Recent concerns voiced by Yoruba citizens of Kano State are drawing attention.
Some Yoruba in Kano State have expressed fear for their safety in light of the recent decision to remove Governor Abba Yusuf from office by the Appeal Court.
Governor Yusuf, who ran for governor in the March 18 election under the banner of the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP), had his victory over the other candidates declared null and void by the Appeal Court on September 17.
The appellate court had in a unanimous verdict by a three-member panel of justices, held that Governor Yusuf was not a valid candidate in the gubernatorial votes. In addition, some of his ballots were thrown out.
The court ruled that Governor Yusuf was not a member of the NNPP at the time of the election because of evidence presented by the parties.
According to the court, Yusuf, under section 177(c) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, was not entitled to run the governorship election since he was not properly sponsored by the NNPP.
The All Progressives Congress’ Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna of the APC was subsequently pronounced the election’s victor by the court.
The ruling APC was accused by several Nigerians of trying to sway the decision of the Appeal Court, which sparked outrage across the country.
Security forces were unable to prevent the angry supporters of the governor and other opposition parties from staging a protest in the old city.
Alleging that their “kinsman” President Bola Tinubu is imposing leadership on them, several indigenes have been accused of threatening to assault people of Yoruba descent living in the state.
The Yoruba people have claimed that certain natives are planning an attack on them.
The Yoruba leaders and other concerned citizens of Nigeria were asked to intervene by the Concerned Yoruba Community in Kano.
At a press conference, the group led by Taofeek Olalekan Olaosebikan claimed their lives were in danger because of the circumstances in Kano.
“Kano is a very politically volatile state, therefore all people of goodwill should be worried about the situation there and rally around a common initiative to save the state from any tragedy that will harm us and our way of life.
Consequently, we’d want to use this forum to urge all Yoruba Obas and leaders to intervene in the Kano situation as soon as possible by talking to President Bola Ahmad Tinubu about finding a political solution to the impasse in Kano.
“Kano must not be allowed to erupt into such preventable chaos as it happened in the past.
Naturally, many enlightened minds believe very firmly that what we are witnessing in Kano today has a significant association with political elite’s meddling in the election outcome and mandate so obviously granted to Abba Kabir Yusuf by the inhabitants of the state.
On the same day, Mr. Matthew Adebayo, a Yoruba businessman in Kano, told DAILY POST that certain indigenes are “threatening us that Yoruba people have removed the person they elected and that they will deal with us.”
Everywhere you go, especially among NNPP supporters, you’ll hear tales of how the Yoruba arrived and destroyed everything they worked for.
Some of them have even stopped buying from us. When people come to your shop to buy something, instantly they learn that you are a Yoruba person, they move to another shop.
It seems unfair that some people take out their frustrations on the majority of us because most of us aren’t interested in politics and are just trying to make a life. “Everyone here is very nice, and we’ve been living in peace with them,” he said.
Chairman of the Yoruba Cultural Group Seyi Oluronsola told DAILY POST on Saturday that the charges were schemes by the NNPP and its followers to blackmail the president. The group is thought to have been created by members of the Yoruba APC.
As he put it, “Of course, there are side conversations generated by the indigenes, in particular by the high hierarchy of the NNPP itself.
In response to the judicial branch’s actions, “they are doing everything necessary to counter them. Today in Kano, people are busy going about their daily lives.
Like like everywhere else, some Yorubas belong to a variety of political parties. It’s all just political rhetoric. They only intend to use the president as a pawn.
“I used to be on the council, and I feel like I speak for all of the Yoruba people in this area now.”
On the other hand, when approached, Comrade Jare Ajayi, the National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, the pan Yoruba socio-political and cultural organization, stated, “it’s for people who suspect that danger is looming to cry for help.
“Thus, the Yoruba community in Kano, or any other group for that matter, is not doing anything wrong in calling for help when they see danger coming or feel threatened”.
However, he was careful to warn against anything that can be construed as encouraging the executive branch to meddle in the judicial process.
It’s also not a good sign to imply that the executive branch or the presidency is pressuring the courts or electoral tribunals to reach a predetermined outcome in electoral cases.
All the main political parties have won and lost on different levels, as evidenced by the many election cases that have already been decided.
If you’re unhappy with a court’s decision and want to take it to a higher level, you can file an appeal as required by law. This is the norm in Nigeria’s more civilized neighbors.
To safeguard the safety of all Nigerians in the state of Kano, regardless of their ethnicity, gender, or religion, it is imperative that security forces take action.
The NNPP, the complaining party, has appealed the ruling. It’s crucial to keep going along that path.
He pleaded on the governor of Kano State and the state’s security forces to protect people’s lives and property.
It is Afenifere’s hope that the government of Kano State and its security forces, especially the police, will take precautions to prevent harm from coming to any of the state’s citizens.
“Every Nigerian is entitled to protection, especially law-abiding citizens,” he stated.
Ajayi pointed out to the political class that different ethnic groups are dispersed around the nation.
To avoid retaliation in another region of the country, no harm should be done to the people living there.
When we have been wronged, we must follow the legal procedures outlined by the law.
“It is important to seek the path of peace and live harmoniously with one another,” the Afenifere representative said.
