By Ayobami Ife, Abeokuta
Hausa traditional leaders – the Seriki Hausawa, in the six Southwest States, have called on the Federal Government(FG) to handle with utmost caution, the volatile political situation in Kano brought about by the March 18 governorship election in the state, saying it must not be allowed to degenerate to a major political conflagration.
The Hausa traditional rulers acting under the aegis of Southwest Hausa Traditional Rulers Association of Nigeria who met in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital on Saturday, urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu – led FG to rein in the politicians in Kano and caution them against taking any step that could jeopardize the prevailing peace being enjoyed as residents and citizens await the expected Supreme Court verdict on the governorship appeal before it.
The Daily Crucible reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had after the March 18 governorship election in the state declared Abba Yusuf of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) winner of the poll but the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate, Nasiru Gawuna and his party went to the Tribunal to challenge Yusuf’s election victory and won.
Displeased with the Tribunal judgment, Governor Abba Yusuf approached the appellate Court for redress but the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, recently affirmed the tribunal judgment which declared the APC candidate, Nasiru Gawuna winner of the governorship election.
The Daily Crucible reports further that the Tribunal led by Justice Oluyemi Osadebay nullified the election of Governor Abba Yusuf by voiding 165, 663 votes credited to him and his New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
The tribunal held that the ballot papers were neither signed nor stamped by the INEC. This position was upheld by the Appeal Court but a twist crept into the verdict as the Certified True Copy of it later revealed a conflicting information and triggered a flurry of controversies around the judgment.
The Appeal Court, however, stood by its verdict, maintaining that Gawuna won and that the observed conflicting information in its CTC of the verdict was a clerical error.
Again, the displeased Governor Yusuf of the NNPP ran to the Supreme Court to challenge the Appeal Court judgment amid mounting tension in Kano over where the pendulum of the apex Court judgment would swing.
However, ahead of the awaited Supreme verdict, the Hausa leaders in Yorubaland who said that they stood for peace and justice that would reflect the expressed wishes of the people, appealed for calm while also advising that nothing should be done covertly or overtly by anybody or group to undermine the peace of Kano or subvert the wishes of the people as freely expressed on March 18, 2023.
Reading their speech in English on behalf of his colleagues at the palace of the Hausa Seriki of Egbaland, Alh. Ibrahim Hassan Hassan 111, the Hausa Seriki of Sagamu, Alh. Inuwa Garba, said Kano is a melting pot for all Nigerians and urged the President to ensure that politicians do not toy with the peace and tranquility being enjoyed by all ethnic nationalities in the ancient city..
Alh. Garba expressed the association’s worries that any crisis in Kano could have far reaching implications not only for the state but also for the country that is already grappling with security and other socioeconomic challenges.
He appealed particularly to the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, His Royal Majesty, Òba (Dr.) Adedotun Gbadebo, and other prominent Royal Fathers in the Southwest geopolitical zone to prevail on President Tinubu to intervene in the Kano’s precarious political situation to avoid violence.
He said, “Recent legal tussle in some states in Nigeria, particularly in Kano State is quite frightening to say the least. This is because of the fact that a sitting governor with over 150, 000 votes margin is being threatened. But our fear is based on the possible problems that might arise.
“As elders and traditional rulers, we are particularly worried that our South West hardworking people might be caught up in the center of the impasse since they are in possession of various assets like houses, shops and other businesses with immense investments.
“As a matter of fact, we are appealing to our esteemed leaders to use their knowledge and political wisdom in dealing with Kano problem so as to avoid violence and mayhem.
“Not only that, the Kano problem might easily spread to other parts of the country as it happened during the ill-fated President Shehu Sagari era where the problem emanated from truncating democracy in the South West. As such, with due regards to saving lives of the people and their property, we hope the elders and leaders will apply wisdom to save the situation. As traditional leaders, we actually want peace and harmony to reign.”
