Former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso has vowed to visit Kano on January 30, despite being warned to shelve the idea by the state police command.
Mr. Kwankwaso, now serving senator, who spoke through his media aide, Binta Sipikin, said he will visit the state peacefully to see his constituents.
During the planned visit, he said seven camera drones and three international media outfits will be deployed as well as his top national and international friends.
Mr. Kwankwaso said his visit is well-planned and will be very peaceful.
“We are coming to visit friends, families and other relatives that for a long time, we have not seen. We have coordinated this visit with seven camera drones and other apparatus that would make it a hitch-free homecoming,” Mr. Kwankwaso said.
The Kano State Police Command had earlier advised Mr. Kwankwaso, to shelve his proposed visit to Kano warning that it may lead to chaos.
It also said the law would be allowed to take its full course in the event of a breakdown of law and order as a result of the controversial visit.
The State Police Commissioner, Rabiu Yusuf, said the police would not allow a breakdown of law and order due to tension over the visit.
“We received credible intelligence reports that there is serious palpable fear among the citizens of Kano on the proposed visit and tension is already high, that is why we carefully asked Kwankwaso to shelve his visit till the tension is low.
“Although Senator Kwankwaso, like any other citizen, has the constitutional right of association, assembly and above all movement, however credible information at the disposal of the command reveals that the visit would rather cause uncertainty,” he added.
“Consequently upon this, the urgent need to nip the problems in the bud cannot be overemphasised and the primary responsibility of the Nigeria Police force is to protect life, therefore, any attempt to jeopardise the peace should be averted.
“On this premise, it is the candid advice of the command that such a visit to the state should be shelved by Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso until tension generated by the planned visit is doused and security threat neutralised,” the police boss said.
The commissioner, however, admitted he a letter from Mr. Kwankwaso requesting for permission to visit Kano dated January 16, 2018, but which was submitted to his office on January 25.
Mr. Kwankwaso has been locked in a battle with his estranged godson and Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, over the control of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
The disagreement has resulted in clashes between supporters of the two political heavyweights and observers warn it can threaten the party’s chances of presenting a unified front in the 2019 general elections.
