Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State and the state’s New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) presidential candidate Rabiu Kwankwaso reacted to the rising political tension brewing ahead of the gubernatorial elections in Kano State and they asked for peace.
In separate meetings with the Kano Peace Committee, the two politicians expressed divergent reservations about the escalation of political violence in the state and the role played by various stakeholders in preparing for violence-free elections.
According to Ganduje, to achieve violence-free elections, critical stakeholders, including security and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), must remain neutral and fair to all parties involved, even as Kwankwaso said peace cannot be achieved. achieve in the absence of justice and equity.
Addressing the members of the State Peace Committee, Ganduje said that the government will only provide a conducive atmosphere of peace before the elections, while the security agents will do their thing.
He said: “It is certainly election season; if the situation is not handled properly, the season could lead to violence. We have managed to ensure discipline in our party. We can only ask the opposition parties to do the same.
“The issue of peace during the elections must involve all the variables, including the parties and security personnel, who are mainly entrusted with the management of peace and the security of the people. But the failure to guarantee neutrality can end up unleashing violence.
“INEC must also make its offer. For us, we are aware of free and credible elections, but security must remain vigilant and non-partisan during elections.
For her part, Kwankwaso lamented that Nigeria is operating a failed system that can hardly guarantee fairness and justice, while wondering how peace can be achieved in an unfair environment.
Kwankwaso stressed that there was a limit to which NNPP members could endure the persecution and injustice system they faced at the hands of the ruling party. The two-term governor of Kano State warned that NNPP would do everything possible to defend his term.
“We are frustrated by the failed system. Our mandate was stolen from us when the 2019 election was rigged. We kept the peace. But how long are we going to remain at peace in the face of injustice?
“People are being killed, the person responsible was arrested and released after a few days. Where is justice? We are ready to defend ourselves this time. We would not see them steal our mandate and remain peaceful this time,” Kwankwaso said.
Former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President AB Mahmoud SAN said the rise in political tension ahead of the election concerned the Committee. The main lawyer appealed to the political elites to avoid violence for a peaceful environment in the rescheduled elections.
Similarly, Alhaji Aliyu Danazumi said that despite pockets of violence here and there, Kano recorded a peaceful atmosphere during the last presidential and National Assembly elections. He urged security agencies and INEC to ensure a credible process.
