HURIWA urges Kwankwaso to shelve planned rally for peace in Kano 

A group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has advised Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to shelve the proposed political rally of Kwankwasiya movement billed to hold on January 30, 2018.

HURIWA’s advice came against the backdrop of last weekend’s clash between supporters of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and Kwankwaso at a wedding in Kano during which several persons were injured.

In a statement, the group wondered why Kwankwaso is keen on holding the rally even when it is trite knowledge that the  Kwankwasiya movement is not a legally registered political party.

Besides, the rights group tasked all political tendencies and interest groups in Kano State to maintain decorum and adhere strictly to the provisions of the law even when exercising their constitutionally guaranteed freedom of peaceful assembly as enshrined in chapter four of the constitution.

HURIWA noted that Kano State is a cosmopolitan territory that is like a miniature Nigeria with millions of Nigerians from virtually all ethno- religious backgrounds and also a legendry and thriving trading metropolis known for the large markets that dot the city. According to the group, it could be suicidal to permit all kinds of political tendencies to forment trouble and constitute social nuisance that could imperil the economic activities of millions of Nigerians resident and doing legitimate businesses in such a state.

HURIWA said it was unwise to proceed with a politically charged rally by Kwankwasiya since it was not legally registered to participate in the coming statewide local council polls in Kano. “The campaign period for the 2019 general elections in which the serving senator and erstwhile governor of the state is entitled to recontest can only begin in August 2018 in accordance with the timetable just issued by the Independent National Electoral commission (INEC).”

Citing section 221 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), HURIWA noted that only legally recognized political party is allowed to participate in any electioneering campaign to canvass for votes and to nominate candidates to stand for elective positions at all the levels of the electoral process.

Section 221 of the 1999 Constitution states as follows: “No association, other than a political party, shall canvass for votes for any candidate at any election or contribute to the funds of any political party or to the election expenses of any candidate at an election.”

The rights group backed the position of the chairman of the state electoral commission, Prof. Garba Ibrahim Sheka that Kwankwasiya is not recognized as a political party for the purposes of the February 10, 2018 local council poll in Kano.

HURIWA which claimed to be a non-political platform said her attention was called by her registered members resident in Kano State to the rising cases of clashes between two diametrically opposed political groups known as Kwankwasiya and Gandujiya which supports the former governor and the current holder of the office.