A senator representing Kano Central, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has broken his silence hours after shelving his planned visit to Kano amid security concerns.
The former governor was summoned to the Presidential Villa on Monday, where he met with the vice president, Yemi Osinbajo.
Speaking in his residence on Monday, Mr Kwankwaso said he suspended the planned homecoming rally due to calls from “respected personalities” in Kano and Abuja, who pleaded with him to cancel the visit.
“The retreat of a ram does not mean cowardice. I only heeded the call of some respected personalities in Kano and Abuja to suspend the visit.
“Save for the time I was in Kano on condolence visit when the governor’s mother died, I have not been in Kano for almost three years,” he said.
He said some political leaders in Kano connived with the police in Kano and Abuja to block his visit.
“Today, police have taken over Kano just to deny a citizen his fundamental rights.
“I am surprised that Kano is militaralized under democratic dispensation. Kano appears like a war zone today,” he added.
Asked whether he cancelled the visit out of fear, Mr Kwankwaso retorted, saying he does not fear anybody.
“I do not fear anybody. I’ve been a minister of defense; and as minister, the army, the air force and navy personnel addressed me as ‘sir’,” he stated.
Mr Kwankwaso said he would soon fix another day soon to visit Kano, noting that the next homecoming rally would be more impressive than this.
