Stop interfering in Kano State affairs – Kwankwaso cautions FG, Police

The 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, has urged the Federal Government to refrain from interfering in the internal matters of Kano State, particularly those under the exclusive jurisdiction of the state.

Kwankwaso, a two-term former governor of Kano, also extended his warning to the Nigeria Police, accusing them of being complicit in the Federal Government’s alleged interference in the state’s affairs.

In a statement shared on his verified Facebook handle, Kwankwaso criticized a recent terror alert issued to residents ahead of the National Tijjaniyya Sufi Order event in Kano. He described the alert, which later turned out to be false, as damaging to the credibility of the police.

According to him, “I am concerned by a ‘terror alert’ from the Kano State Police Command on the eve of the event. This alert, not only jeopardised the success of the gathering, but put the lives of the people of the state at risk by creating palpable fear among the people of Kano, those that came from other countries and parts of Nigeria.

“Such conduct by the police, which has already been marked as a willing partner for the Federal Government in its habitual dabbling into the affairs of Kano State further puts its integrity in doubt.

“Issuing a threat alert of this magnitude, which later turns out to be false sets a dangerous precedent. I am afraid that it will lead to people to be complacent in the event of a genuine threat in the future.

“Due to the international nature of the event, the conduct of the police leadership in Kano also leaves a bad impression of the Nigeria Police Force globally.

“I urge the Police Force in Kano to be professional and avoid being identified as deeply partisan in the affairs of Kano State and in other parts of the country.

“For the umpteenth time, I also urge the Federal Government to avoid dragging itself into unpleasant situations by further putting its hands in affairs that are strictly under the jurisdiction of the good people of Kano State and its government,” Kwankwaso, however, stated.

Recall that the police had issued a security terror alert to residents to avoid large crowd gatherings and that the state government, in a swift reaction, rejected it and described it as a plot to scuttle the event, which had people from within and outside the state celebrating the annual Maulud of Sheikh Ibrahim Inyass.