In anticipation of the Supreme Court’s verdict on the Kano State governorship election, the Hausa community in Sagamu, Ogun State, took to the streets on Tuesday to protest perceived injustice.
Governor Abba Yusuf challenges the nullification of his victory, prompting concerns over reported discrepancies. In Ogun State, northern protesters, predominantly youth, voiced fears of potential crisis spreading from Kano to the southern part of the country. They urged President Bola Tinubu’s intervention and emphasized the need to protect Kano’s mandate to prevent chaos.
Armed with placards bearing various inscriptions, the protesters expressed concern that judicial technicalities could overturn the wishes of Kano State voters as expressed during the March 18, 2023, governorship election. They warned that the mandate in Kano must be protected and defended from being snatched under any guise to avoid anarchy.
Some of the inscriptions on their placards included: “Avoid bloodshed, ensure peace in Kano”; “We are safe in the South, but injustice in Kano may spread violence”; “The Kano problem may spread to the South”; “No to injustice, avoid anarchy in Kano”; “We are behind our mandate in Kano”; “Justice for peace in Kano” and “No to injustice, avoid anarchy in Kano” among others.
Speaking with journalists, one of the leaders of the protesters, Alhaji Nasir Seriki-Kano, said, ”We are gathered here today to tell the government that the issue in Kano State can lead to something unimaginable because we are ready to defend our mandate.
“But those who want to manipulate our votes in Kano should know that we are watching. We demand justice for Kano; we are here in southwestern Nigeria, and if anything happens in Kano, it is going to spread to other parts of Nigeria. We are warning now, and let the governments take note.”
