Police vow crackdown as Kano APC, NNPP supporters set for protest today
State police warned protesters not to gather today (Saturday), but members of the ruling New Nigeria People’s Party and the All Progressives Congress have pledged to carry out their demonstrations nevertheless, leading to yesterday’s tense situation in Kano city.
The Court of Appeal’s decision to uphold the judgement of the governorship election petitions tribunal removing NNPP Governor Abba Yusuf is the subject of two distinct rallies, according to Saturday PUNCH.
A clerical error led to a conflicting written judgement that initially affirmed Yusuf as the duly elected governor; however, the court later explained that the governor’s removal was valid, and the NNPP supporters are protesting this decision.
In contrast, those who are rallying behind Dr. Nasiru Gawuna, the APC’s nominee for governor, are adamant about their scheduled protest.
Nevertheless, the command of the state police issued a stern warning that it would not tolerate any unlicensed demonstration that could escalate into violence, and that it would punish severely those responsible for organising such events and anyone found instigating unrest.
According to a statement released on Friday by SP Abdullahi Haruna, the command’s public relations officer, the state commissioner of police, Mr. Husaini Gumel, issued the warning.
According to the statement, there are reports that indicate individuals claiming to support the NNPP and the APC are planning to use various media platforms to rally supporters for a demonstration on November 25, 2023, in response to the ruling of the Kano State governorship Appeal Court.
According to the latest reports, the demonstrators want to target members of key political parties and shut down the state government, which could lead to violent clashes.
“The police command wants it made very clear that none of these political parties were formally notified about the rally or demonstration that was going to take place at this point in time.”
“The police command is issuing this warning to all residents of the state to be extra careful as whoever intends to conduct any protest or procession should do so only in accordance with the provisions of the law,” further Haruna stated.
Also, the law is crystal clear: anyone who tries to cause chaos in the state will be detained and punished severely.
It is worth noting that the NNPP and APC had a peace meeting and signed an accord before the Kano State Police Command. This was done before and after the Court of Appeal ruling. During the meeting, both parties reaffirmed their commitment to collaborating with security agencies to promote long-term peace.
“Considering the circumstances, Mohammed Usaini Gumel, Commissioner of Police, Kano State Police Command, has issued a call to all residents to remain calm and refrain from participating in any type of illegal gathering, protest, or procession that could lead to violence. Joint security forces have been deployed to key areas to ensure the state remains peaceful and orderly.”
War is imminent
During a courtesy call from the leadership of the Kano State Correspondents’ Chapel, Brigadier General Jamiu Are, Commander of the 3rd Brigade, Kano, Nigerian Army, promised that the military would work with the state police command to make sure that everyone in Kano State lives peacefully.
“We cannot compromise the security of Kano because it is the commercial nerve centre of the North. Doing so would disrupt the economy of the region and the country as a whole,” Are stated.
In addition to being strategically located in the middle of the country, Kano serves as the commercial and administrative hub for the whole northern area. Northern regions will feel the effects of whatever unfolds in Kano.
He assured the public that the state’s police, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Department of State Services would all work together with the military to keep everyone safe.
We have limited the insecurity in Kano because we do not want anything bad to happen there.
The cooperation across all the security services is one of several reasons that have made this feasible. You can be confident that the various security authorities are cooperating closely.
State accuses opposition
State Commissioner for Information Baba Halilu Dantiye, in response to a question on the APC and NNPP’s threats to hold protests, said that the government believed the protests were mainly orchestrated by the opposition in an effort to bring disrepute upon the government.
He claims the other side is trying to disrupt the peace by putting on a demonstration.
In addition, the commissioner expressed his satisfaction with the state government’s request that security services safeguard citizens’ lives and property.
According to Dantiye, the governor urged the decent people of Kano to keep their cool and trust in the country’s legal system.
According to him, Governor Yusuf urged the people to keep their cool, keep the peace, and refrain from doing anything that could endanger lives or damage property.
According to Shehu Maigari, the state’s deputy chairman of the APC, no demonstration by party members or supporters was planned, when asked about it yesterday night.
He asserts that the APC, its leadership, and its many supporters are peace-loving people who will never disrupt the tranquilly in the state by protests.
The APC would not back down but will fight back if anyone attempts to intimidate or harass its members or leadership, he stressed.
Pleads by APC chief
In order to avoid a conflict in the state, Garba Yaryasa, an APC chieftain, urged NNPP supporters to let peace reign.
One of our Kano journalists interviewed Yaryasa, a former Tinubu Camping Organisation coordinator for Kano South, on Thursday, and he offered the words of wisdom.
Anger and desperation are not productive problem-solving strategies. Political players and their allies in the state must, therefore, advocate for harmonious cohabitation, he argued.
While responding to the planned demonstration, Yaryasa advised the NNPP leadership to cool down the political climate, refrain from making unguarded statements on the Appeal Court decision, and let the Supreme Court make a decision.
We are all related, he continued. Consequently, I fail to perceive any rationale for members of the same family to partake in an activity that can sow discord among them.
I don’t understand why, after all this time of relative calm in Kano, the Appeal Court ruling has prompted others to start instigating violence. Public disturbance can result from incitement. Something really troubling is happening in the state right now.
In order for the state to be free of violence, we are urging all of our security agencies to fulfil their duties.
In the Dan Agundi region of the state, demonstrators were dispersed by officers on Wednesday.
Protesters in Kano metropolis’s Kofar Nasarawa had gathered for a special prayer before the demonstration began.
An image of a demonstrator with a “Justice for Kano” banner has gone viral on the internet.
It was later reported that armed officers stationed in the area dispersed the demonstrators who had erected bonfires along the road.
“Errors are impossible to fix.”
Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, the governor’s counsel, adamantly maintained that the appellate court lacked the authority to rectify what it saw to be insignificant administrative mistakes.
He claimed the appeal court had become functus officio and hence lacked the authority to reverse the decision.
The appellate court’s 60-day window to consider the appeal closed on November 18, so it lost the authority to rectify any apparent mistake in the decision, according to a letter sent to the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court on November 23, 2023, with the subject line: Retrieval of certified true copy of judgement in appeal NO: CA/KN/EP/GOV/KAN/34/2023 – Abba Kabir Yusuf and All Progressives Congress & Ors.
He made the following statements: “We, the officers of the Temple of Justice, feel obligated to bring to the attention of the institution and the esteemed Court of Appeal certain crucial matters that have arisen from your letter:”
On September 20, 2023, the lower tribunal handed down its ruling, ensuring a prompt disposal of the appeal. The Court of Appeal was given a strict sixty (60) day deadline to “hear and dispose” of the appeal stemming from the Tribunal’s decision, as mandated by Section 285(7) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). The Constitution, with all due respect, uses the word “within” rather than “from” the day on which the Tribunal delivers its verdict.
“Additionally, according to the same constitutional mandate, our client (the appellant) had until Saturday, November 18, 2023, to “hear and dispose” of the appeal against the decision of the Governorship Election Tribunal, which was heard in Kano, filed with the Court of Appeal. The matter has grown commonplace, but our Law Reports are filled with numerous precedents from the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal itself.
The Court of Appeal became functus officio in this matter on Saturday, November 18, 2023. We respectfully and faithfully direct your attention to this fact, assuming (without conceding) that the ruling contains certain errors, whether typographical or otherwise.
The only court that can hear a motion to remedy mistakes is the Supreme Court. According to the previously mentioned Section 285(7) of the Constitution, the Court of Appeal is not allowed to proceed with the appeal or subject matter after sixty (60) days have passed.
