Protesters storm Kano Govt. House, despite police ban
By Abdullahi Yusuf
Hundreds of protesters led by a coalition of Civil Society Organisations on Monday stormed the Government House, Kano, calling for justice and fairness in the cases before the Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in the state.
The demonstration took place despite an earlier ban on the exercise by the State Police Command issued on Monday.
The protests took place under the auspices of Kano Civil Society Organisations and Northwest Anticorruption Network led by leader of the coalition and Chairman of the Kano Civil Society Forum, Ambassador Ibrahim Wayya.
The protesters presented an open letter to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf containing their demands for justice and fairness in the cases before the Tribunal, urging the Governor to forward their letter to president Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Receiving the protesters, Gov. Abba Kabir Yusuf commended the peaceful manner of the exercise and promised to forward their letter to the President.
The Police Commissioner in the state, Usaini Mohammed Gumel, had earlier banned protests in the state after members of the ruling NNPP and the APC asked their members to take to the streets ahead of judgements in the cases before the Tribunal.
Gumel warned that any attempt to disrespect the ban would be treated as an offence against National Security.
“Members of the public should therefore note that it has come to our knowledge that both the APC and the NNPP members are currently mobilizing rented crowds in the guise of Civil Society Coalition and without clearance from the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress and without prior approval from the security agencies in the state.
“Both organizers, as well as the umbrella body, should note that any attempt to disrespect NLC and the Security Agencies in the state, by playing around the fragile security situation, which the combined security agencies have been managing, is not only uncivil, criminal but also an offence against National Security,” the commissioner said.
