PDP decries insecurity, alleged intolerance, Kano emirate balkanisation

Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday rose from a closed-door emergency meeting in Abuja, decrying the rising insecurity in the land, alleged clampdown on opposition and insensitivity of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration as well as balkanisation of the Kano Emirate by Governor Abdulahi Ganduje.

Present at the meeting were Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki; National Chairman, Uche Secondus; former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwanso and Cross Rivers State ex-governor, Liyel Imoke. Others are vice presidential candidate, Peter Obi; erstwhile Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State; Imo State Governor-elect Emeka Ihedioha among others.

Owing to the seriousness of the issues at hand, they resolved to convene an emergency meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) in a date yet to be announced.The critical stakeholders expressed concerns over the unabated killings, bloodletting and kidnapping in the country as well as an alleged attempt to “cause crisis in Kano by the ill-advised fragmentation of the Kano Emirate and the renewed clampdown on opposition leaders.”

Also reviewed by the opposition leaders were what they called “intimidation, annexation and manipulation of the judiciary, especially on election matters” as well as allegations of widespread corruption and “official high-handedness of the Buhari-led administration.”

It was learnt that the meeting lamented the alleged “vindictive actions of the APC administration”, including fears of plots to clamp down on Obi and other PDP leaders as well as the ongoing “personal vendetta against Saraki by the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu.”

They also flayed an alleged plot by the anti-graft agency to hound officials of the Rivers State government amid a restraining court order.However, the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, yesterday returned to a tumultuous welcome after spending six days away.

Arriving the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano at about 4.20p.m., he was received by senior council members who pledged their allegiance.The monarch, whose motorcade was tightly guarded, was accompanied by thousands of jubilant enthusiasts who had waited several hours for his arrival.On ground to usher him in were the Dan Amar Kano/district head of Doguwa, Alhaji Aliyu Umar Harazimi; his Wudil counterpart, Alhaji Abdullahi Sarki Ibrahim; and Dan Isan Kano/district head of Warawa, Alhaji Kabiru Tijani Azim.