Re-run: Kano elders warn against violence

Yakubu Salisu, Kano

Kano elders under the auspices of Kano Concerned Citizens Initiative (KCCI) on Monday declared that it wouldn’t fold its arms and allow anyone plunge the state into chaos.

Chairman of the group, Alhaji Bashir Tofa alongside eminent members of the group made the statement while speaking to newsmen over recent unpleasant happenings in the political circle within the state.

Tofa said that the elders will do everything possible to protect and prevent Kano state from been engulfed by political instigated violence on account of the ordinate ambition of any individual.

According to Tofa, a one-time presidential candidate of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC) the body is disturbed, anxious, concerned and troubled by the seeming discord and agitations manifesting in Kano since the collation of the March 9 election results which culminated in INEC declaring it inconclusive.

He called on political leaders to desist from unguarded utterances capable of inflaming passions which could trigger violence.

“It is incumbent upon political leaders to strictly obey the rules of engagement and the law by admonishing their members, operatives and followers to be mindful of the full wrath of the law this time around,” the ex-presidential candidate warned, adding that open monetary and other unlawful inducements must never be condoned during the re-run elections.

Tofa, however, charged security agencies to remain alert from now on until the formal declaration of the re-run election results and thereafter, and further urged them to provide sufficient personnel to each of the polling units scattered over the 88 registration areas in the 30 affected local government areas of the state.

“Security operatives must be seen to be upright and above board, and completely non -partisan. They have done well during the previous elections but the rerun exercise may yet prove to be more arduous and daunting.

“It also becomes imperative to take such security measures as would prevent people from neighboring states, who are non -residents of the state from coming in to partake in the March 23 re -rerun elections to forestall unnecessary tension or violence,” he added.

Furthermore, he stressed that, the youth need to wake up to the reality that it is their future which KCCI and every well -meaning person in Kano is trying to nurture and secure.