The gubernatorial candidate of New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, Abba Yusuf, on Tuesday said the police are to blame for increase in political violence in the state.
The candidate disclosed this at the Kano Peace Summit organised by the state police command in partnership with AMG Foundation and other civil society organisations under the auspices of G31.
In a statement by the candidate’s spokesperson, Sanusi Dawakin-Tofa, Mr Yusuf said the opposition parties in Kano were united against any form of intimidation and blackmail by the ruling APC, explaining that it used the incumbency factor for victimisation of selected members of the society.
He alleged that violent attacks were orchestrated by the state APC chairman Abdullahi Abbas and his son Sani Abdullahi-Abbas, aka Ochi.
The NNPP gubernatorial candidate said that unless the police and other security agencies were ready to conduct their duty professionally with fairness and objectivity, the people of Kano should be allowed to explore the means of self defence as provided by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“We have seen how some police officers aiding and abetting violent attacks by the APC political thugs. My entourage was attacked and our family house in Chiranchi quarters of Gwale Local Government was also attacked, despite several written complaints, no action was taken till date,” Mr Yusuf said.
He expressed commitment to give maximum cooperation for the conduct of free, fair, credible and peaceful elections in 2023 if the security and the electoral umpire remain unbiased.
In his response, the state commissioner of police, CP Mamman Dauda, reiterated his readiness to work with all stakeholders in ensuring peaceful coexistence in the state before, during and after the elections.
Speaking on behalf of the civil society partners, the founder of AMG Foundation Aminu Magashi-Garba, gave the commitment of the civil society to promotion of peace and security throughout the election process.
