Thousands of youths on Saturday staged protests at Kofar Kudu, Emir’s Palace, Kano over appointment of new emirs by the state governor, Abdullahi Ganduje.
On May 8, Mr Ganduje assented to a law that created for more emirates with first class emirship status in Rano, Karaye, Gaya and Bichi.
DAILY NIGERIAN gathered that the youths were chanting and holding placards, calling on the governor rescind his decision and respect court order.
Read the full speech of the leader of the protest, Yusuf Isyaku Rabiu.
Expression of Dissatisfaction Over the Creation of the Additional Emirates and Pension RIghts Bill in Kano State
It is with a heavy heart that we, the Kano First Forum, a coalition of other Civil Society Organizations and like-minded Kano citizens wishes to notify the general public, the good people of Kano State, that we reject the signed bill into law by the Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje for the creation of four new emirates for Gaya, Rano, Karaye and Bichi, all of which used to be districts under the Kano Emirate Council following an amendment by the lawmakers of the Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Law of the state. This is surely disheartening to all of us, being the Kano citizens based on these unfolding development geared towards tarnishing the image and heritage of Kano State, which is traced back to over 2000 years ago. The emirate is our cultural heritage and anywhere in the world cultural heritage is revered and respected. Thus, we deemed it necessary to stage here and castigate the move.
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Kano State being the center of commerce and the city that thrives to compete with other megacities in Africa, our expectation by the Kano State House of Assembly and Kano State Government is to call or hear from the public and pass a bill that will focus on establishing a strategic approach over our key challenges in the healthcare system in the state, the status of our educational system, a strategic framework that will revamp our economy as a state, measures to the issues of unemployment, thuggery or how to demolish an almajiri system among others in the state. All of these have a direct effect on our wellbeing and continue to instigate a threat to our prosperity and security system in the State.
We are here also, to express our dissatisfaction over the bill that was passed into law, the Pensions Rights of Speaker and Deputy Law 2019, which will enable the two presiding officers to earn life pension after leaving the office. The lawmakers did not do justice to the people of Kano State. The law that granted the speaker and his deputy life pension benefits and that they would enjoy medical trips once in 12 months and choice of vehicles every four years is groundless, baseless and unsupported. We need a law to rechannel those resources to our over 1,600 healthcare facilities in the State. We also need another to revive our over 6,000 primary and secondary schools in Kano.
1. This will surely bring disunity and enmity among our people, specifically among the four emerging Emirates. Considering the comments emerging from Bichi, Rano, Karaye and Gaya on conventional and social media, one can quickly draw this conclusion that chaos may ensue thereafter. What happens between Katsina and the Daura Emirates, Hadejia and Kazaure Emirates are lessons to be learned.
2. The House is not being fair to the State as there are more pressing issues that need their urgent attention as such: education, water supply, health, and the entire state economy and businesses. It has recently been discovered that over 3.5 million youths are jobless in Kano. Therefore the Kano populace would prefer them addressing one of the above in a kind gesture than creating what will only engender their unity and uphold the interest of few individuals at the detriment of over 15 million people.
3. The Kano First Forum and the entire like-minded citizens of Kano are expecting to hear the development or commitment of the anti-corruption agency and the State House of Assembly on the bribe-taking videos which incriminate the Kano State Governor.
Lastly, our call to the members of Kano State House of Assembly and Kano State Government is that they should consider the above reasons and remember that posterity will judge them for what they do. They should also note that we will not relent on this issue and we will challenge it in the court. We are very optimistic that victory is ours.
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Long live Kano St