of the state government”.
“So, any claim of the breach of the fundamental human rights of Bayero cannot be made against the government of Kano State,” he said.
Dederi pointed out that Bayero was not the first emir to be deposed in the history of northern Nigeria, asserting that if his rights were being infringed in any way, “it must be by those that smuggled him into the city and kept him in Nasarawa”.
He regretted that “surreptitious and clandestine” moves were being made to undermine the authority of the governor and take over the control of the state.
He called on all democrats in the country to prevail on those concerned to allow the people of Kano to live in peace.
“Any attempt by anybody to cause chaos in Kano is an assault on democracy,” he declared.
Reacting to the accusations, the Commissioner of Police in Kano State, Ussain Gumel, said he had never disrespected the governor.
He expressed shock and surprise at the statement by the State Attorney General accusing him of disrespecting the executive orders of Governor Abba Yusuf and taking instructions from unknown sources.
Gumel told NAN in a telephone interview that the accusations were unfounded as he had never been disloyal to the governor.
The CP defended his track record as a champion of community safety and sustainable peace, citing his efforts to rid Kano State of criminals.
He expressed confidence that members of the public would vindicate him and justify his position in the Kano Emirate saga.
“I mean well for Kano State and my actions speak louder than words,” he said.
NAN reports that the Police command had banned the traditional Sallah Durbar, usually an integral part of the Eid-el Kabir celebrations in the state.
Gumel, while announcing the measure, said it became necessary to sustain the peace.
He, however, advised worshippers to conduct their normal Eid Prayers at the various designated praying grounds, as was traditionally done in the past.
“In this trying period, the Police will enforce the existing court order and prevail on the two contending parties regarding the Kano Emirship tussle.
“We urge them to remain apart and respect the court order,” he said.
The CP said that the command would want to see continued collaboration and cooperation from all stakeholders to collectively work toward building a safer and more secure environment.
