By Adnan Tudunwada
The recently released politician in Jigawa State, Zakari Kafin-Hausa, has reiterated his unwavering determination to continue his criticisms of the policies of the state government, despite his 4-day incarceration.
Mr KafinHausa was on Tuesday granted bail by the Dutse Magistrate Court, following public outrage over his arrest, with Governor Badaru Abubakar’s predecessor, Sule Lamido among the multitude that visited the politician-cum-blogger in the prison.
Mr Badaru had allegedly ordered the arrest of the politician in Kano last week due to his consistent social media criticism on the governor’s policies on agriculture, education and healthcare delivery in the state.
But soon after his bail application was granted by Magistrate Isa Miga, the youthful politician appeared unfazed and affirmed his readiness to continue with his online activism.
He told DAILY NIGERIAN that “I believe I’m being persecuted because of the consistency of my criticisms against the administration’s many bad policies in agriculture, education and healthcare delivery.
“I will not be intimidated by this, my advocacy for good governance in Jigawa state did not start today. I will keep doing what I started until things get better.”
He was said to be arrested at Mr Lamido’s house in Kano, and the arrest was said to be the fifth under the present administration in the state.
Mr Kafin-Hausa was then charged before the magistrate’s court in Dutse for defamation of character, false and injurious statements against the governor.
He denied all the allegations leveled against him, and was later remanded in prison.
His lawyer applied for his bail application but was denied and the matter was adjourned to June 21, 2017 for subsequent hearing.
But the public outcry necessitated the court to summon the case even before the scheduled date and granted the bail on June 19, two days ahead of the earlier slated date.
This latest scenario was not the first time political opponents of the governor were arrested.
Last month, the Nigerian Police, Zone 1 in Kano invited former governor Sule Lamido for interrogation over a petition sent to it by the Jigawa state government that a statement he made prior to local government election in the state was capable of inciting violence.
Mr Lamido was consequently arraigned to court and sent to Kiyawa prison, where he spent two days before he was granted bail.
