Leave the Kangiwas alone
As a consequence, the writer observed, the print media in particular, are coming under attack from the very audience that supports and strengthens them-the lawyers, corporate organizations and some of the honourable men and women that have been the traditional allies of free press and from even those civil servants, legislators and politicians who certainly […]
As a consequence, the writer observed, the print media in particular, are coming under attack from the very audience that supports and strengthens them-the lawyers, corporate organizations and some of the honourable men and women that have been the traditional allies of free press and from even those civil servants, legislators and politicians who certainly do not see themselves as enemies of free press.
I was recently compelled to agree with this writer after reading in the Desert Herald, an opinion piece titled: “Excesses of Tagwayen Kangiwa,” by one Lawal Ibrahim Kangiwa in which he vented certain pent-up personal jealousies on Hassan and Hussaini Kangiwa, both retired Comptrollers of Immigration and Customs respectively. I was baffled by that piece because I personally know the two gentlemen affected by it.
Hassan and Hussaini Kangiwa notably known in Kebbi state as the Kangiwa brothers are two honourable gentlemen and far beyond those unsubstantiated allegations of abuse of office and political deceit levelled against them by that faceless, cowardly critic. I find all those allegations baseless, mischievous and misplaced which might have informed why the writer could not disclose his true identity because no person goes by the name Lawal Ibrahim in the whole of Kangiwa town. Lets assume Lawal is what he claimed to be, it is a common knowledge in Kebbi state that it was the same Kangiwa twins that he portrayed as bad eggs that sponsored the present Chairman of the local government, Alhaji Nura Baidu to his present position.
I find it all the more baffling because I can testify that Hussaini has never been involved in active politics at whatever level because a larger part of his adult years have been spent as an officer in the Nigerian Customs Service until his retirement recently.
I equally can testify that even Hassan only became politically visible after honourably and formally retiring from service with the Nigeria Immigration Service to contest election in his Kebbi state. Even at that, he played clean politics and accepted to withdraw from the contest with honour which explains the cordial relationship he enjoys with the entire Kebbi state political class which gives him sufficient space to continue his philanthropic and humanitarian work for which he is known.
It may interest you to note that the Kangiwa twins portrayed in the Desert Herald as political enemies to President Yar’adua and Governor Dakingari is an allegation nobody can sustain. It is on record that the Kangiwa twins donated 17 vehicles to the Dakingari campaign organization in 2007 in addition to other financial support.
But I am also confident that the people of Kebbi state are not that gullible as to be expected to swallow any political gibberish handed them by faceless cowards.
Tijjani Ahmed Ambursa wrote from Kangiwa, Kebbi State