Kwankwaso bows to pressure, cancels planned visit to Kano

Former Governor of Kano State and representative of Kano Central senatorial district, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, yesterday cancelled his planned visit to Kano.He was said to have bowed to pressure from superior quarters.

Speaking with journalists in Kano, former Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and a Kwankwaso associate, Rabiu Sulaiman Bichi, said the former governor’s proposed visit to the state has been shelved until further notice.Kwankwaso had insisted on visiting his home state in spite of warnings from the Police against the visit ahead of the February 10 council poll.

Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Yusuf, had earlier advised Kwankwanso to shelve his proposed visit to Kano citing security challenges and a possible break down of law and order.Yusuf, who acknowledged Kwankwaso’s right to free movement, said miscreants could hijack the January 30 rally and the former governor’s visit to foment crisis. 

Before cancelling the trip, he (Kwankwaso) insisted that the CP would be held responsible for whatever happens to him just as he remained adamant on the planned visit.However, Bichi noted that in view of the tension in Kano over the planned visit, consultations were held with well meaning Nigerians at home and abroad, after which Kwankwanso decided to shelve his homecoming. 

“On hearing about the scheduled visit, the state government, which had polarised our party into two camps and had also dragged our party at the national level, as well as some staff of the presidency to help fight his proxy became desperate in frustrating the visit.

“They used Yusuf and other government apparatuses, as well as our adversaries in Abuja.The former governor stayed away from visiting Kano to give Governor Abdullahi Ganduje time to consolidate his administration without any interference. A lot has been said and done in the last couple of days to the extent that our adversaries have declared war whenever Kwankwaso visits the state,” Bichi said.

This standoff has attracted the attention of well meaning Nigerians, home and abroad, who have called to advice that Kwankwaso postpones the visit due to security considerations and the preservation of lives and property.

“In view of the above, and after consultations with well meaning Nigerians, home and abroad, we decided to shelve the scheduled visit at the moment. We, therefore, want to appeal to our teaming supporters to bear with the prevailing circumstances for peace to rain. 

“Finally, it is important to state that Kwankwaso’s visit will never be a reason to deliberately inconvenience any citizens, let alone spill the blood of any innocent citizen,” Bichi added.