The Kano State Government has faulted the police for banning Sallah festivities in the State.
The Kano State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Haruna Dederi questioned the authority of the police to ban Sallah celebrations in the State.
Recall that the Kano State Police Command had issued an order banning all Durbar activities throughout the State for the upcoming Eid-el-Kabir (Sallah) celebrations.
The police said this was part of enhanced security measures to ensure public safety and peace in the State during the festive period.
However, ban on Sallah festivities has not gone down well with the State Government.
In a statement, Dederi accused the police to have repeatedly failed to follow the State Governor’s lawful directives as the Chief Security Officer.
“I am compelled to ask the question: who is usurping the authority of the Commander-In-Chief?
“Because some people are dishing-out directives to security chiefs in the State so much so that the State Police Commissioner without any consultation with the Chief Security Officer of the State or approval from the State Security Council had issued an order banning Eid-el-Kabir festivities in Kano State.
“How can anybody in his right senses ban Sallah festivities in Kano? and when did the State Governor seized to be the Chief Security Officer of the State that he will only see such ban on social media?
“Who is pushing the State Commissioner of Police to usurp the authority of the Governor?
“It’s important to stress that the Commissioner of Police has been consistent in disobeying the legitimate instructions of the Governor as Chief Security Officer, hiding behind orders from above. I ask gain, what is the offence of Kano people that the Nigeria Police penciled them for destruction?” Dederi queried.
Delving into the background of the crisis in Kano State, he recalled that the State House of Assembly, on May 23, passed the Emirates Council repeal bill which the governor assented to.
He added that the governor gave his nod after consulting with all the relevant stakeholders, including law enforcement agencies.
He said that the move was necessitated by the need to correct the wrongs committed against the people of the state.
He noted a recent ruling by a Federal High Court, sitting in Kano, on the deposition of the 15th Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero.
The court had declared that Bayero’s rights were infringed upon as he was placed under house arrest.
It also awarded costs against the state government, in Bayero’s favour.
While declaring the state’s intention to appeal against the ruling, Dederi faulted the court’s claim that Bayero’s fundamental rights were infringed upon.
“In our view, no fundamental rights of Bayero were infringed. No one forced him into Gidan Nasarawa, belonging to the state government.
“He went in there of his own volition, accompanied by security guards. No one put him under house arrest. The state governor has the constitutional duty to ensure the protection of lives and properties.
“When Bayero came in, accompanied by hoodlums, he (governor) had a duty to act, that was why he issued an arrest order.
“Even then, the arrest was never effected by the security agencies,” he said.
He said that Bayero was staying in Nasarawa “against the instruction of the state government”.
“So, any claim of the breach of the fundamental human rights of Bayero cannot be made against the government of Kano State,” he said.
Dederi pointed out that Bayero was not the first emir to be deposed in the history of northern Nigeria, asserting that if his rights were being infringed in any way, “it must be by those that smuggled him into the city and kept him in Nasarawa”.
He regretted that “surreptitious and clandestine” moves were being made to undermine the authority of the governor and take over the control of the state.
He called on all democrats in the country to prevail on those concerned to allow the people of Kano to live in peace.
“Any attempt by anybody to do otherwise is an assault on democracy,” he declared.