How Ganduje, Kwankwaso’s supporters turned Kano emir’s palace battle ground

Apparently, the battle of supremacy between the incumbent Governor of Kano state, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and his predecessor, Dr Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso is gradually taking a new twist with supporters of the two politicians engaging in bloody clash, Kano Chronicle can report. On Saturday, September 2, 2017, supporters of Kwankwaso and Ganduje under the […]

Apparently, the battle of supremacy between the incumbent Governor of Kano state, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and his predecessor, Dr Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso is gradually taking a new twist with supporters of the two politicians engaging in bloody clash, Kano Chronicle can report.

On Saturday, September 2, 2017, supporters of Kwankwaso and Ganduje under the auspices of Kwankwasiyya and Gandujiyya had a serious fight at Kofar-Kudu, Emir’s palace during the famous Hawan Daushe.

Kano Chronicle gathered that there were two strong versions as to what exactly caused the clash. The first version indicated that the fight was emanated from the members of Kwankwasiyya group. It was said that the group hired some youth from the northwestern states with aim of embarrassing Governor Ganduje during the traditional durbar.

It was further learnt that, the arrangement was that each person that accept to wear the red cap and attend the durbar will be given N5, 000. However, squabble erupted between the hired youth and those that invited them to Kano over the N5, 000 allowances. It was said that some of the youth were given N2, 000 each instead of N5, 000, a situation that ignited a rift between the youth and those that hired them.

Kano Chronicle also gathered that around 2pm of the fateful Saturday, fight ensued between the hired  youth and their sponsors which led to their break away from the Kwankwasiyya group and joined Gandujiyya and confronted Kwankwasiyya members at the main entrance of emir’s palace.

However, the second version of the story revealed that the attack was carried out solely by three different groups of Gandujiyya. 

The first group of hoodlums armed with dangerous local weapons allegedly led by one Baballe Kumbotso arrived at the scene and launched the attack by removing the red caps off the heads of some Kwankwasiyya loyalists including Dr Danyaro Ali Yakasai, Musa Salihu and Ibrahim Danzuru among others and subsequently attacked them.

Shortly after, the second group allegedly led by Baffa Babba Dan Agundi, a member of the Kano State House of Assembly, representing Kano Municipal also arrived at the scene and launched its attack on Kwankwasiyya members including former Secretary to State Government, Dr Rabi’u Sulaiman Bichi, former Commissioner of Water Resource, Dr Yunusa Adamu Dangwani, former Commissioner of Land, Yusuf Bello Dambatta and a younger brother to Senator Kwankwaso, Yahaya Musa Kwankwaso among others.

The third group allegedly led by Personal Assistant to Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, one Khalid Ishaq also stormed the scene with dangerous weapons and attacked people including Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam, Abba K. Yusuf and Baba Abubakar Umar and many others.

One of the injured members of Kwankwasiyya and former SSG, Dr Bichi in his petition to the Assistant Inspector General of Police in-charge of Zone one, narrated how he was attacked allegedly by Dan Agundi-led group.

He said, “We were busy watching the colorful durbar when suddenly these people appeared at the scene with dangerous weapons and started attacking us. I have witnessed when one of them severally hit me with heavy stick in the head. And, while other attempted to stab me with lethal weapons, Yahaya Musa Kwankwaso shielded me and took the stab on his left shoulder as a result of which he sustained serious injury.”

Kano Chronicle learnt that Dr Bichi, Kwankwaso and other injured members of the group were rushed to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH)where they were treated and discharged.

The former SSG in the petition accused Baffa Babba Danagundi, Danbello Aminu Kofar Nassarawa, Danbaba Yankaji and one other of attempting to kill him. He therefore appealed to the AIG to conduct thorough investigation into the matter and bring the culprits to justice.

Another victim of the attack, Dr Yunusa Adamu Dangwani, said the attack was carried out by Governor Ganduje’s supporters in connivance with some unpatriotic police personnel, saying over 20 members of Kwankwasiyya group were severely injured during the attack.

“It is unfortunate that the governor has chosen violence in fighting every individual and group perceived to be against his style of leadership. The governor’s decision is degenerating into a serious cause for concern. We did not vote FOR him to use our money and hire thugs to attack innocent people. We will not allow this to continue under our watch. We are going to take a legal action on this matter and we will not let this issue to go unchecked.”

Kano Chronicle  reliably gathered that the Kwankwasiyya movement has also petitioned the Inspector General of Police, calling on him to bring to book the following people, AC (Metro) Balarabe Sule, OC Anti-Daba SP Talle, Baffa Babba Danagundi, Sani Lawal Kofar Mata, Khalid Ishaq, Sharu Danzare, Aminu Dantubani Kofar Nassarawa, Danbello Aminu Kofar Nassarawa, Danbabba Yankaji, Babba Yakudima and Junaidu Gwale.

The group further alleged that the Hawan Daushe attack was aimed at eliminating some high profile of the movement who the Ganduje-led supporters consider as threat.

But reacting to the allegation, Alhaji Baffa Babba Dan Agundi, a member of the Kano State House of Assembly, who was accused of leading a group of thugs to attack the Kwankwasiyya members, denied the allegation, saying “I have never led any attack on Kwankwasiyya members.

“It is not true. How can a lawmaker lead others to take laws into their hands? This is something that cannot happen. Of course, I have attended the durbar with my supporters, but those accompanied me to the venue of the durbar were holding brooms which is a symbol of our great party, All Progressive Congress (APC) but not weapons as claimed by Kwankwasiyya people.

“The Kwankwasiyya group should blame someone else but not me. I am a lawmaker, so there is no way I can take laws into my hands. I am happy that police has commenced investigation, I am sure they will get to the root of the matter.”

On his part, the Chairman of the Ganduje-led APC, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas has distanced the governor and the party from the clash, saying “It unfair for the members of Kwankwasiyya to blame the governor and his loyalists for the attack. I want state categorically that the governor and his loyalists have no hand whatsoever in the unfortunate attack.”

“Prior to the clash, precisely on the 28th August, 2017, I wrote a letter to the commissioner of police informing him about the Kwankwasiyya’s plan to disrupt the Hawan Daushe. They met at Dr Rabi’u Sulaiman Bichi’s house and strategised on how to disrupt the durbar.

And, after the clash, I also wrote another letter to the police commissioner and make reference to my first letter. I called on the police to take serious action on the matter and I am confident they will.”

The Commissioner of Information, Malam Muhammad Garba, also dispelled the allegation that the attack was sponsored by Ganduje-led government, saying “Ganduje-led administration is the most tolerant government in the country.

“I can confidently tell you that Kwankwasiyya group had a plan to embarrass the governor during the durbar and fortunately for him they did not succeed. I have personally visited victims of the clash in the hospital and to my surprise, out of the eight people I met in the hospital, two were from Zamfara, one from Katsina, two from Kaduna and three others were members of Gandujiyya group.

Garba, who commiserated with those injured during the dastardly act, also assured that upon completion of investigation by the Police, the full weight of the law would be brought to bear on any person or group found to be the perpetrators of the attack.

He suggested that Kano state government and emirate council should re-organise the durbar in such a way that only decent people would attend, noting that the durbar could be used to attract investors, generate revenue and create job opportunities for our teaming unemployed youth.

He said the traditional Hawan Daushe should not be used by disgruntled elements as a platform to foment trouble, adding that “the state government is working with the Emirate Council and the relevant security agencies to ensure that similar incidents never happen again.”

On his part, the State Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Yusuf has blamed Kwankwasiyya group for the unfortunate clash. The commissioner, who spoke through the command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Magaji Musa Majia, said a powerful team of detectives had been inaugurated to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the clash.

Yusuf said the terms of reference of the team was to identify the victims, attackers, their sponsors and any action or inaction against the Police.

He assured that, “The command will leave no stone unturned in the course of its investigation. We will not allow this kind of things to continue in Kano. We are ever ready to protect lives and properties of every citizen.”