By Aliyu Dangida

KANO – Former Defense Minister and  former governor of Kano State  Dr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso escaped mob action at the  Emir’s  palace  in Kano during the  funeral rites  of  his arch political rival , Alhaji  Muhammadu Abubakar Rimi who died of cardiac arrest,  Sunday.

The incident occurred at the Emir ‘s palace  where thousands of  residents  throng the palace , venue of the  funeral prayers  for the  former governor. It was gathered that some youths suspected to be supporters of  the late  politician charged at Rabiu Kwankwaso saying “Bamayi, Baza kabi sallar ba” meaning we are not with, you will not  be allowed to pray with us.”

*Kwankwanso

The situation would have degenerated but for the intervention of the  palace guards  who rescued the former Defense minister from the rampaging youths.

Some people who spoke  with Vanguard  expressed dismay  at the behaviour of the youths  , saying that the  former minister’s attendance was to pay his last respect to the late politician  as  dictated by the tenets of Islam and should not be misconstrued for politics.

“Kwankwaso being a muslim has every right to attend any muslim’s funeral prayers ,  Rimi’s own particularly, despite their  political  differences thus  describing the  youths’ action as borne out of  ignorance , unfortunate and  showed a high level of illiteracy