…insist on constituency visit despite Police warning

By AbdulSalam Muhammad

Uneasycalm pervades the ancient city of Kano,  following the tension  generated by the planned constituency visit  by the  former state governor,  Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, against  the advice  of the police.

Kwankwaso

The planned visit had raised security concerns over possible clash with supporters of the state governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, and the mainstream All Progressive Congress, APC, on a day the warring factions are due to stage  separate  political rallies. The state police commissioner, Rabiu Yusuf,  Friday  told reporters in Kano that “although Mr Kwankwaso has the right to visit the state, credible information at the disposal of the Command” revealed that there are security concerns.

Mr. Yusuf said “there is apprehension amongst the general populace and tendency to hijack the visit by some disgruntled politicians or miscreants can’t be wished away”, advising the senator to shelve the visit.

In a swift reaction, Kwankwaso’s spokesperson, Hajiya Binta Rabiu Spikin, rejected the security advise, as she insisted that Kwankwaso’s  January 30th  date with his constituency was a done deal.

Spikin, who assured that the visit would be peaceful, disclosed that Kwankwaso would stormed the city with “seven drones, three international media outfit, and host of local and international friends and Associates”

In a related development, the chairman, Reception Committee, Kwankwaso Constituency visit, Rabiu Suleiman Bichi, has warned that they would hold the Kano Police Commissioner responsible in event of any ugly situation.

Bichi told Reporters  Saturday  that “it is instructive to say that should anything happen to Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso or any of his supporters during the visit,   the Commissioner of police, should be held responsible for dereliction of his responsibility”

Kwankwaso’s insistence on the visit is coming on the heels of a week long political activities by the mainstream APC in the state.   During the kick off, Kano, Senator Bashir Garba Lado, (PDP),   Kwankwaso’s   arch rival in the 2015 general election formally decamped   from PDP to APC.