The immediate past governor of Kano state, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has reacted to rallies allegedly being organized by the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led state government against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The main targets of the rallies are believed to be Kwankwaso himself, who currently represents Kano Central at the National Assembly, and his protege cum current deputy governor, Hafiz Abubakar, who has raised alarm over threat to his life.
In 2014, Kwankwaso tipped Abubakar, an academic and a Professor of Nutrition at Bayero University Kano, to run with incumbent Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.
It was gathered Monday night that youths have been mobilised across the 44 local government areas of the state.
The sponsors were said to have heightened their plan after Kwankwaso and a former Kano Governor Ibrahim Shekarau, met in Abuja.
Speaking to DAILY POST on Tuesday through Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam, his Senior Legislative Aide, SLA, Kwankwaso said though he and his supporters are non-violent, they will fight back if attacked.
He also called on security agencies to ensure that peace, law and order are maintained in Kano.
Abdulsalam said: “Anybody sponsoring demonstration against the Senator should know that his supporters have equal right to demonstrate in his favour.
“We will see how many people they would call out and they would see how many people we can call out. It is politics; I am happy that they are doing this. Let them try it, let them do it. We will see how far they can go.”
Abdulsalam, who was Kwankwaso’s Chief of Staff, also spoke on fears that the rallies could turn violent as members of Kwankwasiya and Gandujiya – staunch followers of Kwankwaso and Ganduje respectively – may cross path.
“As for the clashes, as far as Kwakwasiya is concerned, we will not fight anybody in Kano unless anybody dared attack Kwankwasiya members.
“If we are attacked, we believe law enforcement agents will be there to stop it. But if they don’t, we have every right to self-defense. We will definitely defend ourselves, certainly,” he said.
