Undiplomatic comments by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano state have been blamed for the ongoing arson and looting in the state.
Coordinator, Advocacy for Good Governance (A4GG), Hashim Abubakar in a statement made available to newsmen, said the governor’s “careless comments during a stakeholders meeting at the Government House, Kano clearly undermine the authority of the police to maintain law and order.”
He said by also inviting the protesters to the Government House, the governor sent a wrong signal to the would-be arsonists which emboldened them to perpetrate the violent act.
“What is supposed to be a peaceful protests turned violent because the state chief executive pick quarrel with the police commissioner by openly condemning him and undermining his authority,” the statement indicated.
He said at a precarious situation like this when effort should be geared toward maintaining peace, the governor encourages breakdown of law and order by his undiplomatic comments.
“Even if you have personal grudges against the police commissioner in the state, openly undermining his authority will send a wrong signal to those bent on using the opportunity to unleash violence,” the statement added.
A4GG further noted that as an opposition state, the governor wanted to absolve himself from the present predicament in the country, saying “there was political undertones to the comments that seemingly hit at the government at the centre.”
Hashim said Governor Yusuf should be blamed for the destruction of lives and property in the orgy of violence that erupted from what was supposed to be a peaceful demonstration.
The coordinator added that the governor, who also felt encouraged by the traditional institution led by the embattled Emir, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi
