Information Minister, Mr. Labaran Maku has accused Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso of waging a desperate and paranoid the campaign of calumny against the Federal Government and President Goodluck Jonathan.
A statement signed by Joseph Mutah,chief Press secretary to Maku said the Minister’s was reacting tothe recent allegation by Governor Kwankwaso that the President is after his life in the wake of the violence that erupted in Kano following the widely reported politicisation of the selection process that led to the announcement of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the Emir of Kano.
The minister said “ It is a known fact that the appointment of traditional rulers is within the purview of State Governments and and it is surprising why Kwankwaso has chosen to drag the name of the President into the succession crisis rocking the Kano Emirate.
“Instead of throwing tantrums and casting aspersions on imaginary enemies, Kwankwaso should face the people of Kano and explain to them the role he and APC leaders played in the imbroglio. The Police in Kano have offered explanations why officers and men were deployed to guard the palace of the Emir, yet Governor Kwankwaso decided to further his unbridled campaign of blackmail against the President and the Federal Government”the statement said.
Maku said “ The recent outbursts of Kwankwaso have lent credence to observations in some quarters that the Governor is now afraid of his own shadow as the people of Kano become increasingly impatient with his years of one-man rule under which he imposes his will on the state in total disregard to the wishes of the people of Kano.
According to the minister “His altercations with the late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero shortly before the Emir’s death is a case in point. Governor Kwankwaso has no respect for anyone, not even for the traditional institution of his own state. After the recent denial of freedom of choice for the people of Kano by imposing local government chairmen and councillors on them, he then took on the late Kano Monarch shortly before his demise. Governor Kwankwaso, as is well known to the public, then went on a highly politicised selection process, turning the acsension to the throne of Kano into a partisan political enterprise during which prominent APC leaders and some Governors moved to Kano reportedly to influence the outcome.
“ The result is the outpouring of anger and protests in the ancient city of Kano with unfortunate breakdown of law and order. Governor Kwankwaso is therefore singularly responsible for the violence in his state. The selection of successors to other traditional institutions in other parts of the North in recent years has not witnessed the kind of public anger and protests and violence that greeted the exercise conducted by Kwankwaso at the Government House in Kano.
“The police authorities in the light of the violent opposition to the highly political selection process for the new Emir of Kano only helped to restore law and order and to protect the historic palace of the throne of Kano from being razed down or destroyed by irate and agrieved people of Kano. To turn round to blame President Jonathan or the Federal Government for the crisis is the height of delusion and irresponsibility on the part of Governor Kwankwaso. He is the architect of the crisis and violence and if he has a conscience, he should examine his role in all this unfortunate and needless crisis he has plunged the ancient city of Kano and its respected traditional institution into in recent weeks.
Maku insists that “The latest claim by Governor Kwankwaso is wild and outlandish and does not fit into the character of President Jonathan or the Federal Government of Nigeria under this President.
“We urge the people of Kano to remain peaceful and law abiding and shun recourse to violence in spite of the highhandedness of Governor Kwankwaso and his associates. Governor Kwankwaso should face the anger of his people and leave President Jonathan and the Federal Government alone.
Kwankwaso told some journalists earlier in the week,“I have told my friends, and people of Kano, Nigerians and indeed the international community to hold Jonathan responsible for whatever happens to Kwankwaso, his family or even the people of Kano State.”
