The Kano State Government on has called for the arrest of former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje and Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, over alleged incitement of bandits and plans to create a 12,000-member religious police outfit known as Khairul Nas.
Ganduje and Jibrin have, however, faulted the state government, describing its call as reckless and baseless.
The state Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Waiya, briefed newsmen after the State Executive Council meeting, on Friday night.
He said, “The council deliberated extensively over the recent inflammatory statements made by a former Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and the Deputy Senate President Barau I Jibrin, who alleged that the state is vulnerable to banditry and further announced plans to recruit 12,000 individuals under a proposed religious police outfit named Khairul Nas.
“The utterances were inciting, reckless, and capable of undermining the security efforts of Kano State Government and the President Tinubu led administration, which demonstrated genuine concern for the plight of its citizens and had continued to work tirelessly to safeguard their lives and properties across the nation.
“Accordingly, the council expressed its appreciation to the Federal Government and security agencies for their ongoing support in the fight against the insecurity and therefore called for the immediate investigation and arrest of the former governor for attempting to create an illegal militia group.”
The state government also linked the comments to a security incident, noting, “Less than 48 hours after the statements, suspected bandits infiltrated some border communities in the state, raising concerns that the remarks might have been premeditated or linked to the assault.”
Ganduje’s reacts
In a statement issued on Saturday by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu, Ganduje described the call for his arrest as unfounded.
He said, “The call for my arrest is reckless, baseless, and a clear reflection of the Kano state governor’s desperation and incompetent.”
Ganduje said the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf was abdicating its responsibilities.
He added, “It is deeply unfortunate that rather than addressing the escalating insecurity ravaging the state, Governor Yusuf has chosen to chase shadows while searching for scapegoats to conceal his glaring failures.”
He said the governor had not shown empathy to affected communities.
“At a time when communities such as Bagwai, Shanono, and Tsanyawa, other affected areas are living in fear, the governor has neither visited nor shown empathy toward the victims. His continued absence in moments that require leadership speaks volumes of his disconnect from the people he claims to serve,” he added.
The statement noted that Ganduje had never been associated with violence and insisted that as governor he kept the state secure for eight years.
It further urged Yusuf to focus on his constitutional responsibilities rather than issuing what Ganduje described as frivolous statements.
Barau’s rebuttal
Deputy Senate President, Jibrin, also rejected the allegations in a press release issued by his media aide, Ismail Mudashir, on Saturday.
The statement read, “The attention of the media office of the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I Jibrin, CFR, FCNA, has been drawn to false, reckless and malicious claims by the Kano State Government through the state Commissioner of Information, Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya that His Excellency, the Deputy President of the Senate, made a statement capable of undermining the security efforts in the state.
“It is unfortunate that the state government has relegated governance to this low by concocting and fabricating lies to tarnish the growing reputation of the Deputy President of the Senate.
“There was no time when Senator Barau uttered any statement capable of undermining security efforts; instead, he has been at the forefront, collaborating with all stakeholders to address the insecurity challenges in parts of Kano and other areas in the country.”
Challenging the state government, the statement added, “We challenge them to produce the clip in which the Deputy President of the Senate made any statement that could undermine security efforts.”
Barau urged the governor to focus on the state’s problems.
“Until governance was relegated to the background, our beloved state, Kano, used to be a very close second to Lagos in terms of prosperity, but unfortunately, misgovernance has eroded this.
“We have everything necessary to restore the glorious days of our state, but the governor is not taking steps in that direction,” he said.
The statement outlined Barau’s contributions to security, including provision of vehicles, motorcycles, renovation of police infrastructure, assistance to the DSS, and facilitation of security training institutions.
“The state government should emulate him and not cast aspersions on his personality,” the statement concluded.
