Kaduna ADC meeting disruption threat to democracy – Analysts

Political analysts yesterday flayed the disruption of a meeting of leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kaduna, describing it as a threat to democracy. They also said the trend is a threat to the future of Kaduna if it continues. It was gathered that suspected thugs invaded the venue of the meeting at […]

Political analysts yesterday flayed the disruption of a meeting of leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kaduna, describing it as a threat to democracy.

They also said the trend is a threat to the future of Kaduna if it continues.

It was gathered that suspected thugs invaded the venue of the meeting at NUT Endwell Hotel in Kaduna metropolis, smashing window glasses and throwing chairs at participants.

Participants at the meeting had complained that the disruption happened despite the presence of police officers deployed to maintain law and order.

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Daily Trust learnt that some persons sustained injuries when the suspected thugs threw stones in an attempt to disperse the gathering.

A former governor of the state, Nasir El-Rufai, who was at the venue to inaugurate a transition committee for the coalition, alongside the ADC’s North West Vice Chairman, Jafaru Sani, Bashir Sa’idu, former Chief of Staff and other coalition chieftains, accused the ruling party of being behind the attack.

However, the APC yesterday distanced itself from the incident, insisting the party does not believe in thuggery and would never support it.

 

Analysts speak

A political analyst, Multala Abubakar, who is also the convener of the Joint Action Committee for Northern Youth Associations, described the incident as a threat to democracy.

He recalled that Kaduna once enjoyed relative peace and freedom for politicians and parties to campaign, stressing that the current trend could rob Kaduna of its glory.

“Before the advent of the APC, Kaduna had remained one of the most peaceful states in terms of freedom for political parties to campaign and for politicians to express themselves.

“But this ugly trend of attacking the opposition started during the regime of former governor, Nasir El-Rufai,” he said.

He cited an incident in which members of the APC Akida faction, an internal opposition group within the party, were attacked while holding a press conference at the NUJ Secretariat in Kaduna.

He urged security agencies to remain neutral and uphold their constitutional mandate.

Another political analyst, Haruna Nasarawa, said the disruption of the ADC’s meeting as a clear signal that does not speak well of the state.

“If politics is to be taken in such a violent direction, it means we should expect a very aggressive kind of politics in the future. One can almost say that in Nigeria, there is nowhere politics will turn as fierce as in Kaduna in the next election.

“This situation does not promise anything good for the state. What ought to be done is to practise clean politics based on understanding, where everyone campaigns with convincing arguments, so that the people of Kaduna can judge who truly deserves their votes,” he added.

 

Police probe incident

Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Police Command said it had launched an investigation into the incident. In a statement issued on Saturday, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, noted that the gathering was without security notification despite warnings.

“Preliminary findings indicate that the gathering led to a clash, during which thugs and political gangsters attached to the former governor allegedly fired gunshots, causing chaos and disruption of public order and peace in the state,” he said.

The PPRO warned owners of hotels and event centres against hosting unauthorised political meetings without notifying security agencies.

It was not clear as at press time who the thugs were as nobody was reported to have been arrested.

The ADC’s state chairman Ahmed Tijjani, could not be reached when our correspondent sought to get his reaction to the allegation that the meeting was held without police permission.

 

El-Rufai reacts

El-Rufai, in an interview on Channels Television on Sunday night, alleged that the Kaduna State Government was behind the attack, adding that the police were on ground but did nothing to stop the mayhem.

He said while waiting for the outcome of police investigation, he would submit a petition to the Inspector-General of Police and the Police Service Commission about what happened.

“It is at the root of the failure of our policing system,” he alleged.

The former governor also asked the authorities to act accordingly to prevent Nigerians from resorting to self-help; a situation he said would not augur well for the country.

“The police were there, I don’t know what they are investigating,” he said.

El-Rufai said the attempt by the police to issue a statement implying that “we as a political party will invite thugs to invade and disrupt our event is a sure sign that our policing system has collapsed.”

“We no longer have thinking people like my former course mate, Solomon Arase, in the police. A gentleman, may his soul rest in peace.  We used to have policemen. Now, we have shadows of the police,” he said.

“No one can abridge my rights of association. No one can ask me to give any notice. I can give if I choose. It is not a legal or a constitutional requirement, and people should stop overreaching themselves just because they have a position today.

“I was governor of that state for eight years. Never at any time did I stop any opposition party from having meetings or say that venues should not allow meetings to take place. This is an overreach,” he said.

To those questioning his membership of the coalition, El-Rufai said: “I am not just a member of the ADC, I am one of the leaders of the coalition. I am one of those that worked to bring this thing together.”

 

APC debunks allegations

The APC State Secretary in Kaduna, Yahaya Baba-Pate, insisted the ruling party had no hand in the disruption of the ADC’s meeting.

“As I always say, APC is a law-abiding political party. We don’t engage in thuggery and we don’t support thuggery. We believe in the tenets of democracy. We can never belittle ourselves and engage in such an unlawful act.

“My appeal to the people is to continue to be law-abiding and to continue to support our government, the government of Uba Sani, and APC in general,” he said.