The political climate in Kano State has intensified dramatically, pitting the incumbent government against two of the state’s most prominent opposition figures, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the former Governor, and Senator Barau I. Jibrin, the Deputy President of the Senate.
The Kano State Executive Council (SEC) officially called for the immediate arrest and investigation of both APC stalwarts, accusing their recent public remarks on the state’s escalating insecurity as “inciting, reckless, and capable of undermining” government security efforts.
The State Government’s Position: Incitement and Illegal Militia
The demand, made public by the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, stems primarily from comments by Ganduje regarding the state’s vulnerability to banditry and his proposal to recruit 12,000 personnel into a religious police outfit reportedly named Khairul Nas.
• Reckless Remarks: The government views these statements as deliberately inflammatory, suggesting they embolden criminal elements.
• Illegal Militia Allegation: The proposed 12,000-man Khairul Nas group was flagged as an attempt to form an illegal militia, a claim the state government wants thoroughly investigated.
• Suspicious Timing: Waiya further noted the “disturbing” coincidence of a bandit attack occurring in border communities less than 48 hours after Ganduje’s comments, raising concerns that the remarks may have been premeditated or linked to the assault.
The state insists its administration, alongside the Federal Government, is making genuine efforts to safeguard citizens, which the opposition’s political theatrics are allegedly trying to sabotage.
Ganduje and Barau Hit Back: “Politicisation of Security”
In swift and separate responses, the former Governor and the Deputy Senate President vehemently rejected the allegations, accusing the administration of desperation and of politicising the serious issue of insecurity for political persecution.
Ganduje’s Stance
Speaking through his former Chief of Staff, Comrade Mohammed Garba, Ganduje described the arrest call as “reckless, baseless, and a sign of desperation,” meant to divert public attention from the current government’s “glaring failures” to tackle insecurity.
“It is deeply unfortunate that rather than addressing the escalating insecurity ravaging Kano, Governor Yusuf has chosen to chase shadows and search for scapegoats to conceal his glaring failures,” a statement from the former Governor’s camp read.
Ganduje contrasted his eight-year tenure, which he claimed brought “enviable peace and security,” with the current situation, questioning why the incumbent Governor has not visited the banditry-affected local government areas despite repeated attacks.
Barau Jibrin’s Rejection
Senator Barau I. Jibrin, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir, dismissed the allegations as “false and malicious.”
He categorically stated that he had never uttered any statement capable of undermining security efforts and challenged the state government to produce any evidence.
Barau urged the state government to focus on providing real security solutions instead of engaging in “political theatrics” against the opposition.
A Growing Rift
This latest development marks a significant escalation in the ongoing political rivalry between the ruling New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in Kano and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).
With the state’s security situation increasingly under the national spotlight, this political face-off threatens to distract from the core challenge of securing lives and property.
What's Your Reaction?
Leave your vote
