Jimisayo Opanuga
The leadership of the Northern Youth Assembly (Majalisar Matasan Arewa) has written an open letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging him to be wary of individuals within his government who are allegedly planning to incite anarchy in Kano State.
The letter was also copied to the United Nations Office, European Union Embassy, ECOWAS, Abuja, US Embassy, Abuja, British High Commission, Abuja, US Congress, and the European Union.
The letter, signed by the group’s president, Dr Ali Idris, and Secretary General, Dr Garba Abdulhafiz, said that the change in the emirate law in Kano State is a product of legislation by the state House of Assembly; and any attempt by Abuja to subvert this law, they warn, will only cause chaos.
The letter read, “The leadership of the Northern Youth Assembly (Majalisar Matasan Arewa), on behalf of its chapters in the nineteen northern states and Abuja, finds it compelling to draw your attention, as a democratically elected president, to the recent developments concerning the Kano Emirate.
“It is common knowledge that Nigeria, as a federal country, has a constitution that prescribes powers for both the central government and sub-national governments, which represent lawfully recognized federating units.
“Sir, the Nigerian constitution provides state assemblies with the authority to make laws for the betterment and welfare of their states and citizens. This includes making new laws, amending existing laws, and repealing existing laws. In 2019, the Kano State House of Assembly exercised these powers by amending the Kano State Emirate Council laws and creating four additional emirates, a law subsequently assented to by then-Governor Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
“The current Kano State House of Assembly also exercised its legislative powers by repealing the same law and dissolving the newly created four additional emirates, with the Executive Governor of Kano State, Engineer Abba Kabir Yusuf, assenting to the new repealed law.”
The youth further asserted that both assemblies performed their constitutional and legislative functions appropriately.
They added, “There are unprecedented efforts and an alleged evil plan by some officials of Tinubu’s government, linking the development to the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. They aim to forcibly reimpose the removed Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, on the people of Kano using federal security apparatus under the pretext of complying with a court order granted by a Federal High Court Judge while he was on holiday in the United States.
“This is a clear encroachment on constitutional democratic practices, undermining the authority of sub-national federating units, and interfering with their constitutional powers.
“This development is an embarrassment to your government and your image as a democrat. Our fear is that your government and its appointees may be seen as disrespecting democratic governance and constitutional authority.
“We wish to draw your attention to the fact that Kano has been peaceful. Any attempt to disrupt this peace by yielding to the interests of a few selfish individuals against the wishes of over 20 million people in Kano could lead to chaos and anarchy. This may portray your government as one that sabotages democratic authorities by usurping the constitutional rights, authorities, and powers of sub-national democratic structures, and could invite enmity against your nascent government from the people of Kano and the entire northern Nigeria. Anything that affects Kano affects the entire northern Nigeria.”
