The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has appealed to eminent Nigerians to caution the All Progressives Congress (APC) against setting Kano state on fire, and by extension, the entire Northern Nigeria through what it called “tired desperation to snatch the state away from NNPP.”

The party in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary Ladipo Johnson on Wednesday said since APC lost at the Supreme Court, the party had never hidden their vow to make Kano state ungovernable.

The statement read, “The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) is using this medium to Appeal to eminent Nigerians to dissuade the All Progressives Congress (APC) from setting Kano state, and by extension, the entire northern part of the country on fire through tired desperation to snatch the state away from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).

“Ever since the NNPP trounced the APC in Kano state in the 2023 General election, the loser APC has been using every foul means to come to power in Kano despite the fact that the good people of Kano state rejected them at the polls. 

“Their attempt to use the Courts to snatch victory was truncated by the 7 wise men at the Supreme Court who upheld the sanctity of the ballot boxes as expressed by the good people of Kano state. 

“Ever since the great loss at the Supreme Court, the APC has never hidden their vow to make Kano state ungovernable for the rightful winner of the March 18, 2023 governorship election, Engineer Abba Kabir Yusuf. 

“Unfortunately, the recent amendment of The Kano State Emirate Council law which passed normal rudiments of Constitutional provisions has become a tool for APC to want to set the state on fire, using a section of the judiciary. 

“Nigerians would recall the position of the Kano state government on the issue leading to the dethronement of the former emir, Ado Bayero and the reinstatement of Emir Muhammad Sanusi II.

“You’ll also recall the associated developments with particular reference to how the former emir was brought to  Kano with full military and police security and has since been stationed  in Kano looking after the deposed emir. We believe that this is an open demonstration of abuse of power and illegality. 

“It is clearly an affront on the Constitution and a threat to peace and orderly public conduct because such open display of naked power is capable of inciting the people who may feel incensed by the actions of powers behind the charade going on in Kano as an act of gangsterism.

“Was it not a display of terror to lead the deposed emir to Kano with the military even after the State House of Assembly had passed a bill to the contrary and which Bill was assented to by the state governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf and thus becoming a law? What was the justification for such insensitive and daring  decision that has now been widely condemned?

“Nigerians will not forget in a hurry the  action of the State Commissioner of Police, Usaini Gumel, who in an abrasive manner, refused to carry out  the order of the Governor on the dethronement over the so-called rights of the former Emir in the guise of keeping to the rule of law. 

“A similar disrespect to the governor also manifested ahead of the recent Eid el Kabir when the Police Commissioner, without consulting the state governor, imposed a ban on the durbar which is usually held during the Eid el Kabir in Kano as a tradition.

“The situation was so bad that the Kano State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Haruna Isah Dederi, had to raise the alarm at a press conference saying: “I am compelled to ask the question: who is usurping the authority of the Commander-in-Chief? 

When did the state governor cease to be the Chief Security Officer of the state that he will only see such a ban on social media? Who is pushing the State Commissioner of Police to usurp the authority of the governor?”

“Although Emir Sanusi has been on the throne in the recognised palace since his reinstatement as the 16th Emir of Kano, the situation in the public eye is like a stalemate with the obvious understanding that  the deposed Emir Bayero is getting support and confidence from higher quarters. 

“Otherwise, who is behind the heavy military and police presence at the smaller palace?”