KANO RE-RUN....WE MUST BE CAREFUL

Among the six or so states going into re-run in the governorship election following INEC's declaration on March 9 that they were inconclusive, Kano holds a greater if not the greatest attention looking at elections in the country from historical perspective.

The population of Kano and behavioural pattern of voters in the state over time attract this concern. It is not for nothing that results from the ancient city is delayed for the last in every general election in the country. It always determines where the pendulum of victory and defeat swings especially in a keenly contested election with results too close to call.

The world has seen the dark side of Rivers State following the number of deaths recorded from the February 23rd Presidential/NASS election to March 9 governorship/State Assemblies election. What is to come after the suspended or cancelled poll is better imagined when election returns to the oil rich state in a yet to be determined date.. Nigerians naturally are troubled because the gladiators and their families will remain unhurt even as towns, villages and creeks become battlefields leaving the citizens (commoners) with arms brought in by the politicians to destroy themselves.

Back to Kano, government and it's security agencies must be cautious on how they go about the Kano re-run. INEC must thread cautiously. Nigerians know how complicated things could turn out in the state once the people feel they are either shortchanged or that their choice is ignored or that they are being taken for granted.

Events during and after the March 9 election which was declared inconclusive are indicators that the people may be looking at a different direction from whoever wants to convince them to toe any party line or wish of any political personality within or outside the state.. First the deputy governor and a commissioner were reportedly arrested for threatening to breach peace.

Shortly before this, it was alleged that Kano State Police Commissioner, Mohammed Yelwa Wakili rejected the sum of one hundred million naira (N100m) offered to him as an inducement to help rig the election in favour of the incumbent governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. This story went viral and has not be denied since broken even as it remains an allegation.

Just on Thursday March 14, news filtered in that the Senior Special Adviser to Ganduje on Urban Beautification has resigned his appointment. This is coming two days to the re-run. Pundits believe the people voted in the inconclusive election on ground of the old scandalous story of the video of the governor and a contractor which was a major issue towards the end of 2018.

If the people insist on the same voting pattern then, there could danger if for any reason there is manipulation as feared and alleged in some quarters that there is such agenda or interest especially after the governor returned from a meeting in Abuja and started boasting that come what may, he would be re-elected.

We or do I say government and INEC must watch it. Kano is not one of those cities where the people get intimidated or scared by the presence of security operatives. Once the people decide on what to do, they go the log. In view of this, all those who will be involved in Kano re-run must not take the will of the people for granted. The votes of the people must not be tampered with neither should the collation of results and declaration create room for suspicion among the people..The people must not be disenfranchised.